Chris Meloni Leaving SVU?

Entertainment May 24, 2011 AT 8:19PM By UsWeekly Staff

Credit: Mark Von Holden/WireImage.com

So long, Stabler!

Chris Meloni will not be returning to Law & Order: SVU for it's 13th season in the fall, TVLine reports.

The 50-year-old actor has played Detective Elliot Stabler since the NBC crime drama's 1999 debut.

Earlier this month, sources told Deadline that Mariska Hargitay was signed on for the upcoming season, but only for the first 13 episodes. After that, her character -- Detective Olivia Benson -- would be promoted to a higher position and a new detective, played by Jennifer Love Hewitt, would take her place.

PHOTOS: Mariska and other new moms

Tell Us: Would you still watch SVU without Chris Meloni?

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