List of Law & Order characters

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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).

Characters[]

Name Portrayed by Occupation Seasons
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Exiled 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Max Greevey George Dzundza Sergeant Main
Mike Logan Chris Noth Junior Detective Main Main
Donald Cragen Dann Florek Captain Main Guest Main Guest Guest
Ben Stone Michael Moriarty Executive Assistant DA Main
Paul Robinette Richard Brooks Assistant DA Main Guest Guest
Adam Schiff Steven Hill District Attorney Main Main
Phil Cerreta Paul Sorvino Sergeant Main
Elizabeth Olivet Carolyn McCormick Psychologist Recurring Also starring Recurring Guest Guest Recurring Guest Recurring Guest
Lennie Briscoe Jerry Orbach Senior Detective Main
Anita Van Buren S. Epatha Merkerson Lieutenant Main
Claire Kincaid Jill Hennessy Assistant DA Main
Jack McCoy Sam Waterston Executive Assistant DA,
District Attorney		 Main
Rey Curtis Benjamin Bratt Junior Detective Main Guest
Jamie Ross Carey Lowell Assistant DA Main Guest
Abbie Carmichael Angie Harmon Assistant DA Main Main
Ed Green Jesse L. Martin Junior Detective,
Senior Detective		 Main
Nora Lewin Dianne Wiest Interim DA Main
Serena Southerlyn Elisabeth Röhm Assistant DA 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 DA Main
Nina Cassady Milena Govich Junior Detective Main
Connie Rubirosa Alana de la Garza Assistant DA Main
Cyrus Lupo Jeremy Sisto Junior Detective,
Senior Detective		 Main
Michael Cutter Linus Roache Executive Assistant DA Main
Kevin Bernard Anthony Anderson Junior Detective Main
TBA Jeffrey Donovan Detective Main
Kate Dixon Camryn Manheim Lieutenant Main
TBA Hugh Dancy Assistant DA Main
Samantha Maroun Assistant DA Main

Main characters[]

Actor Character Rank/Position Seasons Notes
Regular Recurring Guest
George Dzundza Max Greevey Sergeant 1
Chris Noth Mike Logan Junior Detective 1–5 Also appeared in
Exiled: A Law & Order Movie.
Dann Florek Donald Cragen Captain 1–3 5, 10 & 15 Also appeared in
Exiled: A Law & Order Movie.
Michael Moriarty Ben Stone Executive Assistant District Attorney 1–4
Richard Brooks Paul Robinette Assistant District Attorney 1–3 6, 16 & 17
Steven Hill Adam Schiff District Attorney 1–10
Paul Sorvino Phil Cerreta Sergeant 2–3 3
Jerry Orbach Lennie Briscoe Senior Detective 3–14
Carolyn McCormick Dr. Elizabeth Olivet Psychologist 3–4 5–7, 13–14,
16–18		 9–10, 19–20
S. Epatha Merkerson Anita Van Buren Lieutenant 4–20
Jill Hennessy Claire Kincaid Assistant District Attorney 4–6
Sam Waterston Jack McCoy Executive Assistant District Attorney,
District Attorney		 5–17
18–21
Benjamin Bratt Rey Curtis Junior Detective 6–9 20
Carey Lowell Jamie Ross Assistant District Attorney 7–8 10–11
Angie Harmon Abbie Carmichael Assistant District Attorney 9–11
Jesse L. Martin Ed Green Junior Detective,
Senior Detective		 10–16
17–18
Dianne Wiest Nora Lewin Interim District Attorney 11–12
Elisabeth Röhm Serena Southerlyn Assistant District Attorney 12–15
Fred Dalton Thompson Arthur Branch District Attorney 13–17
Dennis Farina Joe Fontana Senior Detective 15–16
Michael Imperioli Nick Falco Junior Detective 15 16 Temporarily Assigned
Annie Parisse Alexandra Borgia Assistant District Attorney 15–16
Milena Govich Nina Cassady Junior Detective 17
Alana de la Garza Connie Rubirosa Assistant District Attorney 17–20
Jeremy Sisto Cyrus Lupo Junior Detective,
Senior Detective		 18
18–20
Linus Roache Michael Cutter Executive Assistant District Attorney 18–20
Anthony Anderson Kevin Bernard Junior Detective 18–21
Jeffrey Donovan TBA Detective 21
Camryn Manheim Kate Dixon Lieutenant 21
Hugh Dancy TBA Assistant District Attorney 21
Samantha Maroun Assistant District Attorney 21


Police officers[]

Sergeants[]

Name Portrayed by Year Episodes Senior Partners Notes
Maxwell "Max" Greevey George Dzundza 1990–1991 23 Mike Logan
  • Murdered in 1991.
Philip "Phil" Cerreta Paul Sorvino 1991–1992 31
  • Transferred to a desk job at the 110th Precinct after being shot on the job.

