Christopher Meloni on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
Christopher Meloni is recognized as one of the most versatile actors today, taking on challenging and diverse roles in both television and film. Christopher Meloni is well known for his portrayal of the duplicitous inmate Chris Keller on HBO's critically praised series "Oz." His additional work in television includes guest appearances on "NYPD Blue," and "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Scrubs." Christopher Meloni also starred in the series "Leaving L.A." and in several miniseries, including "In a Child's Name" and "Mario Puzo's The Last Don."
Christopher Meloni has four upcoming films, including, "Nights in Rodanthe," (a Warner Brother's adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel) in which he stars opposite Diane Lane and Richard Gere, playing the role of Lane's husband. Christopher Meloni appeared in the New Line Cinema comedy "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" and is starring in the anticipated sequel, "Harold & Kumar 2," which will be released by New Line Cinema in April, 2008. He will soon appear in the film "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men", starring Julianne Nicholson, Timothy Hutton and Bobby Cannavale and written and directed by John Krasinski ("The Office"). Christopher Meloni will also be seen in the Pastor Brother's feature "Carriers," an apocalyptic thriller about a dangerous viral pandemic, with Piper Perabo and Chris Pine. The film will be released by Paramount Vantage.
Meloni also appeared in the hilarious independent film "Wet Hot American Summer," which screened at the Sundance Film Festival. Starring opposite Janeane Garafolo and David Hyde Pierce, Christopher Meloni was singled out for his performance as a temperamental chef working at a summer camp. His other film credits include "Runaway Bride," in which he starred opposite Julia Roberts as her sports-enthusiast fiancé, as well as in "Twelve Monkeys," "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," "Junior" and "Bound."
Christopher Meloni received much critical praise for his theatrical work last summer at the prestigious Gate Theater in Dublin for his starring role in Arthur Miller's "A View From the Bridge" in which he played Eddie Carbone. The Irish Times called him "…the real thing, tremendously forceful presence with all the confidence fame brings and none of the self-indulgence."
A native of Washington, D.C., Christopher Meloni attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he first became interested in acting. After graduation, he took a construction job in his hometown until a high school acquaintance inspired him to move to New York to study acting. It was there that Christopher Meloni apprenticed at the Neighborhood Playhouse, and got his first big break as the lead in the NBC comedy "The Fanelli Boys." When he is not working, Christopher Meloni enjoys traveling, athletics, martial arts and being a father. Christopher Meloni currently resides in New York.