Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive show news, updates, and more!
Christopher Meloni's Love Story with His Wife Sherman Goes Way Back
With nearly 30 years of marriage under his belt, the Law & Order: Organized Crime star has met his ultimate match.
While many Law & Order: Organized Crime fans are buzzing about the romantic tension between Elliot Stabler and Law & Order: SVU's Olivia Benson, it's no secret that Christopher Meloni has a totally fulfilling love life off-screen.
The woman who has stood next to Meloni from the start is his loving wife, Doris Sherman Williams (she prefers to go by Sherman). Meloni, of course, has been throwing himself into the Law & Order chaos for many years, and Sherman has been there cheering him on.
Sherman and Meloni have earned power couple status in every way. They've been married since 1995, but their spark is as bright as ever. Read on to learn more about Meloni's phenomenal wife, their children, the family they've built together, and their secret to a successful marriage like theirs.
RELATED: Chris Meloni Almost Got This "Insane" Tattoo – But His Wife Stopped Him
Chris Meloni and Sherman Williams went to three parties on their first date
After bumping into each other a few times in L.A., Meloni finally managed to land a date with Sherman. But as we all know, if you want to be someone's lover, you've got to get with their friends (thanks, Spice Girls). And lucky for Meloni, he passed that test with flying colors.
"On our first date, we went to three parties, given by three sets of my friends," Sherman recalled to Your Tango. "The first was in West Hollywood. Every guy there was gay. Chris passed with flying colors. Next, we went to a party given by Beverly Hills snootballs. Chris kept his manners in check and held his own. Then, we went to a costume designer's party in the Hills, where we drank beers from a tub on the porch. And I thought: I can take him anywhere."
RELATED: Christopher Meloni's Daughter Is His Wife Sherman's Spitting Image in New Pics
Chris Meloni's wife Sherman is an art director and talented painter
While many know Meloni for his on-screen credits in Law & Order and Oz, Sherman preferred to play a role in making the movie magic happen. Sherman was an art director and production designer for film and television for 14 years. She has quite an impressive IMDb profile, working in production design, art direction, and visual effects throughout the '80s and '90s. Her most notable projects include Night at the Golden Eagle, The Chase, Automatic, and Platoon.
Since stepping away from Hollywood, Sherman has become an NYC-based artist and art director. You can find Sherman's artwork on her website, shermanmeloni.com, where she demonstrates her artistic talent with a lineup of jaw-dropping original oil portraits.
In an interview with Architectural Digest in 2017, Meloni called himself his “wife’s biggest fan.” Sherman revealed that her process begins with photographing her subjects, as she "sees the sitter as art and strives to capture their unique essence - always with a twist." She flirts with photorealism with expert skill, and with each featured piece, Sherman continues to impress.
Chris and Sherman Meloni got married in a medieval-themed ceremony
Meloni and Sherman dated for four years before getting married on July 1, 1995, in a beach-side ceremony in Malibu. But if you're imagining seashells and palm trees, think again. Meloni and Sherman didn't have a typical beach wedding because they embraced a medieval theme that could bring anyone out of the dark ages. According to Pioneer Woman, the newlyweds drank from ornate goblets and celebrated their love in a truly timeless way.
Chris and Sherman Meloni have two children
Sherman and Meloni are the proud parents of two children: 23-year-old Sophia Meloni and 20-year-old Dante Meloni.
In a 2014 interview with USA Today, Meloni described his approach to parenting. “I think my kids would call me a little crazy. I’m very physical, very affectionate. I’m also very disciplined and focused on education. That’s one thing that was instilled in me, one place in life where there’s no compromise," Meloni said. "What works for me is empowering my kids. I remember not having any power when I was growing up. Power helps kids mature, and it requires critical thinking on their part. They feel engaged in a decision, which makes them feel engaged in the family process.”
Sophia has since attended Wesleyan University and often posts her writing on her Substack and Instagram. When she was a baby, Sophia appeared in an episode of SVU. Dante is currently enrolled in college, a milestone that left the dad of two feeling like an empty nester.
"You take the steps necessary, and everything is great, and then you get home and it feels like you hear the wind whistling through the hallways," Meloni told Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager on TODAY in 2023. "There's an emptiness. It's tough, I'm dealing with it right now. It's a real thing."
RELATED: Christopher Meloni's 19-Year-Old Son Is His Mini-Me In New Workout Pics
Chris and Sherman Meloni revealed the secret to their successful marriage
In an interview with People in October 2022, Meloni said he credits the strength of their marriage to his wife's patience and their understanding of one another. "It's her patience with me, and I really mean that. She's allowed me to grow at my speed because she's always been more mature and more levelheaded in many ways," he shared. "She paints, and I go in her studio, and it just makes me happy. We have her work all over the house. She wants to buy art, and I'm like, 'I don't want that. I want yours.'"
As for Sherman, she thinks the secret to their success is simple. “We just like each other," Sherman revealed to Your Tango. "Space, respect, trust, and freedom. We laugh a lot.”
Originally published Feb 1, 2023.
