List of Law & Order characters
Television show character list
The American television police procedural and legal drama Law & Order (1990–2010, 2022–present) follows the fictional cases of a group of police detectives and prosecutors who represent the public in the criminal justice system. Law & Order is known for its revolving cast, as most of its original stars had left the show within the first five seasons.[1] The longest-serving main cast members of the original series include Jerry Orbach as Det. Lennie Briscoe (1992–2004),[2] [3] S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt. Anita Van Buren (1993–2010),[4] and Sam Waterston as EADA/DA Jack McCoy (1994–2010, 2022–2024).[citation needed ]
Characters
Main characters
Police officers
Sergeants
Name
Portrayed by
Year
Episodes
Junior Partners
Notes
Max Greevey
George Dzundza
1990–1991
23
Mike Logan
Murdered in 1991.[5] [6] [7] [Note: The title card for the episode indicates his murder occurred on Friday, April 6th, which would mean he was murdered in 1990.][8]
Phil Cerreta
Paul Sorvino
1991–1992
31
Transferred to a desk job at the 110th Precinct after being shot.
Senior detectives
Name
Portrayed by
Year
Episodes
Junior 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 in December 2004).
Joe Fontana
Dennis Farina
2004–2006
46
Ed Green (2004–2006) Nick Falco (2005)
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 IAB investigation (2008).
Cyrus Lupo
Jeremy Sisto
2008–2010
63
Kevin Bernard
Transferred from Intelligence Division (2008). Promoted to Senior Detective (2008).
Kevin Bernard
Anthony Anderson
2022
60
Frank Cosgrove
Transferred from IAB (2008) Promoted to Senior Detective (2022) Most likely retired, resigned or transferred (2022)
Frank Cosgrove
Jeffrey Donovan
2022–2023
32
Jalen Shaw
Promoted to Senior Detective (2022). Let go by IAB (2024)
Jalen Shaw
Mehcad Brooks
2024–
TBD
Vincent Riley
Promoted to Senior Detective (2024).
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)
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 IAB 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 Cassidy
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.
Cyrus Lupo
Jeremy Sisto
2008
63
Transferred from Intelligence Division (2008). Promoted to Senior Detective (2008).
Kevin Bernard
Anthony Anderson
2008–2010
51
Cyrus Lupo
Transferred from IAB (2008). Promoted to Senior Detective (2022). Most likely retired, resigned or transferred (2022).
Frank Cosgrove
Jeffrey Donovan
2022
10
Kevin Bernard
Promoted to Senior Detective (2022). Let go and jammed up by IAB (2024).
Jalen Shaw
Mehcad Brooks
2022–
22
Frank Cosgrove
Transferred from another Homicide Division (2022). Promoted to Senior Detective (2024).
Vincent Riley
Reid Scott
2024–
TBD
Jalen Shaw
Recruited by Lieutenant Kate Dixon[9] (2024).
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. Return in 2021 via video chat to help the SVU on a case. Returned in 2022 to assist Stabler in a case.
Anita Van Buren
S. Epatha Merkerson
Lieutenant
1993–2010
390
Most likely retired (2010).
Kate Dixon
Camryn Manheim
Lieutenant
2022–2024
45
Prosecutors
Executive Assistant District Attorneys
Name
Portrayed by
Year
Partners
Episodes
Notes
Benjamin 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. In 2018, an episode of Law & Order: SVU discusses his death, and shows his funeral.
Jack McCoy
Sam Waterston
1994–2007
Claire Kincaid ,Jamie Ross ,Abbie Carmichael ,Serena Southerlyn , Alexandra Borgia,Connie Rubirosa
405
Promoted to interim New York County District Attorney (2008) Begins his campaign to be elected as Manhattan DA in 2009, with support from Adam Schiff Episode count includes first 303 episodes as Executive Assistant DA, DA thereafter
Michael Cutter
Linus Roache
2008–2010
Connie Rubirosa
63
Promoted to Bureau Chief of the Sex Crimes Unit of the DA's office (2011).
Nolan Price
Hugh Dancy
2022–
Samantha Maroun
TBD
Assistant District Attorneys
In the 1997 season 7 episode "We Like Mike", Caleb Duff is listed as Assistant District Attorney beneath Adam Schiff as District Attorney and John J. McCoy as Executive Assistant District Attorney at the New York County District Attorney's Office, though he never appears on screen.
Manhattan District Attorneys
Name
Portrayed by
Terms
Episodes
Notes
Alfred Wentworth
Roy Thinnes
1988
1
Adam Schiff
Steven Hill
1990–2000
228
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 (2000), which often provoked her critics to dismiss her as a detached academic with no practical experience.[10] Chooses not to run for election following her interim term (2002) The first woman in the program's history to hold the position of New York County District Attorney.
