List of Law & Order characters
The American television police procedural and legal drama Law & Order (1990–2010) follows the cases of a group of police detectives and prosecutors who represent the public interest in the criminal justice system. Known for its revolving cast, most of the original stars had left the show within the first five seasons;[1] though Dann Florek reprised his role of Capt. Donald Cragen on the spin-off series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit from 1999 to 2014, and Chris Noth reprised his role of Det. Mike Logan on Law & Order: Criminal Intent from 2005 to 2008. The longest-serving main cast members of the original series include Steven Hill as D.A. Adam Schiff (1990–2000), Jerry Orbach as Det. Lennie Briscoe (1992–2004),[2][3] S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt. Anita Van Buren (1993–2010),[4] Sam Waterston as EADA/DA Jack McCoy (1994–2010) and Jesse L. Martin as Det. Ed Green (1999–2008). Long-running recurring cast members on the series include John Fiore as Det. Tony Profaci (1990-1998), Carolyn McCormick as Dr. Elizabeth Olivet (1991–2009), Leslie Hendrix as Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers (1992–2010) and J.K. Simmons as Dr. Emil Skoda (1997–2010).
Main characters
Name | Portrayed by | Occupation | Seasons | ||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | ||||
Max Greevey | George Dzundza | Senior Detective (Sergeant) | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mike Logan | Chris Noth | Junior Detective | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Donald Cragen | Dann Florek | Captain | Main | Guest | Guest | Guest | |||||||||||||||||
Ben Stone | Michael Moriarty | Executive Assistant District Attorney | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Paul Robinette | Richard Brooks | Assistant District Attorney | Main | Guest | Guest | ||||||||||||||||||
Adam Schiff | Steven Hill | District Attorney | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Phil Cerreta | Paul Sorvino | Senior Detective (Sergeant) | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Elizabeth Olivet | Carolyn McCormick | Psychologist | Guest | Also Starring | Guest | Guest | Guest | ||||||||||||||||
Lennie Briscoe | Jerry Orbach | Senior Detective | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Anita Van Buren | S. Epatha Merkerson | Lieutenant | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Claire Kincaid | Jill Hennessy | Assistant District Attorney | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Jack McCoy | Sam Waterston | Executive Assistant District Attorney, District Attorney | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rey Curtis | Benjamin Bratt | Junior Detective | Main | Guest | |||||||||||||||||||
Jamie Ross | Carey Lowell | Assistant District Attorney | Main | Guest | |||||||||||||||||||
Abbie Carmichael | Angie Harmon | Assistant District Attorney | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ed Green | Jesse L. Martin | Junior Detective, Senior Detective | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nora Lewin | Dianne Wiest | Interim District Attorney | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Serena Southerlyn | Elisabeth Röhm | Assistant District Attorney | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Arthur Branch | Fred Thompson | District Attorney | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Joe Fontana | Dennis Farina | Senior Detective | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nick Falco | Michael Imperioli | Junior Detective | Main | Guest | |||||||||||||||||||
