Watch: Why Mariska Hargitay Almost Walked Away From Law & Order: SVU
Is Bensler back?
That was the case when Mariska Hargitay shared a photo of her former costar Christopher Meloni on the set of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit during production on its 28th season.
Alongside the selfie, which showed Hargitay, 62, pointing to Meloni, 64, as he stood with his back toward the camera, the actress wrote in a Sept. 22 Instagram post, “Who dat?”
And though Meloni kept quiet when E! News recently asked him about his rumored return to SVU, Hargitay confirmed that her longtime friend will be appearing on the NBC crime drama’s 600th episode with another joint selfie, writing, “Happy 600.”
The reunion comes five months after Meloni’s Law & Order: Organized Crime spinoff—which centered around his character Elliot Stabler’s work in New York City’s Organized Crime Control Bureau—was canceled following five seasons.
“I wanted to take this moment to thank the fans who not only helped give the character of Elliot Stabler life and longevity, but for sticking with him and welcoming him back,” Meloni said in an Instagram video at the time. “I had a great time playing him. It was a great ride, but thank you.”
Indeed, Meloni initially turned in Stabler’s badge when he ended his 12-year run on SVU in 2011. However, he remained close with Hargitay offscreen over the years, and even reprised his role on the Dick Wolf-created crime procedural several times before launching Organized Crime.
Mariska Hargitay/Instagram
In fact, the Wet Hot American Summer alum recently put their sibling-like bond on display as he shared a picture of himself sniffing Hargitay’s armpit to check for body odor after seeing her star in Every Brilliant Thing on Broadway.
“Checked out a pal on BWay. Well done @therealmariskahargitay,” Meloni wrote on Instagram June 4. “She brought a freshness to the part- and I know, cuz I double checked- it’s what partners do! Someone needs a Tony to add to their collection.”
Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Hargitay’s awards collection was also the topic of discussion during the 2025 Emmys, when Meloni playfully caught her in a hot mic moment as the two walked by a table of gold statues.
“You’ll never have that,” Hargitay quipped in a September 2025 Instagram video, laughing once she realized he was recording. Meloni then jokingly replied, “You see what I go through? You see what I deal with?”
To see more of Hargitay and Meloni’s reunions through the years, read on.
Christopher Meloni/Instagram
Amy Sussman/Getty Images
John Nacion/WireImage
Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
NBC/Nathan Congleton
Chris Haston/NBC
Willy Sanjuan/Invision for the Television Acadmey/AP Images
Mariska Hargitay / Instagram
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