‘Freshly Unemployed' Christopher Meloni Reunites With Mariska Hargitay

Christopher Meloni may have called himself "freshly unemployed," but he's clearly not short on support.

Just days after news broke that "Law & Order: Organized Crime" would not return for a sixth season, Meloni reunited with longtime friend and former costar Mariska Hargitay for a dinner in Los Angeles.

On Friday, Meloni shared a carousel of photos from the night on Instagram, showing the pair smiling together at the restaurant. In his caption, he joked about his recent career update, writing, "What one does on a random Thursday when still in L.A. and freshly unemployed. Dinner hang with pals @therealmariskahargitay."

The post quickly caught attention from fans of the duo, whose decades-long friendship has remained one of the most beloved parts of the "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" universe.

In the final photo, Hargitay, 62, was also seen taking a selfie with Rachel McAdams, adding another fun surprise to the night out.

After it was confirmed that "Organized Crime" had been canceled, Meloni, 65, addressed fans in an emotional video, saying, "Hey everyone, I just saw that they announced OC, Organized Crime won't be coming back."

READ MORE: Mariska Hargitay Breaks Down Over ‘Law & Order' Cancellation

He continued, "So I wanted to take this moment to say thank you to the fans, who not only helped give the character of Elliot Stabler life and longevity, but for sticking with him and welcoming him back."

Hargitay also reacted publicly to the news, revealing she was deeply moved by Meloni's message. "I saw it and burst out in tears, first of all," she said in an interview with Extra. "I immediately burst out in tears because it has, just like he said, and he was so beautiful and open - because it has been a great ride."

Meloni returned as Elliot Stabler in 2021 when "Law & Order: Organized" Crime launched, bringing the fan-favorite detective back to screens after years away.

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This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 3:06 PM.