Alexandra Borgia | Annie Parisse | Assistant District Attorney | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nina Cassady | Milena Govich | Junior Detective | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Connie Rubirosa | Alana de la Garza | Assistant District Attorney | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cyrus Lupo | Jeremy Sisto | Junior Detective, Senior Detective | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Michael Cutter | Linus Roache | Executive Assistant District Attorney | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kevin Bernard | Anthony Anderson | Junior Detective | Main |
Police officers
Sergeants
Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes | Partners | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Max Greevey | George Dzundza | 1990–1991 | 23 | Mike Logan | * Murdered in 1991 |
Phil Cerreta | Paul Sorvino | 1991–1992 | 31 | Mike Logan | * Transferred to a desk job at the 110th Precinct after being shot on the job |
Senior Detectives
Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes | Partners | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lennie Briscoe | Jerry Orbach | 1992–2004 | 273 | Mike Logan (1992–1995) Rey Curtis (1995–1999) Ed Green (1999–2004) | * Retired (2004) * Deceased (2005) (Due to Jerry Orbach's death). |
Joe Fontana | Dennis Farina | 2004–2006 | 46 | Ed Green (2004–2006) Nick Falco (2005) | * Retired (2006) |
Ed Green | Jesse L. Martin | 2006–2008 | 198 | Nina Cassady (2006–2007) Cyrus Lupo (2008) | * Promoted to Senior Detective (2006). * Retired following his absolution during an Internal Affairs investigation (2008). |
Cyrus Lupo | Jeremy Sisto | 2008–2010 | 63 | Kevin Bernard (2008–2010) | * Transferred from Intelligence Division (2008). * Promoted to Senior Detective (2008). |
Junior Detectives
Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes | Senior Partners | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mike Logan | Chris Noth | 1990–1995 | 111 | Max Greevey (1990–1991) Phil Cerreta (1991–1992) Lennie Briscoe (1992–1995) | * Assigned to Staten Island from 1995–2005 after punching a homophobic politician. * Solved a major murder & police corruption case in Exiled: A Law & Order Movie. * Joined One Police Plaza's Major Case Squad 2005-2008. * Retired after solving a cold case (CI:Last Rites). |
Rey Curtis | Benjamin Bratt | 1995–1999 | 94 | Lennie Briscoe | * Took early retirement so he could care for his ill wife (1999). * Returned in 2009 to bury his deceased wife in New York. |
Ed Green | Jesse L. Martin | 1999–2006 | 198 | Lennie Briscoe (1999–2004) Joe Fontana (2004–2006) | * Promoted to senior detective (2006). Retired following his absolution during an Internal Affairs investigation (2008). |
Nick Falco | Michael Imperioli | 2005 | 5 | Joe Fontana | * Temporary replacement from Brooklyn for Ed Green, while Green was recovering from a gunshot wound. * Appears again in 2006 as a murder suspect, but was later cleared. |
Nina Cassady | Milena Govich | 2006–2007 | 22 | Ed Green | * Nicknamed 'Detective Beauty Queen' after her involvement in a shooting that led to her promotion. * Dismissed in 2007, although no reason is given on the show (However, it was most likely due to her lack of detective experience). |
Cyrus Lupo | Jeremy Sisto | 2008 | 63 | Ed Green (2008) | * Transferred from Intelligence Division (2008). * Promoted to Senior Detective (2008). |
Kevin Bernard | Anthony Anderson | 2008–2010 | 49 | Cyrus Lupo | * Transferred from Internal Affairs (2008). |
Supervising Officers
Name | Portrayed by | Rank | Year | Episodes | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Donald Cragen | Dann Florek | Captain | 1990–1993 | 66 | * Transferred to the Anti-Corruption Task Force and later to the Manhattan Special Victims Unit. * Left the NYPD in 2014, taking a six-month vacation that brought him up to the mandatory retirement age. * Returned briefly in 2015 to help the SVU re-examine a decades-old rape case. |
Anita Van Buren | S. Epatha Merkerson | Lieutenant | 1993–2010 | 390 |
Prosecutors
