The Law & Order franchise is a number of related American television series created by Dick Wolf and originally broadcast on NBC, all of which deal with some aspect of the criminal justice system. Together, the original series, its various spin-offs, the TV film, and crossover episodes from other shows constitute over 1,000 hours of programming.
Shared people and resources in a common fictional setting are the connecting links between the shows, e.g., Hudson University and the New York Ledger tabloid newspaper. Many supporting characters, such as district attorneys, psychologists and medical examiners are also shared among the shows. Occasionally, crossovers of main characters or shared storylines between two of the shows will occur. A few major characters have also left the cast of one show within the franchise only to eventually join another.
The music, style and credits of the shows tend to be similar, with the voiceover in the opening of every series performed by Steven Zirnkilton.[1] Past episodes of the American series are in syndication with local over-the-air stations, along with cable channels such as USA Network and Bravo (both owned by the franchise's production company, NBCUniversal), TNT, WGN America, Ion Television, and AMC Networks' SundanceTV and WeTV, showing episodes sometimes up to six times a day.
In October 2012, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit show runner/executive producer Warren Leight said of the future of the Law & Order franchise, "(Dick Wolf and I) sometimes talk in general terms of where (the franchise) could go. I'm curious to see if there's another iteration somewhere down the line," he says. "We try hard to maintain a certain level of quality which I think is why the shows sustained in reruns so well. And I'd like to believe there's room for another generation in some way."[2]
In February 2015, NBC announced their intentions to bring back the flagship Law & Order as a limited series.[3]
Template:As of, 1,052 original episodes of the Law & Order franchise have aired.
Franchise[]
Overall[]
- Original franchise run: (48 seasons, 1052 episodes) (September 13, 1990 – present)
- Longest running series: Law & Order (20 seasons, 456 episodes) (September 13, 1990 – May 24, 2010)
- Second longest running series: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (16 seasons, 366 episodes) (September 20, 1999 – present)
- Third longest running series: Law & Order: Criminal Intent (10 seasons, 195 episodes) (September 30, 2001 – June 26, 2011)
- Shortest running series: Law & Order: Trial by Jury (1 season, 13 episodes) (March 3, 2005 – January 21, 2006)
- Second shortest running series: Law & Order: LA (1 season, 22 episodes) (September 29, 2010 – July 11, 2011)
Current series[]
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–present)
- The current cast includes Mariska Hargitay as Sgt. Olivia Benson, Kelli Giddish as Det. Amanda Rollins, Raúl Esparza as ADA Rafael Barba, Ice-T as Det. Fin Tutuola and Peter Scanavino as Det. Dominick Carisi.
- The show's focus is on detectives who investigate sexually based crimes and crimes against children and the elderly.
- The current cast includes Mariska Hargitay as Sgt. Olivia Benson, Kelli Giddish as Det. Amanda Rollins, Raúl Esparza as ADA Rafael Barba, Ice-T as Det. Fin Tutuola and Peter Scanavino as Det. Dominick Carisi.
Past series[]
- Law & Order (1990–2010)
- The cast for the final season included Jeremy Sisto as Det. Cyrus Lupo, Anthony Anderson as Det. Kevin Bernard, S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt. Anita Van Buren, Linus Roache as EADA Michael Cutter, Alana de la Garza as ADA Connie Rubirosa, and Sam Waterston as District Attorney Jack McCoy.
- The first half hour of the show focuses on the police investigation of a crime discovered in the cold open; the second half takes place at the Manhattan District Attorney's office and focuses on the prosecution of the criminal suspect(s).Template:Clear
- On May 14, 2010, NBC announced that it was canceling the original series, although various spin-offs will continue. The series finale aired on May 24, 2010.[4] Wolf briefly attempted to continue the series on cable,[5][6] but the series "moved into the history books".[7]
- The cast for the final season included Jeremy Sisto as Det. Cyrus Lupo, Anthony Anderson as Det. Kevin Bernard, S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt. Anita Van Buren, Linus Roache as EADA Michael Cutter, Alana de la Garza as ADA Connie Rubirosa, and Sam Waterston as District Attorney Jack McCoy.
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001–2011)
- The cast for the final season included Vincent D'Onofrio as Det. Robert Goren,[8] Kathryn Erbe as Det. Alexandra Eames,[9] Jay O. Sanders as Capt. Joseph Hannah[10] and Julia Ormond as Dr. Paula Gyson.
- This show focuses on high-profile cases investigated by the Major Case Squad, with special focus on the actions of the criminals pursued, often including scenes from the victim's or perpetrator's lives not involving the police, thereby giving a hint as to the "criminal intent".
