Key Takeaways:
- Christopher Meloni revealed his late mother, Cecile, was one of his biggest fans and “cherished” watching him on Law & Order: SVU.
- She loved seeing him portray the heroic Detective Elliot Stabler but refused to watch his villainous role as a serial killer on the prison drama Oz.
- Meloni also shared a touching story about how his mother instantly knew his wife, Sherman Williams, was “the one” the first time she met her.
- The actor has since formed a deep, personal bond with his on-screen mother, Ellen Burstyn, who he says has “filled a void.”
Christopher Meloni has captivated audiences for years as the tough but dedicated Detective Elliot Stabler, but one of his most cherished fans was his late mother, Cecile. In a recent interview, the Law & Order: Organized Crime star opened up about why his original run on Law & Order: SVU held such a special place in her heart.
A Mother’s Pride in Her Hero Son
For Meloni’s mother, seeing her son on television was a source of immense pride, especially in a heroic role. “When my mother was alive, she cherished [SVU] because I think, A) her boy had made it, and B) he was playing a hero,” Meloni told People.
This stood in stark contrast to another of his acclaimed roles from the same era—the menacing, sociopathic inmate Chris Keller on the gritty HBO prison drama Oz. The part was so dark that his mother couldn’t bring herself to watch.
“The other show I did, when I started to get a little hot, it was, ‘Mom, I’m going to play an omni-sexual serial killer on a prison drama.’ So, she didn’t see any episode [of Oz],” he explained. It was clear his mom preferred watching him put criminals behind bars rather than portraying one. “Her watching SVU was a big deal to me,” Meloni added fondly.
Mother Always Knows Best
Cecile’s influence extended beyond his career into his personal life. Meloni shared a touching anecdote revealing that his mother knew his wife, Sherman Williams, was “the one” from their very first meeting.
“I didn’t, my mother did,” Meloni recalled in a previous interview. He shared his mom’s favorite story: “The first time she met my wife, then girlfriend, she goes — I’ll never forget it — ‘She was at the top of the stairs, and as soon as I saw her, I was like, \”Oh my god, Chris is gonna marry this one.\”‘”
A New Matriarchal Bond on Set
While Meloni lost his mother in 2016, he has found a meaningful connection with his on-screen mom, veteran actress Ellen Burstyn, who plays Bernadette Stabler. He revealed their relationship has deepened over the years, becoming more than just professional.
“She has been my mom for 25 years now,” Meloni said. “My mother passed a couple years back—and she’s kind of filled a void that I didn’t recognize at first… It’s very meaningful to me, but she and I have a very deep bond.” He added that their on-screen chemistry is rooted in a “deep, true affection” in real life.
Image Referance: https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/chris-meloni-shares-why-his-mother-cherished-law-order-svu