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Name: Christopher Meloni
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Date of Birth:
April 02, 1961
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Place of Birth:
Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Mini-bio:
Perhaps most famous for his dramatic work on TV series like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Christopher Meloni has also been praised for his comedic appearances on screens of all sizes. His resumé ... read moreproves him a versatile actor, indeed, with experience on television, in feature films -- both comedic and dramatic -- and even on-stage. (He acted in the 2001 Williamstown Theatre Festival.)He was born on April 2, 1961, in Washington, D.C., and earned his degree in 1983 at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Having grown interested in acting in college, he next studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City with Sandford Meisner. First noted for his role that began in 1990 on the hit series The Fanelli Boys on NBC, Meloni's accomplished television background consists of appearances on NYPD Blue (1993), the HBO's prison series Oz (1997), and numerous other series and TV movie roles. His lengthy list of supporting appearances on film includes major features like 12 Monkeys (1995), Bound (1996), and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). In 1999, he played one of Julia Roberts' husbands-to-be in Runaway Bride. Building upon his Oz experience, he starred in the PBS feature Shift in 2001, in a dramatic role as a prison inmate lovesick over a woman whom he only knows via telephone, and who doesn't know his whereabouts. Also in that year, he played a crazy 'Nam vet chef -- who provided some of the most accessible laughs of the absurd comedy -- at summer camp in David Wain's Wet Hot American Summer. ~ Sarah Sloboda, Rovi
Christopher Meloni mini-bio: Originally from Washington DC, Chris now lives in New York with his production designer wife, Sherman Williams. Chris worked as a construction worker prior to getting his acting break. He got a degree in history at the University of Colorado.
First child, daughter Sophia Eva Pietra, born in Los Angeles. [23 March 2001]
Used to work as a bouncer, a bartender, and a personal trainer before launching his acting career.
Is half Italian, half French-Canadian (Quebecois)
Son, Dante Amadeo, born January 2, 2004
His two best known characters are on opposite sides of the law. On "Oz" (1997), he played Chris Keller, a bisexual, perverted serial killer who terrorizes his fellow prisoners. On _"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999)_ , he plays Elliot Stabler, a sex-crimes cop so protective of his family and so intense in his hatred of criminals like Keller that he fantasizes about "getting away" with killing them. Ironically, Meloni's acting background is mainly in comedy.
Is often said to resemble a young Robert De Niro.
Particularly early on in his career, he was often confused for actor Elias Koteas.
Meloni and his wife live in New York City and have two children, Sophia and Dante, both born to them by a surrogate mother.
Signed a deal to continue "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999) for two more seasons in which he will be paid $6.5 million annually (2007).
An accomplished card shark.