- On July 15, 2011, USA Network co-president Jeff Wachtel confirmed Law & Order: CI would end with its tenth season.[11]
- The cast for the final season included Vincent D'Onofrio as Det. Robert Goren,[8] Kathryn Erbe as Det. Alexandra Eames,[9] Jay O. Sanders as Capt. Joseph Hannah[10] and Julia Ormond as Dr. Paula Gyson.
- Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005–2006)
- Starring Bebe Neuwirth as Tracey Kibre, Amy Carlson as Kelly Gaffney, Kirk Acevedo as Hector Salazar, Scott Cohen as Det. Chris Ravell, Fred Thompson as Arthur Branch, and Jerry Orbach as Lennie Briscoe.
- This series mostly followed the preparation by the legal teams, both prosecution and defense, for a jury trial.
- This was the first Law & Order spin-off to be canceled due to low ratings; Orbach's death (which occurred during taping of the show) also contributed to the show's cancellation, as well as its competition with the hit series Numb3rs.
- Starring Bebe Neuwirth as Tracey Kibre, Amy Carlson as Kelly Gaffney, Kirk Acevedo as Hector Salazar, Scott Cohen as Det. Chris Ravell, Fred Thompson as Arthur Branch, and Jerry Orbach as Lennie Briscoe.
- Law & Order: LA (2010–2011)
- The cast included Alfred Molina as Det. Ricardo Morales, Corey Stoll as Det. Tomas "TJ" Jaruszalski, Rachel Ticotin as Lt. Arleen Gonzales, Terrence Howard as D.D.A. Jonah Dekker and Alana de la Garza as D.D.A. Connie Rubirosa with Peter Coyote as District Attorney Jerry Hardin in a recurring role.
- Originally titled Law & Order: Los Angeles.
- This was the first American Law & Order series set outside of New York City.
- As with the original series, the first half hour of the show focused on the police investigation of a crime discovered in the cold open; the second half took place at the Los Angeles District Attorney's office and focused on the prosecution of the criminal suspect(s).
- On May 13, 2011, Law & Order: LA was cancelled by NBC after only one season, but because of the hiatus did not air its final episode until July 11, 2011.[12][13][14]
- The cast included Alfred Molina as Det. Ricardo Morales, Corey Stoll as Det. Tomas "TJ" Jaruszalski, Rachel Ticotin as Lt. Arleen Gonzales, Terrence Howard as D.D.A. Jonah Dekker and Alana de la Garza as D.D.A. Connie Rubirosa with Peter Coyote as District Attorney Jerry Hardin in a recurring role.
TV film[]
The Law & Order franchise has one TV film, Exiled: A Law & Order Movie (1998). Chris Noth reprises his role as Mike Logan, as the film explores what happened to the character following his departure from the original series.
Video games[]
The franchise has also spawned a series of video games for the PC, which feature appearances by then-current cast members of the TV series.
The typical course of most of the games follows the original series' format with the player investigating a crime with interviews of witnesses and examination of evidence. After the arrest is made, the player then prosecutes the case with challenges such as selecting appropriate questions for witnesses on the stand, recognizing improper questions to raise objections and selecting the most persuasive arguments for the judge to allow certain evidence in court.
- Law & Order: Dead on the Money
- Law & Order: Double or Nothing
- Law & Order: Justice is Served
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent
- Law & Order: Legacies
Crossovers[]
Template:Seealso The following table lists all the crossover stories in the Law & Order franchise.
