What The Cast Of Law And Order Has Been Up To Since The Show Ended
Premiering back in 1990, "Law & Order" is the crime series that started it all. Without it, we may not have shows like "Criminal Minds," "FBI," or "How to Get Away with Murder." It may not have been the first procedural legal drama, but it helped establish the modern format that viewers still enjoy today. The original show ran on NBC for 20 seasons while inspiring many spinoff series under the supervision of "Law & Order" creator Dick Wolf.
With the "Law & Order" revival on NBC, fans have a chance to see new faces mixed with a few familiar ones. In all the excitement, it's time to take a look at what some of the most memorable "Law & Order" cast members have been up to while the show has been off the air. This list will look at actors who either made a big statement in the series or have just made it big in Hollywood since departing the show. Here are 10 "Law & Order" actors who have kept busy since leaving the show.
Anthony Anderson
Portraying Detective Kevin Bernard from Season 18 onwards, Anthony Anderson is one of the cast members returning for the "Law & Order" revival. Deadline reported in November 2021 that Anderson signed a one-year contract for the revival series. Anderson's Detective Kevin Bernard was first introduced as he was investigating Detective Green over a shooting as a part of his duties with the Internal Affairs Bureau. He later replaced Green once the detective was cleared on all charges. Bernard would become Detective Lupo's partner for the remainder of his time on the show.
If you're wondering why the name Anthony Anderson sounds so familiar, it's probably due to his role as Andre "Dre" Johnson in the Emmy nominated show "Black-ish." Anderson has also portrayed this character in the "Black-ish" spinoffs "Grown-ish" and "Mixed-ish." He's also dipped his toes in the film industry since "Law & Order" ended as he was Detective Perkins in "Scream 4" and stared as Romelo Reese in the coming of age film "Beats." His appearance in "Beats" was widely praised, with The New York Times writing, "Anderson's low-key, lived-in charm is the highlight."
Jesse L. Martin
Jesse L. Martin portrayed Detective Ed Green from Season 10 to Season 18 on "Law & Order." He first appeared as a junior partner replacement for Rey Curtis (Benjamin Bratt). While his can-do attitude initially rubs his superiors the wrong way, Ed soon becomes a trusted ally to his partner Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach). He even tones down his somewhat unorthodox methods of practicing law, as Green was known to bend the rules from time to time.
A well-known stage performer, Martin has appeared on Broadway in "Rent," "The Merchant of Venice," and "The Winter's Tale." Martin is also an accomplished actor on the screen as well. After leaving "Law & Order," Martin portrayed father-figure Joe West in The CW's hit series "The Flash." Joe takes in Barry Allen, aka the Flash (Grant Gustin), after his father is wrongly imprisoned for the death of his mother. He acts as Barry's foster father, later father-in-law, and father to Iris West (Candice Patton). On a personal note, according to TVLine, Martin hasn't completely closed the door on Detective Green making a return to the "Law & Order" revival. Regarding that potential return, Martin stated, "I certainly hope so. There were a lot of loose ends when Ed Green left the scene."
Benjamin Bratt
Benjamin Bratt portrayed Detective Rey Curtis in "Law & Order" from 1995 to 1999, when his character was replaced by Jesse L. Martin's Ed Green. Curtis was a by-the-book type of character as he was never one to go outside of the rules of law. As his time on the show progresses, Curtis decides to step away from the job to spend more time caring for his sick wife.
After leaving "Law & Order," Bratt went on to star in films like "Miss Congeniality" and "Traffic" in the 2000s and even made his MCU debut in the 2016 film "Doctor Strange." He continued his work in TV with roles in "Private Practice" from 2011 to 2013, guest-starred in various episodes of "Modern Family," and appeared as a main cast member in "Star" from 2016 to 2018. However, it's in voice acting that he seemed to have found his calling. In 2017, Bratt voiced the character Ernesto de la Cruz in "Coco," as El Macho in 2013's "Despicable Me 2," and as Superman in 2015's "Justice League: Gods and Monsters."
Chris Noth
Chris Noth portrayed junior Detective Mike Logan for the first five seasons of "Law & Order." After his character left the show, he was brought on to star in the spinoff series "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" for three seasons, from 2005 to 2008. Detective Mike Logan was famously known for his temper, however, as audiences got to know more about him, it was revealed that his anger and cocky behavior stem from a troubled past with his family.
Aside from staring on "Law & Order," Noth is likely best known for his portrayal of John Preston, otherwise known as Mr. Big, in the "Sex and the City" franchise. While he was also in "The Good Wife" from 2009 to 2016, it's Mr. Big that still makes headlines to this day. With the revival of his character in HBO's "And Just Like That," Noth was in the spotlight once more as his character suffers a heart attack and dies. However, Noth's personal life has overshadowed the death of Big, as The Hollywood Reporter broke the news of sexual assault allegations against him. In light of these allegations, various projects have been scrapped, and The New York Times reports that he has been let go from "The Equalizer."
Angie Harmon
Angie Harmon portrayed assistant DA Abbie Carmichael from Season 9 to Season 11 on "Law & Order." Her character has strong views that often put her at odds with the other characters in the show who carry more liberal ideals about justice.