Executive Assistant District Attorneys
Name | Portrayed by | Year | Partners | Episodes | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ben Stone | Michael Moriarty | 1990–1994 | Paul Robinette & Claire Kincaid | 88 | * Resigns due to his feelings of guilt over the death of a witness whose safety he tried to guarantee. * In 1996, Adam Schiff informs Jack McCoy that Stone is travelling in Europe |
Jack McCoy | Sam Waterston | 1994–2007 | Claire Kincaid, Jamie Ross, Abbie Carmichael, Serena Southerlyn, Alexandra Borgia & Connie Rubirosa | 368 | * Promoted to interim D.A. (2008) * Begins his campaign to be elected as New York County District Attorney in 2009, with support from Adam Schiff. * Later episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit references a "new District Attorney," implying McCoy is no longer in office. |
Michael Cutter | Linus Roache | 2008–2010 | Connie Rubirosa | 63 | * Promoted to Bureau Chief of the Sex Crimes Unit of the DA's office. (2011) |
Assistant District Attorneys
Name | Portrayed by | Year | Partners | Episodes | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paul Robinette | Richard Brooks | 1990–1993 | Ben Stone | 66 | * Resigns to pursue private practice in 1993. *Appears in three subsequent episodes as a defense attorney between 1996 and 2005. |
Claire Kincaid | Jill Hennessy | 1993–1996 | Ben Stone & Jack McCoy | 68 | * Dies in a car crash in 1996. |
Jamie Ross | Carey Lowell | 1996–1998 | Jack McCoy | 47 | * Resigns to pursue private practice and to spend more time with her daughter (1998). * Reappears as a defense attorney in 1999 and 2001. * Reappears as a judge in Law & Order: Trial By Jury (2005). |
Abbie Carmichael | Angie Harmon | 1998–2001 | Jack McCoy | 72 | * Resigns to accept a job at the United States Attorney General's Office (2001). |
Serena Southerlyn | Elisabeth Röhm | 2001–2005 | Jack McCoy | 85 | * Fired by Arthur Branch for being inappropriately sympathetic towards a defendant she was prosecuting (2005). |
Alexandra Borgia | Annie Parisse | 2005–2006 | Jack McCoy | 34 | * Dies after being kidnapped and beaten during a murder trial (2006). |
Connie Rubirosa | Alana de la Garza | 2006–2010 | Jack McCoy & Michael Cutter | 85 | * Moves to Los Angeles and joins the DA's office there as a DDA (2011). * Later appears in Law & Order: SVU as a federal prosecutor leading an investigation into an underage sex trafficking operation (2014). |
Manhattan District Attorneys
Name | Portrayed by | Terms | Episodes | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alfred Wentworth | Roy Thinnes | 1990 | 1 | * Only appears in "Everybody's Favorite Bagman" |
Adam Schiff | Steven Hill | 1990–2000 | 228 | * Leaves office to work overseas for The Holocaust Project with Simon Wiesenthal and to investigate Swiss Banks during WWII, went with former President Jimmy Carter as part of a delegation to Zimbabwe in 2008. |
Nora Lewin | Dianne Wiest | 2000–2002 | 48 | * Prior to her appointment as interim DA by the Governor of New York, she was a law professor Chooses not to run for election following her interim term. |
Arthur Branch | Fred Thompson | 2002–2007 | 116 | Branch's departure, the reason for which was never specified on the series, occurred after Thompson announced his campaign for the Republican Party's 2008 nomination for President. |
Jack McCoy | Sam Waterston | 2007–2010 | 368 | * Appointed interim DA after Branch's departure in 2007. * Begins his election campaign to become New York County District Attorney in 2009. * Episode count includes those as Executive Assistant DA (62 as DA). |
Other main characters
Name | Portrayed by | Years | Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
Psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Olivet | Carolyn McCormick | 1991–1997; 1999; 2002-2009 | 87 |