Crossover Between | Episode Title | Actors Appearing Outside Their Series | Date Broadcast | Description | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Series A | Series B | Series C | ||||
Template:Nowrap | Homicide | N/A | "Charm City" (Law & Order S06E13) "For God and Country" (Homicide S04E12) |
Appearing in Series A: Richard Belzer, Kyle Secor, Andre Braugher Appearing in Series B: Benjamin Bratt, Jerry Orbach, Jill Hennessy |
Template:Nowrap February 9, 1996 |
Briscoe and Curtis clash with Pembleton and Bayliss, who have come to New York to investigate a subway explosion resembling an unsolved bombing in Baltimore from five years ago. The investigation soon leads to a larger conspiracy. |
Template:Nowrap | Homicide | N/A | "Baby, It's You" (Law & Order S08E06) (Homicide S06E05) |
Appearing in Series A: Richard Belzer, Jon Seda Yaphet Kotto Appearing in Series B: Benjamin Bratt, Jerry Orbach, Sam Waterston, Carey Lowell |
Template:Nowrap November 14, 1997 |
Falsone and Munch team up with Briscoe and Curtis to investigate the murder of a 14-year-old girl. They trace the suspect from New York back to Baltimore. |
Law & Order | Homicide | N/A | "Sideshow" (Law & Order S09E14) (Homicide S07E15) |
Appearing in Series A: Richard Belzer, Michael Michele Appearing in Series B: Benjamin Bratt, Jerry Orbach, Sam Waterston |
February 17, 1999 February 19, 1999 |
The New York and Baltimore detectives re-team to investigate the murder of a government worker and expose a connection to the White House. |
Template:Nowrap | Template:Nowrap | N/A | "Entitled" (Law & Order: SVU S01E15) (Law & Order S10E14) |
Appearing in Series A: Angie Harmon, Steven Hill, Jesse L. Martin, Jerry Orbach, Sam Waterston Appearing in Series B: Dann Florek, Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni, Richard Belzer |
February 18, 2000 | The detectives of Special Victims Unit team with the 27th Precinct to investigate a salesman's murder, leading them to a politically influential family. When the case goes to court, McCoy finds the matriarch to be a formidable opponent. |
Law & Order | Template:Nowrap | N/A | "Tombstone" (Law & Order S15E20) "Skeleton" (Law & Order: Trial By Jury S01E08) |
Appearing in Series B: Richard Belzer, Jesse L. Martin, S. Epatha Merkerson, Dennis Farina, Sam Waterston | April 14, 2005 April 15, 2005 |
Green is shot while taking a murder witness to trial, leading Fontana to team up with Salazar and uncover ties to a porn magnate. |
Law & Order: SVU | Law & Order: Trial By Jury |
N/A | "Night" (Law & Order: SVU S06E20) "Day" (Law & Order: Trial By Jury S01E11) |
Appearing in Series A: Bebe Neuwirth, Kirk Acevedo, Fred Dalton Thompson Appearing in Series B: Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, Diane Neal, Tamara Tunie, Carolyn McCormick |
May 3, 2005 | A man is suspected of rape and facts about his adolescence are revealed at his trial. |
Law & Order: SVU | Law & Order | N/A | "Design" (Law & Order: SVU S07E02) "Flaw" (Law & Order S16E02) |
Appearing in Series B: Mariska Hargitay, Ice T | September 27, 2005 September 28, 2005 |
A mother-daughter con team get away with fraud, then are tried for murder. |
Law & Order: SVU | Chicago P.D. | N/A | "Comic Perversion" (Law & Order: SVU S15E15) "Conventions" (Chicago PD S01E06) |
Appearing in Series A: Sophia Bush Appearing in Series B: Ice T, Kelli Giddish |
February 26, 2014 | Chicago detective Erin Lindsay asks the NYPD for help in solving a series of rapes and murders, so Tutuola and Rollins head to Chicago to help Voight and Antonio catch the culprit. |
Chicago Fire | Template:Nowrap | Template:Nowrap | "Nobody Touches Anything" (Chicago Fire S03E07) "Chicago Crossover" (Law & Order: SVU S16E07) "They'll Have to Go Through Me" (Chicago PD S02E07) |
Appearing in Series A: Jason Beghe, Sophia Bush, Kelli Giddish Appearing in Series B: Jason Beghe, Sophia Bush, Jesse Lee Soffer Appearing in Series C: Danny Pino, Kelli Giddish, Mariska Hargitay |
November 11, 2014 November 12, 2014 |
When Firehouse 51 rescues the owner of a house on fire, they find him clutching a suspicious box, so the Chicago Intelligence Unit is brought in for further investigation, leading them to work with Special Victims Unit to take down a child pornography ring. |
Chicago Fire | Template:Nowrap | Template:Nowrap | "We Called Her Jellybean" (Chicago Fire S03E21) "The Number of Rats" (Chicago PD S02E20) "Daydream Believer" (Law & Order: SVU S16E20) |
Appearing in Series A: Mariska Hargitay, Jason Beghe, Jon Seda, Tamara Tunie Appearing in Series B: Mariska Hargitay, Danny Pino, Ice-T, Peter Scanavino, Jesse Spencer, Eamonn Walker Appearing in Series C: Jason Beghe, Sophia Bush, Jesse Lee Soffer, Marina Squerciati, Brian Geraghty, Stella Maeve |
April 28, 2015 April 29, 2015 |
An apartment fire connected to a case of attempted rape and murder resembles an unsolved case in New York, so Special Victims Unit and Chicago Intelligence work together to find the suspect. |
Related series[]
Within the Law & Order universe[]
In addition to the five Law & Order-titled series that comprise the franchise proper, other American TV series have been established as taking place in the same fictional universe as the franchise.
