Although Law & Order: SVU star Christopher Meloni has risen to great Hollywood heights, there is one
thing that has always kept him grounded. And that is his wife of 26 years, Sherman Williams. These
lovebirds have had a long-standing partnership that has endured the implications of fame,
the changes of having children and, well, everything life has to offer. Through it all,
their romance has continued to flourish and they have built one beautiful life together!
The year was 1989 and Christopher Meloni had just started pursuing an acting career while
juggling several jobs. He finally got a small gig that would push him closer to his dreams.
Then one day, a woman with short blonde hair and retro sunglasses arrived to set on a motorcycle.
And although Christopher says he was immensely forgettable, Sherman was the opposite.
“This I gotta meet,” he said. And meet, he did. After he introduced
himself to the production designer, he found out that she was already taken.
The actor was pretty upset that he didn’t have a chance with Sherman, but he moved on.
Two years have passed before the pair bumped into each other again. This time, they were both single
and this time, Meloni wasn’t giving up. He left a note at her house asking her out. She said yes!
“On our first date, we went to three parties, given by three sets of my friends. 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 snoot balls. 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,” she said.
The couple began dating immediately, and four years later they were saying “I do.”
Christopher and Sherman tied the knot with a medieval-themed wedding on a Malibu beach. They
threw back a few tequila shots to celebrate their union before the production designer had to run
back to the airport for a job in Miami. Meloni admits that their wedding didn’t
happen at the most perfect time. He was still trying to find his path in the acting world,
and she was constantly travelling for work. Still, they both shared the dream of one day
having a home and children. This is where they would face their first challenge as newly-weds.
Despite being married, they lived on opposite coasts. Sherman preferred
living in Los Angeles while Christopher was more of a fan of New York City. Nevertheless,
the young couple pledged to follow one simple rule, which was to spend no more
than three weeks apart. There was also an ongoing debate on where they wanted
to raise their family. Eventually, they agreed that it would be in New York.
Williams put her production designer skills to work and created a beautiful home for
the happy family that was featured in Architectural Digest in 2017.
“What makes me happy about this apartment is that, while the views keep you very much in touch with
New York, you’re also above it all. When I’m done working and come home, I can really get away,
be in a cocoon. I never imagined living 60 stories above the city could be soothing,” Meloni said.
After 6 years of marriage, that house became a family home. In 2001,
the couple welcomed their daughter, Sophia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5zWlZfd5fU
0:04). Then, in 2004, the family of three became a family of four when the couple welcomed their son,
Dante (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riA0BrniNAA 0:04).
Christopher has a special relationship with both of his children and is constantly showing it off
on social media and the red carpet. In 2021, he took his daughter as his plus one to the
Golden Globes awards. “I love my children beyond all reason. They’re my joy, even
when they’re wild with kid energy,” he said. The actor also never misses a birthday or Father’s
Day post. He thanked his daughter, Sophia, for giving him the best gift ever last Father’s Day,
and the gift was her! How cute is that? Without fail, Christopher posts a sweet
throwback photo of the two together on Dante’s birthday each year as well. “17 years. Love
too big, time too fast,” he wrote on Instagram. There are also some massive fans of Christopher’s
fatherly love on Twitter! One user asked others to tell her about their very best celebrity sighting.
Film critic, Matt Zoller Seitz, had an amazing response about seeing the Harley Quinn actor out
with his children when they were much younger. "I saw Chris Meloni, one of the toughest tough
guys on television, failing to control two toddlers at a brunch
at Columbus Circle circa 2007," he recalled. Looking back on his relationship with his kids,
Meloni made it clear that he's very much involved in both of their lives.
The actor recently opened up about how he has parented his now-grown children.
"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 place in life where there's no compromise. I
want them to engage in athletics or the arts because those are places, they get to express
themselves. I try to encourage that and say, 'Please trust me. Wondrous things will happen
on this journey of pain,'" he said. It seems like he is a great dad,
and Sherman is probably a great mom! Lucky kids, right? Their children are
really supportive and happy that their parents are still married and in love after all these years.
The couple’s daughter shared a series of photos of her parents
celebrating their 25th anniversary to her Instagram, tequila shots and all!
“Mom and dad ring in 25 years with shots of Patron silver. Love is awesome,” she wrote.
Meloni also shared a photo of his wife to his Instagram and went on to explain how happy he is
to have been with his beautiful, fun, adventurous, kind, patient and loving partner in crime.
They didn’t slow down when it came to their 26th wedding anniversary and the couple is
still keeping things interesting. Christopher shared a hilarious post to commemorate it.
The first photo shows Meloni and Williams kissing on the beach on their wedding day.
In the next photo, the couple is posing in front of a wall spray-painted with an image
of a naked woman holding a glass of wine. Several things are drawn around the woman,
including handcuffs and a paddle. "How it started… how it's going.
26 years of…well… it's hard to explain #partnerincrime #keepingitweird," he wrote.
But how did these lovebirds manage to have such a successful marriage? Well, firstly,
they support each other in everything they do. In 2017, Sherman rediscovered her love
for creating art and launched her website that features her original oil paintings.
Christopher calls himself his “wife’s biggest fan”, and he proves it by promoting her beautiful
artwork on his social media. They are usually followed by cute photos of the pair and many pics
reminding the world that he and his wife are two creative minds with a love for their motorcycles!
Sherman also supports her husband in many ways. When he had to say goodbye to the drama series,
Law & Order: SVU, in 2011, she was right there by his side. She pushed him to keep finding the next
big thing and that is how he fell into shows and movies like True Blood, Man of Steel and Happy!
If you had to ask Meloni how they’ve managed to have such a long,
successful and sweet marriage, especially in Hollywood, he has a pretty good answer.
“You need to give one another space, respect, trust and freedom. We also just like each
other,” he said. Well, one can see that they have mastered the secret to success!
Christopher Meloni and Sherman Williams have maintained a special relationship
that has soared over the years and seems to just keep getting better. They have built
a beautiful family together and it seems that the actor is successful both at work
and at home. Christopher has truly found his partner in crime and the love of his life.
We wish this couple another 26 years of love and happiness. Let us know in the
comments below what your favourite thing about this couple is. Also, are you a Law & Order:
SVU fan? Don’t forget to like and subscribe to get more celebrity stories from Rumour Juice!