Medical Examiner Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers | Leslie Hendrix | 1992–2010 | 139 |
Psychiatrist Dr. Emil Skoda | J.K. Simmons | 1997-2004; 2010 | 44 |
Recurring characters
Other law enforcement officers
Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
Detective Tony Profaci | John Fiore | 1990–1998 | 53 |
Detective Morris LeMotte | Larry Clarke | 1998–2000 | 20 |
Detective Reina Perez | Nancy Ticotin | 2001 | 6 |
Detective Ana Cordova | Andrea Navedo | 2001–2004 | 24 |
Sergeant Martinez | Joe Gonzalez | 2002–2004 | 7 |
Detective Mariluz Rivera | Selenis Leyva | 2004–2006 | 18 |
Detective Joe Cormack | Joe Forbrich | 2008–2009 | 17 |
CSU Investigators/Crime Lab Technicians
Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
CSU Technician Julian Beck | John Cariani | 2002–2006 | 26 |
CSU Technician Jessica Reed | Liz Larsen | 1998–2006 | 12 |
CSU Technician Lisa Santoro | Abigail Lopez | 2004–2005 | 3 |
Forensic Technician Medill | Donald Corren | 1992–1999 | 17 |
Forensic Technician Arlene Shrier | Christine Farrell | 1992–1999 | 16 |
Computer Forensic Technician Myra Camp | Megan Byrne | 2003–2004 | 6 |
Medical Examiners
Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
Borak | Josh Pais | 1990–2002 | 15 |
Brody | Richard Hirschfeld | 2002–2006 | 12 |
Defense Attorneys
Name | Portrayed by | Year | # of Eps |
---|---|---|---|
Danielle Melnick | Tovah Feldshuh | 1991–2007 | 13 |
Professor Norman Rothenberg | Jeffrey DeMunn | 1993–2008 | 8 |
Shambala Green | Lorraine Toussaint | 1990–1994, 2003 | 7 |
Lawrence "Larry" Weaver | Bob Dishy | 1994–2002 | 7 |
Nick Margolis | Ben Shenkman | 1999-2009 | 6 |
Bill Patton | Bill Moor | 1991–2000 | 6 |
Helen Brolin | Maria Tucci | 1993–2003 | 6 |
Peter Behrens | Tom O'Rourke | 1996–2001 | 6 |
Arthur Gold | George Grizzard | 1992–2000 | 6 |
Al Archer | Dennis Boutsikaris | 1996–2004 | 5 |
Charles Garnett | James Rebhorn | 1995–2001 | 5 |
James Granick | Ned Eisenberg | 1997–2008 | 5 |
Douglas Greer | Richard Venture | 1991–2000 | 5 |
Anne Paulsen | Glynnis O'Connor | 1998–2004 | 5 |
Sally Bell | Edie Falco | 1993–1998 | 4 |
Aaron Solomon | John Benjamin Hickey | 2002–2006 | 4 |
Daniel Metzler | John Cunningham | 1997–2008 | 4 |
Mr. Axtell | Jack Gilpin | 1997–2001 | 4 |
Barry Kaufer | Lee Shepherd | 1998–2002 | 4 |
Charlotte Swan | Helen Carey | 1999–2005 | 4 |
Leon Chiles | Joe Morton | 2000–2005 | 4 |
Paul Robinette | Richard Brooks | 1996, 2005, 2006 | 3 |
Gordon Schell | Philip Bosco | 1990–1994 | 3 |
Deirdre Powell | Joanna Merlin | 1994–1998 | 3 |
Max Hellman | Ron Orbach | 1994, 2002 | 3 |
James Linde | Joe Grifasi | 1996–2001 | 3 |
Stephen Olson | Spencer Garrett | 2000–2004 | 3 |
Erica Gardner | Kate Burton | 2001–2004 | 3 |
Jessica Sheets | Susan Floyd | 2002–2006 | 3 |
Randolph J. 'Randy' Dworkin, Esq. | Peter Jacobson | 2003–2006 | 3 |
Vanessa Galiano | Roma Maffia | 2003–2006 | 3 |
Rodney Fallon | Giancarlo Esposito | 2004–2005 | 3 |
Sanford Remz | Dylan Baker | 2004–2006 | 3 |
Gary Lowenthal | Eric Bogosian | 1992-1993 | 2 |
Lanie Stieglitz | Elaine Stritch | 1992, 1997 | 2 |
Ruth Miller | Patti LuPone | 1996, 1997 | 2 |
Stan Shatenstein | Sig Libowitz | 1997, 2005 | 2 |
Bernie Adler | Ron Silver | 2004–2007 | 2 |
Marcus Woll | Jonathan Cake | 2009 | 2 |
Judges
Arraignment Judges
Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
Arraignment Judge Morris Torledsky | David Lipman | 1992–2005 | 26 |
Arraignment Judge Colin Fraser | Larry Sherman | 1994–2004 | 12 |
Arraignment Judge Harriet Doremus | Barbara Spiegel | 1991–2003 | 12 |
Arraignment Judge Janice Goldberg | Fran Lebowitz | 2001–2007 | 12 |
Arraignment Judge Ian Feist | Merwin Goldsmith | 1991–2005 | 11 |
Arraignment Judge William Koehler | Mark Kenneth Smaltz | 1998–2007 | 11 |
Arraignment Judge Antonia Mellon | Mary Lou Mellaces | 1999–2006 | 9 |
Arraignment Judge Joseph Flint | Doug Stender | 1999–2005 | 9 |