- Homicide: Life on the Street (1993–1999)
- Homicide and L&O occasionally crossed over. Various characters from L&O and Homicide appeared on the other series, as two-part stories were periodically begun on an episode of one series and concluded on the other, the same criminal having committed crimes in both Baltimore and New York City, or a crime in one city having a connection in the other.
- Richard Belzer's Det. John Munch transferred from the Baltimore PD to the NYPD on SVU; one of Briscoe's former lovers had been previously married to Munch; although Munch was initially resentful of Briscoe, the two quickly bonded over their mutual resentment of the woman.
- As Alfre Woodard and Ed Begley, Jr. reprised their roles as Dr. Roxanne Turner and Dr. Victor Ehrlich from St. Elsewhere in Homicide and its sequel Homicide: The Movie respectively, St. Elsewhere also takes place in the same fictional universe as the franchise. However, that series ended before Law & Order began.
- The series also received a spin-off of its own, Homicide: Second Shift.
- New York Undercover (1994–1998)
- Co-created by Kevin Arkadie and Dick Wolf, was implicitly a part of the same universe as the franchise, as psychologist and psychiatrist characters from L&O appeared in the series.
- Deadline (2000–2001)
- Also created by Dick Wolf, featured reporters based at the franchise's fictitious newspaper, the New York Ledger.
- Conviction (2006)
- Starred Stephanie March as Alexandra Cabot, Anson Mount as Jim Steele, Eric Balfour as Brian Peluso, J. August Richards as Billy Desmond, Milena Govich as Jessica Rossi, Julianne Nicholson as Christina Finn, and Jordan Bridges as Nick Potter.
- March reprises her role of Cabot originally from SVU and is now the Homicide Bureau Chief ADA. Cabot would return to SVU after this show's end.
- The series features a larger ensemble cast of young ADAs, with no police, therapists or medical examiners in lead roles.
- After its cancellation, two of the show's actresses, Milena Govich and Julianne Nicholson, went on to star in Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent respectively as Detectives Nina Cassidy and Megan Wheeler.
- In Plain Sight (2008–2012)
- Deputy Marshall Mary Shannon guest stars on the L&O: CI episode "Contract" to provide additional back-story for the suspect Frank Chess, whom she placed into Witness Protection prior to the events of this episode.
- Jo (2013)
- In the series' final episode "The Catacombs", Olivia d'Abo reprised her role as Nicole Wallace, who was operating in Paris under the pseudonym "Madeleine Haynes" five years after her supposed death.
- Chicago P.D. and Chicago Fire (2014–present)
- Chicago P.D. was co-created by Dick Wolf as a spin-off of Chicago Fire (2012–present), that establishes its parent series as being part of the Law & Order universe as well. The two Chicago shows have had crossovers with each other and with SVU.
Adaptations outside the U.S.[]
The franchise, as a result of its popularity, has led to the adaptation of scripts from the US-based series into foreign-produced series. These are:
- Paris enquêtes criminelles (Paris Criminal Investigations) (2007–2008)[15]
- Starring Vincent Pérez as Commender Vincent Revel, Sandrine Rigaux as Lieutenant Claire Savigny, Jacques Pater as Police Chief Bonnefoy, Hélène Godec as Judge Frances Lherbier, Laure Killing as Judge Fontana, and Audrey Looten as Mélanie Rousseau.
- The show follows the format of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, adapted to Paris and the French legal system.
- Starring Vincent Pérez as Commender Vincent Revel, Sandrine Rigaux as Lieutenant Claire Savigny, Jacques Pater as Police Chief Bonnefoy, Hélène Godec as Judge Frances Lherbier, Laure Killing as Judge Fontana, and Audrey Looten as Mélanie Rousseau.
- Закон и Порядок: Отдел Оперативных Расследований (Law & Order: Division of Field Investigation) (2007–2008)[16][17]
- Starring Ivan Oganesyan, Alisa Bogart.
- The show follows the format of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, set in Moscow and adapted to the Russian justice system. Template:Clear
- Starring Ivan Oganesyan, Alisa Bogart.
