NBCDun, dun...it's Christopher Meloni's birthday!
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit characters Detective Elliot Stabler (Meloni) and his partner and current leading lady Detective Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) had a very deep and strong connection on the series and they always had each other's back.
Over the years, fans of the NBC show grew obsessed with them, but the real friendship we are still living for today is the one between birthday boy Meloni and his former co-star Hargitay.
Seriously, they would make Stabler and Benson really proud based on their continually strong bond in real life and it makes our hearts jump for joy year after year.
Despite the fact that Stabler and Benson are no more on screen, off screen the two actors are still as thick as thieves and we are very grateful that they are.
In honor of Meloni turning 58 years old today we've decided to celebrate the thing we love about him more than his acting and good looks...his friendship with Hargitay.
Luckily for fans of Meloni, the actor has been doing his thing on screen since 1988 and even though we will always remember him as Stabler on SVU, he's won us over more times than we can count.
From Oz and True Blood to Wet Hot American Summer and Happy! Meloni knows how to bring the laughs, be serious and make us take notice of him no matter what role he's portraying. The craziest part however is that his personality off screen is even better.
He's proven time and time again that he's a family man and an amazing friend—case and point: his two decade long friendship with Hargitay—and that's why we want to celebrate him even more on his birthday.
To make your day and remind everyone why Meloni is so wonderful, just scroll through all of his sweet friendship moments with Hargitay below. Trust us, this will brighten up your day, week, month or your year in no time!
Elite Squad
Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay teamed up to present at the 2025 Emmys, where the actress joked to her former costar that he'll "never have" one.
My Friend Mariska
Christopher showed his support for Mariska at the premiere of her 2025 documentary My Mom Jayne.
A Picture Tells a Thousand Words
The two snapped a sweet selfie as they reunited on the set of Law & Order: SVU in March 2025.
Rise & Shine
In 2021, Mariska and Christopher woke up early to promote a new season of their Law & Order shows on NBC's Today.
Presenting TV Magic
Before announcing one of the biggest winners of the night, the 2022 Emmys presenters had a little fun onstage at the Microsoft Theatre.
Luxury
The former Law & Order: SVU costars stopped by the Backstage Creations giving suite at the 2022 Emmys, where they have some fun dressing up in their comfortable Spirit Hoods.
Dinner Party
"Sunday night dinner," Hargitay shared alongside a selfie of her and Chris, who she starred with on Law & Order: SVU for 12 seasons before the actor left the series in 2011.
Vacation Buddies
Hargitay posed this snap with her bestie while on vacation in December 2018. "Vacay...A great night with this one," she wrote at the time. "#Reunited #OldFriends #PTL."
Partners for Life
In May 2018, Meloni and Hargitay hung out together in New York City.
Ready for Their Close Up
"Crazy ppl on the streets of nyc," Meloni captioned this selfie fail.
Blurry Buds
You could say 2017 was a blur for these two, as seen in this candid selfie shared during the holidays.
Happy and They Know It
The two pals ran into one another after Thanksgiving in 2017,
Kiss Kiss
Stabler and Benson finally taking their relationship to the next level? Nope, it's just Meloni planting a friendly kiss on Hargitay.
Goofballs Forever
Birthday Bash
Hargitay shared this sweet snap in honor of her former TV partner's birthday in April 2017 and said "PFL" at the end of the note—because Stabler and Benson are partners for life!
Be Mine
"And then that happened...Just when I thought Valentine's Day was over," Hargitay wrote alongside this kissing picture from Valentine's Day in 2017.
Holiday Cheer
In 2016, the real-life friends celebrated Christmas together.
Lean on Me
"Lean on me #PFL #FacialHairDontCare #Hargoatee #HanginWithAFriend #ItsAllInTheEyesKid," Hargitay wrote on this precious picture.
Spotted: SVU Pals
In 2015, in the dark of night, New York City's greatest detectives, err, we mean friends, reunited once again and posed for an epic photo.
Bestie Reunion
In March 2014, the duo reunited for dinner—proving that they will always be partners, even if they aren't acting alongside one another anymore.