Senior detectives[]

Name Portrayed by Year Episodes Junior Partners Notes
Leonard "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).
Joseph "Joe" Fontana Dennis Farina 2004–2006 46 Ed Green (2004–2006)
Nick Falco (2005)
  • Retired (2006).
Edward "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
Michael "Mike" Logan Chris Noth 1990–1995 111 Max Greevey (1990–1991)
Phil Cerreta (1991–1992)
Lennie Briscoe (1992–1995)
Reynaldo "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.
Edward "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).
Nicolas "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 (however, it was most likely due to her lack of detective experience).
Cyrus Lupo Jeremy Sisto 2008 63
  • Transferred from Intelligence Division (2008).
  • Promoted to Senior Detective (2008).
Kevin Bernard Anthony Anderson 2008–2010 49 Cyrus Lupo

Supervising officers[]

Name Portrayed by Rank Year Episodes Notes
Donald "Don" 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 videochat to help the SVU on a case.
Anita Van Buren S. Epatha Merkerson Lieutenant 1993–2010 390

Prosecutors[]

Executive assistant district attorneys[]

Name Portrayed by Year Partners Episodes Notes
Benjamin "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.
  • In 2018, an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit discusses his death, and shows his funeral.
John James "Jack" McCoy Sam Waterston 1994–2007 Claire Kincaid,
Jamie Ross,
Abbie Carmichael,
Serena Southerlyn,
Alexandra Borgia &
Connie Rubirosa		 368
Michael "Mike" 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).
Abigail "Abbie" Carmichael Angie Harmon 1998–2001 72
Serena Southerlyn Elisabeth Röhm 2001–2005 85
  • Fired by Arthur Branch for being inappropriately sympathetic towards a defendant she was prosecuting (2005).
Alexandra Borgia Annie Parisse 2005–2006 34
  • Dies after being kidnapped and beaten during a murder trial (2006).
Consuela "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).
  • 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
  • Leaves office to work overseas for 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
Jack McCoy Sam Waterston 2007–2010 368

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[]

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
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

Crime Scene Unit investigators / crime laboratory 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

Assistant Medical Examiners[]

Name Portrayed by Year Episodes
Borak Josh Pais 1990–2002 15
Brody Richard Hirschfeld 2002–2006 12
Anskel Baron Vaughn 2008–2009 2

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 1991–2000 6
Helen Brolin Maria Tucci 1993–2003 6
Peter Behrens 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 1997–2008 4
Mr. Axtell Jack Gilpin 1997–2001 4
Barry Kaufer 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 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
Madeline Myers Kate Miller 2003–2007 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
Grubman Elizabeth Marvel 2008–2009 2
Marcus Woll Jonathan Cake 2009 2

Judges[]

Arraignment judges[]

Name Portrayed by Year Episodes
Arraignment Judge Morris Torledsky 1992–2005 26
Arraignment Judge Colin Fraser Larry Sherman 1994–2004 12
Arraignment Judge Harriet Doremus 1991–2003 12
Arraignment Judge Janice Goldberg Fran Lebowitz 2001–2007 12
Arraignment Judge Ian Feist 1991–2005 11
Arraignment Judge William Koehler 1998–2007 11
Arraignment Judge Antonia Mellon 1999–2006 9
Arraignment Judge Joseph Flint 1999–2005 9
Arraignment Judge Anna Shiro 2000–2005 8
Arraignment Judge David Venturelli 1998–2000 4
Arraignment Judge Lisa Cutler Kathleen Chalfant 2001–2009 3
Arraignment Judge Harper 1990 2

Trial judges[]

Name Portrayed by Year Episodes
Trial Judge Alan Berman 1992–2004 14
Trial Judge Walter Bradley Peter McRobbie 2001–2009 13
Trial Judge Lisa Pongracic 1992–2006 13
Trial Judge Elizabeth Mizener Lynn Cohen 1993–2006 12
Trial Judge Walter Schreiber 1991–2001 11
Trial Judge Margaret Barry Doris Belack 1990–2001 10
Trial Judge Herman Mooney 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 1999–2009 7
Trial Judge Eric Caffey John Newton 1991–1998 6
Trial Judge Rochelle Desmond 2006–2009 6
Trial Judge Nathan Murphy 1997–2008 6
Trial Judge Robert Quinn 1992–1999 6
Trial Judge Joseph Rivera Shawn Elliott 1994–2002 6
Trial Judge Carla Solomon 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 1990–1994 4
Trial Judge Michael Schneider 2004–2006 4
Trial Judge Norman Barclay 2004–2010 3
Trial Judge Gary Feldman Cliff Gorman 1998 3
Trial Judge Eric Bertram George Murdock 1992-1999 3
Trial Judge Derek Hafner 2001–2009 3
Trial Judge Elayne Link 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
Trial Judge Barry Dilwynn Jeffrey Tambor 2007 1

Appellate judges[]

Name Portrayed by Year Episodes
Appellate Judge Pamela Jensen 1993–2003 7
Appellate Judge Shawn McNamara George Bartenieff 1993–1999 4
Appellate Judge Bloom 1991–1993 2
Appellate Judge Lewis Getman Leslie Barrett 1991–1993 2
Appellate Judge Wayne Humphrey 1993–1995 2
Appellate Judge Barry Marton Graham Brown 1991–1993 2

Guest characters[]

Defense attorneys[]

Name Portrayed by Year Episodes
Clay Bollock Xander Berkeley 2005 Fluency
Leslie Drake Dan Hedaya 1997 Baby, It's You
Paul Kopell Ron Leibman 1995 House Counsel
Harold Morton Victor Raider-Wexler 1991 Mushrooms
Bill Wendyll Robert LuPone 1994 Centure

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Carlson, Erin (2008-10-31). "Can 'Law & Order' outlive 'Gunsmoke'?". San Jose Mercury News. Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
  2. ^ Starr, Michael (May 18, 2004). "Jerry Orbach Signs Off After 12 Years on 'Law & Order'". Fox News. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
  3. ^ Brantley, Ben; Severo, Richard (December 29, 2004). "Jerry Orbach, Star of 'Law & Order,' Dies at 69". The New York Times. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-04-04. Retrieved 2010-04-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Retrieved from ""