Arthur Branch
Fred Thompson
2002–2007
116
Jack McCoy
Sam Waterston
2007–2010 & 2022–2024
405
Appointed Interim DA after Branch's departure in 2007. Begins his election campaign to become DA in 2009, winning the election that year. Episode count includes first 303 episodes as Executive Assistant DA.
Nicholas Baxter
Tony Goldwyn
2024-
TBA
Appointed District Attorney after the departure of Jack McCoy.
Other main characters
Recurring characters
NYPD personnel
NYPD officials
Name
Portrayed by
Year
Episodes
Chief of Detectives Laird
James Biberi
2008–2010
3
Borough Chief Commander James Dietz
Michael Cullen
1998–1999
3
Borough Detective Commander Joseph Strudevant
Dan Lauria
2000–2001
2
27th Precinct support detectives
Name
Portrayed by
Year
Episodes
Detective Tony Profaci
John Fiore
1990–1998
53 and Exiled
Detective Gia
Gia Galeano
1994–1997
11
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
Sergeant Royce
Tijuana Ricks
2009–2010
5
Detective Dani Vertiz
Shayvawn Webster
2022
9
Detective Violet Yee
Connie Shi
2022–present
TBD
Crime Scene Unit investigators / crime lab technicians
Name
Portrayed by
Year
Episodes
Forensic Technician Medill
Donald Corren
1992–1999
17
Forensic Technician Arlene Shrier
Christine Farrell
16
CSU Technician Jessica Reed
Liz Larsen
1998–2006
12
CSU Technician Julian Beck
John Cariani
2002–2006
26
Computer Forensic Technician Myra Camp
Megan Byrne
2003–2004
6
CSU Technician Lisa Santoro
Abigail Lopez
2004–2005
3
Assistant Medical Examiners
Name
Portrayed by
Year
Episodes
Borak
Josh Pais
1990–2002
15
Brody
Richard Hirschfeld
2002–2006
12
Dr. Karen Waxman
Angel Desai
2003–2005
4
Anskel
Baron Vaughn
2008–2009
2
Defense attorneys
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 Mellace
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
1993–2003
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 Eric Caffey
John Newton
1991–1998
6
Trial Judge Rochelle Desmond
Patricia R. Floyd
2006–2009
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
1998–2000
4
Trial Judge Hugo Bright
Robert J. Hogan
2003–2006
4
Trial Judge Delano Burns
Mike Hodge
1991–2006
4
Trial Judge John Laramie
Peter Francis James
2008–2010
4
Trial Judge Manuel Leon
Sam Gray
1990–1994
4
Trial Judge Michael Schneider
David Little
2004–2006
4
Trial Judge Leanne Dreben
Milica Govich
2022–2024
4
Trial Judge Norman Barclay
Wayne Duvall
2004–2010
3
Trial Judge Gary Feldman
Cliff Gorman
1998
3
Trial Judge Eric Bertram
George Murdock
1992–1999
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 Keith Fischer
Tom Mardirosian
2004–2006
2
Trial Judge Linda Taft
Jenna Stern
2009–2010
2
Appellate judges
Name
Portrayed by
Year
Episodes
Appellate Judge Pamela Jensen
Norma Fire
1993–2003
7
Appellate Judge Shawn McNamara
George Bartenieff
1993–1999
4
Appellate Judge Bloom
Ira Wheeler
1991–1993
2
Appellate Judge Lewis Getman
Leslie Barrett
1991–1993
2
Appellate Judge Barry Marton
Graham Brown
1991–1993
2
Appellate Judge Wayne Humphrey
Chester A. Sims II
1993–1995
2
Guest characters
Defense attorneys
See also
References
^ Carlson, Erin (2008-10-31). "Can 'Law & Order' outlive 'Gunsmoke'?" . San Jose Mercury News . Associated Press. 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 .
^ Ausiello, Michael. "Exclusive: S. Epatha Merkerson exits 'Law & Order' " . The Ausiello Files. Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 2010-04-04. Retrieved 23 January 2022 .
^ Jane Hall (August 20, 1991). "The High Cost of Reality : Television: The producers of NBC's 'Law & Order' say filming the hourlong drama in Manhattan costs 20% more than re-creating New York on a Los Angeles back lot--but the results are worth it" . LA Times. Retrieved October 25, 2023 .
^ Jennifer Mashuga (January 6, 2022). "The Impact Of Greevey's Death In Law & Order" . Looper. Retrieved October 25, 2023 .
^ "Stolen ". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit . Season 3. Episode 3. October 12, 2001. NBC.
^ Greevey's Death - Law & Order , retrieved 2024-01-28
^ "Law & Order Season 23: First Look at Reid Scott as New Detective (Exclusive)" . TVLine.com . Retrieved January 10, 2024 .
^ "Endurance". Law & Order . Season 11. Episode 1. October 18, 2000. NBC .