Christopher Meloni is preparing to bid farewell to his role as Elliot Stabler, the “Law & Order” detective he has portrayed intermittently since 1999.
On Thursday, it was announced that “Law & Order: Organized Crime” has been discontinued after five seasons. Although Meloni occasionally makes guest appearances on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” the show’s cancellation signifies that he will no longer regularly play Stabler.
“I just saw that they announced ‘Organized Crime’ won’t be coming back. I wanted to take this moment to say thank you to the fans who not only helped give the character of Elliot Stabler life and longevity, but for sticking with him and welcoming him back. It was a good ride,” Meloni said in an Instagram video on Thursday night. “I had a great time playing him. It was a great ride. Thank you. You helped give me a career that I never dreamed of, nearly 17 odd years.”
Meloni starred in “Special Victims Unit” alongside Mariska Hargitay, who plays Olivia Benson, from the show’s inception in 1999 until its 12th season in 2011. He returned to the franchise in 2021 as a guest star on “SVU” and simultaneously launched the “Organized Crime” spinoff as the leading actor. “Organized Crime” aired on NBC for four seasons before transitioning to Peacock for its fifth season, which streamed in 2025.
In addition, Meloni has appeared in the original “Law & Order” series as a guest star in three episodes over the years; the flagship series has yet to be renewed. “SVU” is set to return for its 28th season in the fall.