- Закон и порядок. Преступный умысел (Law & Order: Criminal Mind) (2007–2009)[18]
- Starring Mikhail Homyakov, Igor Lagutin, Elena (Alena) Kovalchuk & Boris Mironov
- This show follows the format of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, set in Moscow and is adapted to the Russian Justice System
- Starring Mikhail Homyakov, Igor Lagutin, Elena (Alena) Kovalchuk & Boris Mironov
- Law & Order: UK (2009–2014)[19][20]
- Starring Bradley Walsh as Senior Detective Sergeant Ronnie Brooks, Paul Nicholls as Junior Detective Sergeant Samuel Casey, Patterson Joseph as Detective Chief Inspector Wes Layton, Dominic Rowan as Senior Crown Prosecutor Jacob Thorne, Georgia Taylor as Junior Crown Prosecutor Kate Barker and Peter Davison as London Crown Prosecution Service Director Henry Sharpe.
- This show follows the format of the original Law & Order show but adapts it to the new setting of London, with detectives from the Metropolitan Police CID and the Crown Prosecution Service attempting to secure a conviction.
- Starring Bradley Walsh as Senior Detective Sergeant Ronnie Brooks, Paul Nicholls as Junior Detective Sergeant Samuel Casey, Patterson Joseph as Detective Chief Inspector Wes Layton, Dominic Rowan as Senior Crown Prosecutor Jacob Thorne, Georgia Taylor as Junior Crown Prosecutor Kate Barker and Peter Davison as London Crown Prosecution Service Director Henry Sharpe.
John Munch crossovers[]
- Main article: John Munch
The SVU character John Munch, who originated on Homicide, is notable for either appearing in or being referenced in a wide variety of other series, ranging from appearing in the science fiction series The X-Files, to the sitcom Arrested Development, to being referenced by name in the UK crime drama Luther. Whether this places these series in the L&O universe is a matter of debate.
Series overview[]
Franchise
Series | Duration | Television seasons | No. of episodes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1990–91 | 1991–92 | 1992–93 | 1993–94 | 1994–95 | 1995–96 | 1996–97 | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | 2003–04 | 2004–05 | 2005–06 | 2006–07 | 2007–08 | 2008–09 | 2009–10 | 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 | 2014–15 | 2015–16 | |||
Law & Order | 1990–2010 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 456 | ||||||
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | 1999– | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 366 | |||||||||
Law & Order: Criminal Intent | 2001–2011 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 195 | ||||||||||||||||
Law & Order: Trial by Jury | 2005–2006 | 1 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Law & Order: LA | 2010–2011 | 1 | 22 |
Universe
Series | Duration | Television seasons | No. of episodes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1990–91 | 1991–92 | 1992–93 | 1993–94 | 1994–95 | 1995–96 | 1996–97 | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | 2003–04 | 2004–05 | 2005–06 | 2006–07 | 2007–08 | 2008–09 | 2009–10 | 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 | 2014–15 | 2015–16 | |||
Homicide: Life on the Street | 1993–1999 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 122 | |||||||||||||||||||
New York Undercover | 1994–1998 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 89 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Deadline | 2000–2001 | 1 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conviction | 2006 | 1 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
In Plain Sight | 2008–2012 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 61 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Chicago Fire | 2012– | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 69 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Chicago P.D. | 2014– | 1 | 2 | 3 | 38 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Chicago Med | 2015– | 1 | 0 |
Location[]
Setting[]
Most of the American series have been filmed almost entirely in the New York City area. The original Law & Order series has filmed a few episodes in the Los Angeles area and Baltimore; these episodes or portions of episodes were set in the cities in which they were filmed and concerned multi-jurisdictional investigations or extradition.
Law & Order: Los Angeles expanded the franchise to a new main city, the new series' namesake. L&O: LA was cancelled after one season.
Effects on casting[]
With some frequency, actors have appeared on the various series that make up the franchise, usually as different (sometimes very different) characters. This is because filming occurs in the New York City area and thus draws from the same pool of actors. Some prominent examples of the same actor playing different roles in different episodes are:
- S. Epatha Merkerson playing a maid whose child was killed in a season 1 episode of the original L&O before joining the cast in season 4 as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren and going on to be the longest-serving cast member of the parent series.
- Diane Neal playing a female rapist in an earlier season of Special Victims Unit before becoming the Assistant District Attorney for that series.
- Annabella Sciorra playing a criminal defense attorney in Trial by Jury and later Det. Mike Logan's (Chris Noth) partner in Criminal Intent
- Jerry Orbach playing a defense attorney on the original series before joining it as Det. Lennie Briscoe
- Ice-T playing a pimp known as Seymour Stockton in the franchise's only film, Exiled: A Law & Order Movie, before taking on the role of Tutuola on SVU
- Anthony Anderson playing Detective Lucius Blaine in a seventh season episode of SVU before playing Bernard on the original Law & Order
- Jeremy Sisto played a defense attorney in the last episode of season 17 before joining the cast as Cyrus Lupo at the start of season 18.
