Elliot Stabler is a fictional character portrayed by Christopher Meloni and one of the lead characters on the NBC police procedural series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit during the first twelve seasons. As a result of Meloni 's sudden departure from the cast at the end of the twelfth season, Stabler abruptly retires from the police force off - screen during the thirteenth - season premiere.
what season did stabler leave law and order
thirteenth