“Law & Order: Organized Crime” star Christopher Meloni got all fresh for his first screen test in a “seductive” soap opera scene.
After menial jobs as a bouncer, gym trainer, waiter, and bartender, the 60-year-old Meloni didn’t hold back at the opportunity to become a star.
“My first screen test was for a soap opera,” Meloni told PageSix.com in 2016. “A seduction scene. Fresh out of acting lessons, I was all method-y. I went sleazy. Grabbing the actress, I French-kissed her. Staring daggers at me, she said, ‘You mother f**ker!’”
Life was tough for the budding actor, and he was not shy about telling how tough it was.
“I scraped together,” the ‘Law & Order’ star said. “To make a buck, I did anything.”
Meloni said being a bouncer was the worst because it was like being a policeman without the pay. On the other hand, bartending was the best because you’re making people happy. Plus, “there are three feet between them and you.”
Waiting wasn’t high on the list, too. He said he couldn’t escape people because they were always there, on top of you.
Acting Was Tough For History Major Meloni
Meloni told Men’s Health that after he got his University of Colorado-Boulder degree in history. But, to him, it turned out to be not worth it.
“The Berlin Wall fell, so it was all a moot point,” he said.
Lots of unsuccessful auditions followed. When they were terrible auditions, staring in a mirror and screaming would help.
Soon, his confidence started to blossom. Maybe meeting his future wife had something to do with it.
Meloni met production designer Sherman Williams met on an HBO show in 1989. He was smitten by her short hair, retro sunglasses, and motorcycle.
“This (woman) I gotta meet,” he told YourTango about his now-wife.
The couple has two children.
‘Law & Order: Organized Crime’ Star Meloni’s Acting History
From then on, he started to get roles. With the parts, the pressure kept building. He had to go back to the personal pep talks to deal with the stress and success.
In 1997, “Oz” came along.
Then, Meloni found a home as a detective and spent 12 seasons on “Law & Order: SVU” before leaving the show in 2011 over a contract dispute.
Now he’s back as NYPD Detective Elliot Stabler again, this time with the new “Law & Order” spinoff.
“Law & Order: Organized Crime” is the 12th most-watched TV show in America. He owns two large homes in Manhattan and a lake house where he can water-ski.
He’s hit the big time after all that screaming in the mirror.