- Kelli Giddish played a rape victim in the eighth season episode "Outsider" of SVU before joining the show in season 13 as Amanda Rollins.
- Raúl Esparza played different characters on Law & Order and Criminal Intent before joining SVU in its 14th season as Assistant District Attorney Rafael Barba.
- Peter Scanavino multiple characters in Law & Order, Criminal Intent, Trial by Jury and SVU before joining the latter in season 16 as Dominick Carisi.
Also due to the New York filming, a number of actors appearing in Law & Order shows have had regular or recurring roles on soaps. Most notable is Tamara Tunie, who simultaneously played both medical examiner Melinda Warner on SVU as well as (until 2007) District Attorney Jessica Griffin on As the World Turns. Likewise, New York theater actors have also been frequently cast.
Also as the result of sharing the same pool of New York-based television actors, the series' casts have had significant overlap with that of the former HBO series Oz. This is perhaps most pronounced in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, whose cast has included three regularly credited actors (Christopher Meloni, B. D. Wong and Dean Winters), as well as two recurring actors (J. K. Simmons and Mike Doyle) who were also regularly credited actors on Oz, also Kathryn Erbe from Oz starring in Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Similarly, Law & Order: UK sees significant overlap with other programs' casts; most prominently series regulars Freema Agyeman and Peter Davison, who starred in Doctor Who as companion Martha Jones and the Fifth Doctor, both of whom appeared in the mini-episode "Time Crash".
Characters in the franchise[]
- Main article: List of Law & Order characters
- L&O = Law & Order (1990–2010)
- SVU = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–present)
- CI = Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001–2011)
- TBJ = Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005–2006)
- LA = Law & Order: LA (2010–2011)
Police and District Attorney investigators[]
Character | Portrayed by | Occupation | Franchise | Episodes (franchise) |
Episodes (franchise and universe) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
L&O | SVU | CI | TBJ | LA | |||||
Max Greevey | George Dzundza | Detective Sergeant |
1990–1991 | 22 | |||||
Mike Logan | Chris Noth | Detective | 1990–1995 | 2005–2008 | 147 | 148 | |||
Donald Cragen | Dann Florek | Captain | 1990–1993, 1995, 1999, 2005 | 1999–2014 | 400 | ||||
Phil Cerreta | Paul Sorvino | Detective Sergeant |
1991–1992 | 31 | |||||
Lennie Briscoe | Jerry Orbach | Detective DA Investigator |
1992–2004 | 1999–2000 | 2001 | 2005 | 280 | 283 | |
Anita Van Buren | S. Epatha Merkerson | Lieutenant | 1993–2010 | 2002 | 2005 | 393 | |||
Rey Curtis | Benjamin Bratt | Detective | 1995–1999, 2010 | 95 | 98 | ||||
John Munch | Richard Belzer | Detective Sergeant |
1996–2000 | 1999–2014 | 2005 | 330 | 456 | ||
Ed Green | Jesse L. Martin | Detective | 1999–2008 | 1999–2000 | 2001 | 2005 | 202 | ||
Olivia Benson | Mariska Hargitay | Detective Sergeant |
2000–2005 | 1999–present | 2005 | 370 | 373 | ||
Elliot Stabler | Christopher Meloni | Detective | 2000 | 1999–2011 | 2005 | 275 | |||
Brian Cassidy | Dean Winters | Detective | 1999 2012–2014 |
27 | |||||
Monique Jeffries | Michelle Hurd | Detective | 1999–2001 | 25 | |||||
Odafin "Fin" Tutuola | Ice-T | Detective | 2005 | 2000–present | 345 | 347 | |||
Robert Goren | Vincent D'Onofrio | Detective | 2001–2011 | 141 | |||||
Alexandra Eames | Kathryn Erbe | Detective Lieutenant |
2012–2013 | 2001–2011 | 146 | ||||
James Deakins | Jamey Sheridan | Captain | 2001–2006 | 111 | |||||
G. Lynn Bishop | Samantha Buck | Detective | 2003–2004 | 7 | |||||
Joe Fontana | Dennis Farina | Detective | 2004–2006 | 2005 | 47 | ||||
