Elliot Stabler is one of the most beloved
characters from Law & Order: SVU, and
although he is now leading the way in Law
& Order: Organized Crime, fans relish in
his guest appearances on the show.
But why did Christopher Meloni leave the Special Victims Unit?
MORE: Law and Order SVU: meet the cast of the hit crime series
It was a long ten years before Christopher returned to Law & Order: SVU. We take a look into why the actor abruptly exited the show in 2011, and everything he has said about it.Christopher leaves the show
From 1999 to 2011, Christopher served on the show as the co-lead opposite Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson. As a result, he became a household name, won over legions of fans and even bagged himself an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of the NYPD detective. So when he announced he would be leaving the NBC show after 12 seasons, viewers were understandably shocked.