Following Harmon's exit from the series, she appeared on various shows such as 2005's "Inconceivable" as Dr. Nora Campbell and "Secrets of a Small Town" as Bethany Steele in 2006. Unfortunately, both were short-lived. Later, Harmon made guest appearances on talk shows such as "Chelsea Lately" and "The Today Show." However, it looks as though Harmon will be returning to her roots in television, as Lifetime has confirmed a new movie series starring Harmon arriving in June 2022. According to TV Fanatic, the series, which is titled "Buried in Barstow," features Harmon as a former hitwoman whose violent past seems to have caught up with her.
Elisabeth Röhm
Elisabeth Röhm portrayed assistant DA Serena Southerlyn for four seasons on "Law & Order." She was Abbie Carmichael's replacement after the actress who played Abbie, Angie Harmon, departed the show. Southerlyn's views couldn't be more different than that of her predecessor, as she often found people's social circumstances to be a guiding factor for the choices they make in life. As a result, she was often more sympathetic and lenient to an individual's situation.
While Röhm is well known in television for her role as Southerlyn and her role as Kate Lockley in Joss Whedon's "Angel." However, she has made a name for herself in the movie industry as well. Since leaving "Law & Order," Röhm has starred in Academy Award nominated films like 2013's "American Hustle," "Joy" in 2015, and "Bombshell" in 2019. Most recently, Röhm has taken her talents behind the camera as she made her second directorial film with the Lifetime film "Girl in the Basement." Röhm told TheWrap that this film is "a call to action about abuse on a very significant level," which shines a "spotlight on the monster that lives within any household."
Sam Waterston
Portrayed by Sam Waterston, Jack McCoy is one of the longest-running characters on "Law & Order," having appeared in Seasons 5 to 20. In fact, he is second only to Lt. Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson) as she was on the show for 17 seasons, just one more than McCoy. Waterston's portrayal of the character has made McCoy a staple to the series and a clear fan favorite. McCoy had such a cultural impact that Waterston has been named a "Living Landmark" by the New York Landmarks Conservancy, as reported by Gothamist.
Waterston has a wide range of acting lists before and after his time on "Law & Order." From his portrayal of Nick Carraway in 1974's "The Great Gatsby" alongside Robert Redford to his time as Charlie Skinner in HBO's political drama "The Newsroom" with Jeff Daniels from 2012 to 2014, Waterston's never been far from an incredible performance. However, he's heading back to his procedural legal roots, as he's joining co-star Anthony Anderson for the "Law & Order" revival. According to UPI, Waterston stated, "We stopped making the shows, but the audience never stopped watching them," he added. "So, the audience's persistent appetite for 'Law & Order' is a major reason why we're back. So, thanks to them."
Alana De La Garza
Assistant DA Connie Rubirosa joined the cast in season 17 of "Law & Order." She was portrayed by Alana De La Garza, who stayed with the series until its cancellation in 2010. Rubirosa is a calming presence for her supervisors as she is often seen finding a compromise between two characters' opposing thoughts on the law and the nature of justice. The ability to bridge different sides is what makes her character so necessary to the show.
Once "Law & Order" ended, Garza opted to stick with crime dramas, starring in "CSI Miami" from 2005 to 2011, "NCIS: Los Angeles" in 2012, and "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders" from 2016 to 2017. Most recently, Garza has made a name for herself in another Dick Wolf series, "FBI," where she plays Assistant Special Agent Isobel Castille. She reprises this role in the spinoff series "FBI: Most Wanted" and "FBI: International."
Jeremy Sisto
Jeremy Sisto portrayed Detective Cyrus Lupo for the final three seasons of "Law & Order." He was first partnered with Jesse L. Martin's Ed Green and later worked alongside Anthony Anderson's Kevin Bernard. Lupo is a flawed character who goes through alcoholism and PTSD throughout his time on the show. However, the fact that he's such an imperfect character might be what makes him so interesting to audiences.
Since the cancellation of "Law & Order," Sisto has followed in the footsteps of co-star Alana De La Garza, as he also stars in Dick Wolf's "FBI," where he plays Assistant Special Agent Jubal Valentine. Beyond that, Sisto believes that a crossover between "FBI" and the "Law & Order" revival might be in the cards down the line. During an interview with TV Insider, Sisto said, "I like that they've opened that door, and I think it's important that you connect these shows to the main office."
Paul Sorvino
Paul Sorvino has an impressive acting career under his belt. From working in the film industry to his roles in TV series, he's been active since 1970 and shows no signs of slowing down. Sorvino portrayed Sergeant Phil Cerreta in Seasons 2 and 3 of "Law & Order." He becomes partners with Detective Mike Logan (Chris Noth) after his previous partner, Max Greevey (George Dzundza), is killed in the line of duty.
Since leaving "Law & Order," Sorvino has enjoyed an impressive career, appearing in massive shows "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Most recently, Sorvino can be seen as Frank Costello in 2019's "Godfather of Harlem" opposite Forest Whitaker. Sorvino plays the real character of Costello, an Italian-American crime boss of the Luciano crime family. The series has an incredible score on Rotten Tomatoes and was co-created by the "Narcos" team Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, so you know that it's worth a look.