Nick Falco | Michael Imperioli | Detective | 2005 | 6 | |||||
Carolyn Barek | Annabella Sciorra | Detective | 2005–2006 | 12 | |||||
Hector Salazar | Kirk Acevedo | DA Investigator | 2005 | 2005 | 2005–2006 | 14 | |||
Chris Ravell | Scott Cohen | Detective | 2005–2006 | 10 | |||||
Dani Beck | Connie Nielsen | Detective | 2006 | 6 | |||||
Nina Cassady | Milena Govich | Detective | 2006–2007 | 23 | |||||
Megan Wheeler | Julianne Nicholson | Detective | 2006–2009 | 24 | |||||
Danny Ross | Eric Bogosian | Captain | 2006–2010 | 61 | |||||
Cyrus Lupo | Jeremy Sisto | Detective | 2007–2010 | 64 | |||||
Kevin Bernard | Anthony Anderson | Detective | 2008–2010 | 50 | |||||
Chester Lake | Adam Beach | Detective | 2007–2008 | 21 | |||||
Nola Falacci | Alicia Witt | Detective | 2007 | 5 | |||||
Zack Nichols | Jeff Goldblum | Detective | 2009–2010 | 24 | |||||
Serena Stevens | Saffron Burrows | Detective | 2010 | 15 | |||||
Zoe Callas | Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio | Captain | 2010 | 14 | |||||
Rex Winters | Skeet Ulrich | Detective | 2010 | 2010–2011 | 15 | ||||
Tomas "TJ" Jaruszalski | Corey Stoll | Detective | 2010–2011 | 22 | |||||
Arleen Gonzales | Wanda de Jesus | Lieutenant | 2010 | 1 | |||||
Arleen Gonzales | Rachel Ticotin | Lieutenant | 2010–2011 | 21 | |||||
Ricardo Morales | Alfred Molina | Deputy District Attorney Detective |
2010–2011 | 8 | |||||
Joseph Hannah | Jay O. Sanders | Captain | 2011 | 9 | |||||
Nick Amaro | Danny Pino | Detective | 2011–2015 | 94 | 96 | ||||
Amanda Rollins | Kelli Giddish | Detective | 2011–present | 94 | 97 | ||||
Dominick Carisi, Jr. | Peter Scanavino | Detective | 2014–present | 22 | 23 |
- Additionally, the characters of Mike Logan, Lennie Briscoe, Rey Curtis, Don Cragen and Anita Van Buren appear in the 1998 TV film Exiled: A Law & Order Movie
District Attorney's office[]
Character | Portrayed by | Occupation | Franchise | Episodes (franchise) |
Episodes (franchise and universe) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
L&O | SVU | CI | TBJ | LA | |||||
Alfred Wentworth | Roy Thinnes | District Attorney | 1990 | 1 | |||||
Benjamin Stone | Michael Moriarty | Executive Assistant District Attorney | 1990–1994 | 88 | |||||
Paul Robinette | Richard Brooks | Assistant District Attorney | 1990–1993 | 66 | |||||
Adam Schiff | Steven Hill | District Attorney | 1990–2000 | 2000 | 231 | ||||
Claire Kincaid | Jill Hennessy | Assistant District Attorney | 1993–1996 | 68 | 69 | ||||
Jack McCoy | Sam Waterston | Executive Assistant District Attorney District Attorney |
1994–2010 | 2000 2007 2010 |
2005 | 373 | 375 | ||
Jamie Ross | Carey Lowell | Assistant District Attorney | 1996–1998 | 47 | 48 | ||||
Abbie Carmichael | Angie Harmon | Assistant District Attorney | 1998–2001 | 1999–2000 | 78 | ||||
Nora Lewin | Dianne Wiest | District Attorney | 2000–2002 | 2001–2002 | 2001 | 50 | |||
Alexandra Cabot | Stephanie March | Assistant District Attorney | 2000–2003 2005 2009–2010 2011–2012[21] |
96 | 109 | ||||
Stan Villani | Ron Liebman | Executive Assistant District Attorney | 2001 | 4 | |||||
Serena Southerlyn | Elisabeth Röhm | Assistant District Attorney | 2001–2005 | 85 | |||||
Ron Carver | Courtney B. Vance | Assistant District Attorney | 2001–2006 | 111 | |||||
Elizabeth Donnelly | Judith Light | Bureau Chief Assistant District Attorney | 2002–2004 2008 |
12 | |||||
Arthur Branch | Fred Thompson | District Attorney | 2002–2007 | 2003–2006 | 2005 | 2005 | 141 | 142 | |
Casey Novak | Diane Neal | Assistant District Attorney | 2003–2008 2011–2012[21] |
2005 | 113 | ||||
Alexandra Borgia | Annie Parisse | Assistant District Attorney | 2005–2006 | 33 | |||||
Tracey Kibre | Bebe Neuwirth | Bureau Chief Assistant District Attorney | 2005 | 2005–2006 | 14 | ||||
