TMDb/Law & Order: Special Vict TV Why did Chris Meloni leave SVU? Explore the pay dispute that led to Elliot Stabler's shocking exit after Season 12 of the long-running NBC drama. April 17, 2026 AceShowbiz - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has been a cornerstone of NBC's legal drama lineup since its 1999 debut, starring Chris Meloni alongside Mariska Hargitay. The series, a spinoff of the original 1990 Law & Order, quickly became popular for its gripping stories focused on sex crimes and the dedicated detectives who investigate them.