Is Christopher Meloni Gay? The 'Law & Order' Star Is a Great Ally for the LGBTQ+ Community

Whether Christopher Meloni is gay is something the actor's fans have wondered about since his breakthrough role playing a heartthrob murderer on "Oz." His character significantly impacted many fans in the LGBTQ community and is still remembered to this day.

Christopher Meloni debuted his acting career in the mid-1980s, appearing in commercials while making a living doing other work (construction, bouncer, etc.). He started landing minor and recurring roles in T.V. and film in the late '80s and gradually rose to the ranks of a Hollywood star.

By 1999, Meloni was leading his own NBC show, performing in one of his best-known roles as Detective Elliot Stabler in the 1999 crime show "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit." He even returned as Stabler in the 2021 spin-off, "Law and Order: Organized Crime," with co-star Danielle Truitt.

And while his performance on both shows received much acclaim, Meloni's most gripping character known to the T.V. industry was the sociopathic murderer Chris Keller, from the riveting jailhouse drama, "Oz," also starring BD Wong.

Chris Keller was not only taking lives in "Oz," but he was stealing the innumerable hearts of women and men alike: he was unapologetically bisexual. Meloni's performance as Keller was so convincing it led many to wonder about his true identity.

Christopher Meloni Is Aware That His Performance in "Oz" Caused Many People's Sexual Awakening

The show began with the entrance of a new and timid jailbird, Tobias Beecher (played by Lee Tergesen). Beecher was terrorized by his roommate, Vern Schillinger (played by J.K. Simmons), but he'd learned to stand up for himself by Season Two.

Prison life hardened Beecher, but things took a turn when he got his new roommate, Keller. Although their story begins with Keller leading Beecher on and later breaking his heart, it quickly turns into a passionate love affair full of violence, betrayal, and undeterred affection.

Meloni's performance inspired a generation's worth of sexual awakenings, as one fan tweeted and tagged the actor. His response to the revelation only warmed the hearts of many others, as he said:

"Doin what I can my man, juss doin what I can."

One user replied, beckoning Meloni to "feel free" to do more, while another gave him "mad props" for showing that male nudity wasn't "taboo." And it seems the "Wet Hot American Summer" star has always been aware of his impact.

During a chat with Advocate in 2014, Meloni revealed how several gay fans of "Oz" sent him letters telling him about the ails of hiding their sexual orientation. He would even have personal meetings with older gay men, who expressed how significant it was for them to see Keller on T.V., as he explained:

"Even though that character used his sexuality as a weapon, it was a secondary issue for them. It was a guy who was fearlessly gay. It helped give them a sense of power."

Christopher Meloni Is Not Gay but Is Doing His Best to Raise an LGBT-Inclusive Family

Meloni has been married to Sherman Williams, his wife of over 27 years, with whom he lives in New York, and shares two children, Sophia and Dante. While speaking with Advocate, he explained how teaching his children about the existing spectrum of sexuality never caused any confusion, as other parents feared.

He recalled a conversation he had with his son when NFL star Michael Sam came out as gay, telling him that what Sam did was a courageous and genuine demonstration of manhood. And Dante was in complete agreement. As an LGBTQ-ally, Meloni also openly supported same-sex marriage.

Christopher Meloni Once Said He Sometimes Gets Hit On by Gay Men at the Gym

During his interview on "Conan," Meloni comically revealed a few incidents where gay men expressed their attraction to him in not-so-appropriate ways, usually in the showers. He said they often stared in his direction, lathering themselves for a little too long in their nether regions.