Kelly Gaffney | Amy Carlson | Assistant District Attorney | 2005–2006 | 13 | |||||
Connie Rubirosa | Alana de la Garza | Assistant District Attorney Deputy District Attorney |
2006–2010 | 2014 | 2011 | 94 | |||
Michael Cutter | Linus Roache | Executive Assistant District Attorney Bureau Chief Assistant District Attorney |
2008–2010 | 2011–2012[22] | 67 | ||||
Kim Greylek | Michaela McManus | Assistant District Attorney | 2008–2009 | 22 | |||||
Sonya Paxton | Christine Lahti | Executive Assistant District Attorney | 2009–2011 | 7 | |||||
Jo Marlowe | Sharon Stone | Assistant District Attorney | 2010 | 4 | |||||
Ricardo Morales | Alfred Molina | Deputy District Attorney Detective |
2010–2011 | 8 | |||||
Jonah "Joe" Dekker | Terrence Howard | Deputy District Attorney | 2011 | 2010–2011 | 16 | ||||
Evelyn Price | Regina Hall | Deputy District Attorney | 2010–2011 | 7 | |||||
Lauren Stanton | Megan Boone | Deputy District Attorney | 2010–2011 | 7 | |||||
Sherri West | Francie Swift | Assistant District Attorney | 2010–2011 | 5 | |||||
Gillian Hardwicke | Melissa Sagemiller | Assistant District Attorney | 2010–2011 | 10 | |||||
Jerry Hardin | Peter Coyote | District Attorney | 2010–2011 | 8 | |||||
Rose Callier | Tabitha Holbert | Assistant District Attorney | 2011–2012 2014 |
6 | |||||
David Haden | Harry Connick, Jr. | Executive Assistant District Attorney | 2012 | 4 | |||||
Rafael Barba | Raúl Esparza | Assistant District Attorney | 2012–present | 58 |
- Additionally, the character of Jack McCoy appears in the 1998 TV film Exiled: A Law & Order Movie
Psychiatrists and psychologists[]
Character | Portrayed by | Occupation | Franchise | Episodes (franchise) |
Episodes (franchise and universe) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
L&O | SVU | CI | TBJ | LA | |||||
Elizabeth Olivet, Ph.D. | Carolyn McCormick | Psychologist | 1991–2010 | 1999–2001, 2013 |
2006 | 2005 | 93 | 94 | |
Emil Skoda, M.D. | J. K. Simmons | Psychiatrist | 1997–2010 | 2000–2001 | 2002 | 53 | 54 | ||
Agent George Huang, M.D. | B. D. Wong | Psychiatrist | 2001–2014 | 229 | |||||
Paula Gyson, Ph.D. | Julia Ormond | Psychologist | 2011 | 7 |
Medical examiners[]
Character | Portrayed by | Occupation | Franchise | Episodes (franchise) |
Episodes (franchise and universe) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
L&O | SVU | CI | TBJ | LA | |||||
Elizabeth Rodgers, M.D. | Leslie Hendrix | Assistant Chief Medical Examiner | 1992–2010 | 1999–2000 | 2001–2011 | 2005 | 262 | ||
Melinda Warner, M.D. | Tamara Tunie | Medical Examiner | 2000–present | 2005 | 219 | 220 | |||
Miwako Nishizawa, M.D. | Tamlyn Tomita | Medical Examiner | 2010–2011 | 10 |
References[]
- ↑ "Ask the Editors"; TV Guide; April 19, 2010; Page 6.
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/07/law_order_amc.html
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ http://www.deadline.com/2010/09/usa-picks-up-law-order-ci-for-final-season-with-star-vincent-donofrio-gives-dick-wolf-pilot-commitment-for-new-project/
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ French producer's website
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Official site in Russian
- ↑ http://ruskino.ru/mov/9438
- ↑ The Hollywood Reporter
- ↑ Broadcasting - News - 'Torchwood' writer to lead UK 'Law & Order' - Digital Spy
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 TV Line:Law & Order: SVU Scoop: Stephanie March, Diane Neal Heading Back to Court
- ↑ Template:Cite news
External links[]
- Law & Order - NBC's official website
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - NBC's official website
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent - USA Network's official website
- Law & Order: UK - ITV's official website
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