Christopher Meloni Quotes

A collection of quotes by Christopher Meloni.

Christopher Meloni is an American actor best known for his roles in the television series "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Oz". He was born on April 2, 1961, in Washington, D.C. Meloni developed a passion for acting early on and attended the University of Colorado at Boulder to study acting. After graduation, he relocated to New York City to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

Meloni's breakthrough role came in 1998 when he was cast as Detective Elliot Stabler in the long-running crime drama "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit". He portrayed the character for twelve seasons, from 1999 to 2011, earning critical acclaim and a strong fan following. His performance in the series earned him multiple award nominations and solidified his status as a talented actor.

Aside from his work on "Law & Order: SVU", Meloni has appeared in various films and television shows throughout his career. Notable film credits include "Runaway Bride," "Wet Hot American Summer," and "Man of Steel". He also starred in the HBO prison drama series "Oz" as the complex and memorable character Chris Keller.

Known for his versatility and ability to bring depth to his characters, Christopher Meloni continues to be a respected and sought-after actor in the industry. His impressive body of work spans across multiple genres and mediums, showcasing his range as an actor. N/A

You couldn't pay me enough to be a law enforcement officer.

You couldn't pay me enough to be a law enforcement officer. Their job is a tough job. You have to solve people's problems, you have to baby-sit people, you have to always be doing this cat-and-mouse game with the bad guys. My respect for them is immense.

Christopher Meloni


It is a weird feeling to have people go, 'Hey Chris' like th

It is a weird feeling to have people go, 'Hey Chris' like they know me. But, number one, 99 percent of my experiences have been really cool. People couldn't be nicer and more positive.

Christopher Meloni


You can be childlike without being childish. A child always

You can be childlike without being childish. A child always wants to have fun. Ask yourself, 'Am I having fun?'

Christopher Meloni

Child Yourself Have Fun Having Fun

I had no expectations about fatherhood, really, but it's def

I had no expectations about fatherhood, really, but it's definitely a journey I'm glad to be taking. Number one, it's a great learning experience. When my mother told me it's a 24/7 job, she wasn't kidding.

Christopher Meloni

Experience

I still have a dream of one day - I would love to hire a sem

I still have a dream of one day - I would love to hire a semi-retired contractor and just build a house - him and I building a house for me. I would truly love to do that.

Christopher Meloni

Love Dreams Buildup

I take this art very seriously and passionately. I love what

I take this art very seriously and passionately. I love what I do. You can't help but grow. That's not to say you don't make mistakes or make bad choices, but that's part of the art. Painters paint bad paintings.

Christopher Meloni

Art Love Mistakes Choice Help

I'm always learning from experiences because each one is dif

I'm always learning from experiences because each one is different and there are different players involved in the project at the time with their own way of doing things.

Christopher Meloni

Learning

I think Chris Rock at the Oscars was a great example. I thou

I think Chris Rock at the Oscars was a great example. I thought that was intellectually hilarious. The Gap starts a war with Banana Republic... That to me was funny.

Christopher Meloni

Funny

The surprising thing about fatherhood was finding my inner m

The surprising thing about fatherhood was finding my inner mush. Now I want to share it with the world.

Christopher Meloni

Dad

But when you're a working actor - and that's what you keep s

But when you're a working actor - and that's what you keep saying in your head, how blessed you are to have a job - and you are working with heavyweights, working with the best guys in TV, it's pretty cool. Exhausting, but cool.

Christopher Meloni

Cool

I love my children beyond all reason. They're my joy, even w

I love my children beyond all reason. They're my joy, even when they're wild with kid energy.

Christopher Meloni

Love

I had great faith in Irish actors, that they'd be hip to the

I had great faith in Irish actors, that they'd be hip to the whole theatre thing, and they are. I had no illusions of coming over here as some kind of big shot. It's been a learning experience for me too.

Christopher Meloni

Experience

Hate is a draining bottomless pit from whence nothing good o

Hate is a draining bottomless pit from whence nothing good or of any value can come. Try to eat a balanced diet. Guys only want one thing.

Christopher Meloni

Diet

It ain't easy to break out of a mold, but if you do your wor

It ain't easy to break out of a mold, but if you do your work, people will ultimately see what you're capable of. Too often, people find it easier to make assumptions and stick with what they believe. They put you in a place and it makes their job easier. The good people constantly search for something different.

Christopher Meloni

Work

People don't know where to place me. Terry Gilliam used me a

People don't know where to place me. Terry Gilliam used me as a quirky cop in 'Twelve Monkeys', and then he hired me again to be an effeminate hotel clerk in 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'. Another time, I was shooting this indie film 'The Souler Opposite' and six days a week, I'm playing this big puppy dog, then I come to the 'NYPD Blue' set and become this scumbag.

Christopher Meloni

Fear

De Niro was a hero of mine. And Sean Penn. But I've realized

De Niro was a hero of mine. And Sean Penn. But I've realized I can't operate at that level of intensity. That's okay for movies. On TV, when you live with horror day in and day out, you have to protect yourself.

Christopher Meloni

Movies

I took acting classes in college, and once I graduated, I de

I took acting classes in college, and once I graduated, I decided to give acting a shot when I couldn't really think of anything else to do. It took me a couple of years to get an agent, and my first big break was The Fanelli Boys, which was a sitcom on NBC. Then I did a few television movies.

Christopher Meloni

Movies

I rarely see one of the 'summer blockbuster' movies. I'd lik

I rarely see one of the 'summer blockbuster' movies. I'd like to see a stronger focus on smaller, smarter movies.

Christopher Meloni

Movies

My mother raised three children on her own and my dad was a

My mother raised three children on her own and my dad was a doctor working 16 hours a day.

Christopher Meloni

Dad

Look, I hate to sound like Pollyanna, but I literally can't

Look, I hate to sound like Pollyanna, but I literally can't wait to get to work in the morning. I've got steady jobs, I've got my health, and I'm here in the greatest city in the world. I'd be a pig not to be grateful.

Christopher Meloni

Health