If you are a fan of crime shows then you probably know who Christopher Meloni is. The actor is best known for playing the role of Detective Elliot Saber on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.
In real life, the actor has a wonderful family. Keep reading to learn more about them.
After he successfully played the role of Detective Elliot Saber on the show Law and Order: Special Victims Unit he reprised the character on the spin-off series, “Law and Order: Organized Crime.”
Apart from the role of Detective Saber, some other major roles for the actor have been of inmate Chris Keller on HBO’s Oz, as well as a recurring role on season 5 of the show True Blood.
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The actor has worked beyond the television screen too. He has been in several notable movies which include Man of Steel, Wet Hot American Summer, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
But he was not always a successful actor. Before he became a full-time working actor, he worked various jobs including as a construction worker, bouncer, and personal trainer among others.
He would get a commercial every now and then before he landed a recurring role on NYPD Blue.
In 1995 Meloni married his love, Doris Sherman Williams. Doris worked as a production designer. The couple welcomed their first-child, a daughter named Sophia Eva Pietra Meloni in March 2001. Sophia’s grandmother is none other than Meloni’s co-star Mariska Hargitay.
After Sophia, their son Dante Amadeo Meloni followed in 2004. Now that their children are both above legal age, the couple is settling in with the idea of an empty nest.
Meloni has always been a dedicated father who put his family first. In 2015, he bought a house that was famously used in the production of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
His own father was a doctor while his mother was a homemaker. And he recalls that they were always supportive of their son’s career. Meloni shared, “My parents were surprisingly cool. They always encouraged me to make my own decisions. As I got through my teen years it was ‘What college do you want to go to? Your decision.’ ‘What do you want to major in? Your decision.’
He went on, ‘I want to be an actor. Your decision.’ When I graduated college, I denied that acting was a viable career. I called a friend on a lark and asked him what he was doing with his life. He told me he was going to New York to study acting. I said, ‘Me too.’ Where are you going to study? ‘The Neighborhood Playhouse.’ I said, ‘Great. What’s the number?’ Once I committed, that was it.”
As for how he himself juggled being a father with being an actor, Meloni replied, “Ahh. Keep breathing and appreciate. It’s very Zen and I often fail at it, but I do believe that the tenets are there for a purpose and are right and true. Just keep breathing. Appreciate the moment. Be in the moment.”
He meticulously handles both his responsibilities. And the actor shared that he is a fully devoted and involved father when it came to his kids. He said, “I’m the assistant coach of my son’s football and basketball teams. I also go to my daughter’s swim meets and her acting gigs. It’s taken me a while to be calm and take in the moments I have with my children, but I’m very clear about how important it is,” Meloni shared.
The parents encourage their children to have hobbies. “My daughter found out that dance wasn’t being offered at her school this semester, so she wasn’t going to have a sport,” Meloni told USA Today. “We said, ‘You have to do something.’ She decided on ballet, and we guided her on how to do that.”
The actor says he had the importance of a good education instilled in him. He shared, “I think my kids would call me a little crazy,” he said. “I’m very physical, very affectionate. I’m also very disciplined and focused on education. That’s one thing that was instilled in me, one place in life where there’s no compromise.”
And he is someone who is strict about discipline. He wants to make sure his children always honor their commitments. He shared an example,”I want them to engage in athletics or the arts because those are places they get to express themselves. My daughter is challenged by the piano. I’ve tried to make it like this: ‘We’ve committed to the piano, but if you don’t want to practice we’ll pull the plug.’ She said, ‘I’ll give it another shot.’ I try to encourage that and say, ‘Please trust me. Wondrous things will happen on this journey of pain.'”
He wants to make sure his kids grow up with all the tools to succeed. He wants to build them up in a way that is best for them. The actor shared, “What works for me is empowering my kids. I remember not having any power when I was growing up. Power helps kids mature, and it requires critical thinking on their part. They feel engaged in a decision, which makes them feel engaged in the family process.”
His daughter and son have grown up to be beautiful human beings. The actor seems to be incredibly proud of them as well. It is always so heartening to see famous actors who make sure their children remain grounded!
What do you think of the actor’s parenting technique? Let us know in the comments. And don’t forget to share this piece with other fans of Christopher Meloni so they can also see what a beautiful family he has.