Advertisement

'SVU' has pushed Meloni to help others

NEW YORK, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. actor Christopher Meloni says his recurring role on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" has made him a proactive member of society.

The 45-year-old actor, who plays Detective Elliot Stabler on the popular NBC drama, told the New York Post the dark nature of some of the crimes detailed on the series has motivated him to help others in real life.

Advertisement

"These days, it's made me more proactive in the community, through various services. It's also awakened me to the large areas of gray," Meloni said.

Meloni said he had major problems with the series' troubling subject matter when he joined the show in 199, but has learned to deal with it.

"I almost had an emotional breakdown," he said. "I think it was a combination of the 20-hour days you need at the beginning with the unrelentingness of finishing one crime and now here comes another."

Meloni said it was only by creating "a callus" that he was ultimately able to endure the dark topics.

Latest Headlines