Arraignment Judge Anna Shiro | Karen Shallo | 2000–2005 | 8 |
Arraignment Judge David Venturelli | Vince Pacimeo | 1998–2000 | 4 |
Arraignment Judge Lisa Cutler | Kathleen Chalfant | 2001-2009 | 3 |
Arraignment Judge Harper | Brian Smiar | 1990 | 2 |
Trial Judges
Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
Trial Judge Alan Berman | David Rosenbaum | 1992–2004 | 14 |
Trial Judge Walter Bradley | Peter McRobbie | 2001–2009 | 13 |
Trial Judge Lisa Pongracic | Charlotte Colavin | 1992–2006 | 13 |
Trial Judge Elizabeth Mizener | Lynn Cohen | 1993–2006 | 12 |
Trial Judge Walter Schreiber | John Ramsey | 1991–2001 | 11 |
Trial Judge Margaret Barry | Doris Belack | 1990–2001 | 10 |
Trial Judge Herman Mooney | Ben Hammer | 1991–2002 | 9 |
Trial Judge Harrison Taylor | Michael Mulheren | 1999–2006 | 9 |
Trial Judge Andrew Barsky | Fred J. Scollay | 1992–1999 | 8 |
Trial Judge Donald Karan | Jordan Charney | 2000–2006 | 8 |
Trial Judge Grace Larkin | Rochelle Oliver | 1990–2003 | 8 |
Trial Judge Rebecca Stein | Joan Copeland | 1991–2001 | 8 |
Trial Judge Rebecca Steinman | Susan Blommaert | 1991–2004 | 8 |
Trial Judge Deborah Burke | Donna Hanover | 1997–2004 | 7 |
Trial Judge Michael Callahan | Bernie McInerney | 1991–1999 | 7 |
Trial Judge Henry Fillmore | William Severs | 1991-2004 | 7 |
Trial Judge Rosalyn Lenz | Tanya Berezin | 1991–2001 | 7 |
Trial Judge Barbara Lusky | Iris Little Thomas | 1999–2009 | 7 |
Trial Judge Rochelle Desmond | Patricia R. Floyd | 2006–2009 | 6 |
Trial Judge Eric Caffey | John Newton | 1991–1998 | 6 |
Trial Judge Nathan Murphy | Mark Zimmerman | 1997–2008 | 6 |
Trial Judge Robert Quinn | Roger Serbagi | 1992–1999 | 6 |
Trial Judge Joseph Rivera | Shawn Elliott | 1994–2002 | 6 |
Trial Judge Carla Solomon | Lauren Klein | 1999–2005 | 6 |
Trial Judge William Wright | Ron McLarty | 1991–2008 | 6 |
Trial Judge Hugo Bright | Robert J. Hogan | 2003–2006 | 4 |
Trial Judge Manuel Leon | Sam Gray | 1990–1994 | 4 |
Trial Judge Michael Schneider | David Little | 2004–2006 | 4 |
Trial Judge Norman Barclay | Wayne Duvall | 2004–2010 | 3 |
Trial Judge Gary Feldman | Cliff Gorman | 1998 | 3 |
Trial Judge Derek Hafner | David Wolos-Fonteno | 2001–2009 | 3 |
Trial Judge Elayne Link | Maggie Burke | 1993–2003 | 3 |
Trial Judge Ida Zeller | Polly Adams | 2009 | 3 |
Trial Judge Linda Taft | Jenna Stern | 2009-2010 | 2 |
Appellate Judges
Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
Appellate Judge Pamela Jensen | Norma Fire | 1993–1997, 2000–2003 | 7 |
Appellate Judge Shawn McNamara | George Bartenieff | 1993, 1995 & 1999 | 4 |
Appellate Judge Bloom | Ira Wheeler | 1991, 1993 | 2 |
Appellate Judge Lewis Getman | Leslie Barrett | 1991, 1993 | 2 |
Appellate Judge Wayne Humphrey | Chester A. Sims II | 1993, 1995 | 2 |
Appellate Judge Barry Marton | Graham Brown | 1991, 1993 | 2 |
See also
- Law & Order (franchise)
- List of Law & Order cast members
- List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit characters
- List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit cast members
- List of Law & Order: Criminal Intent characters
- List of Law & Order: Criminal Intent cast members
- List of Law & Order: LA characters
- List of Law & Order: LA cast members
References
- ↑ Carlson, Erin (2008-10-31). "Can "Law & Order" outlive "Gunsmoke"?". Associated Press/San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
- ↑ Starr, Michael (May 18, 2004). "Jerry Orbach Signs Off After 12 Years on 'Law & Order'". Fox News. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
- ↑ Brantley, Ben; Severo, Richard (December 29, 2004). "Jerry Orbach, Star of 'Law & Order,' Dies at 69". The New York Times. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
- ↑ http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/04/01/s-epatha-merkerson-departs-law-order/