Can you tell me why Christopher Meloni is not on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit anymore?
—Dorothy Farmer, Golden Valley, Ariz.
Meloni was in negotiations to continue the role of Det. Elliot Stabler for the series’ 13th season, but he and the producers could not come to an agreement. He walked away, causing executive producer Dick Wolf to add two new characters, now being played by Danny Pino and Kelli Giddish.
The Washington, D.C.-born actor, 51, has been very busy since leaving SVU. He joined the cast of HBO’s True Blood as an ancient vampire for its fifth season, which will air this summer. He also will be seen in the 2013 Superman film, Man of Steel, playing Colonel Hardy.
And as if that isn’t enough, he will portray Baseball Hall of Famer Leo Durocher, who managed the Brooklyn Dodgers for eight years, in 42, a film that tells the story about how Jackie Robinson came to the team and helped integrate baseball.
In a recent interview, Meloni commented on his SVU exit. “Life is good, it’s exciting, it’s exploratory. I couldn’t be happier.”
Found in: Celebrity Q&A
