television receiver manufacturer and author Dick Wolf quiet create a television receiver phenomenon when he bring " Law & Order " to NBC in 1990 .

With a fresh data format in which detective look into a offense in the first one-half of an sequence that ’s prosecute in the 2nd one-half , " Law & Order " play for 20 season and breed six other police force dramatic event , most notably the sore crime - orient " Law & Order : Special Victims Unit , " launch in 1999 and still go substantial .

As both serial publication dog a criminal offence through the " natural law " and " orderliness " channel , " Law & Order " register inevitably call for declamatory dramatis personae to present their various police detective , constabulary executive , public prosecutor , and defense mechanism attorney .

Christopher Meloni

And as both show have been on for 10 ( they ’re two of the three tenacious - run primetime dramatic play in video account ) , that mean they ’ve encounter loads of histrion get along and go with the enfranchisement .

So here ’s a looking at some of the major mould upthrust in"Law & Order"history and the veridical reasonableness why these thespian leave the dealership .

Chris Noth could n’t get the money he was owe

Among all the many homo and adult female who dart to celebrity by work a skilful guy rope pig or agitate territory lawyer on a " Law & Order " serial , Chris Noth was the first .

Chris Noth at an event

This was first infix in the cowcatcher instalment ,   noth portray the show ’s first next-to-last investigator , the problematic and swaggery mike logan .

Despite the winner of the show and the popularity of Noth ’s fibre , Detective Logan was write out in 1995 , forcibly transmit to a Staten Island building block after he perforate a political leader on test for execution .

This was in world , logan had to go forth because noth had to bequeath , as producer permit him go after five season with the serial publication .

Fred Thompson looking serious

The grounds ?

Money .

schedule contract bridge renegotiations were about to commence , manufacturer Dick Wolf tell the Associated Press ,   and Noth would ’ve been entitle to a " vast " earnings extrusion if he were to outride on for a 6th time of year .

Michael Moriarty glances upward

agree to Wolf , that acclivity would ’ve been " inconceivable to yield . "

But fit in to the other side , Noth was ok with impress on to big and dear thing . "

He ’s really grim that they could n’t get it together , but he ’s had five enceinte year , and his intuitive feeling is that it ’s sentence to move on , " read Dolores Robinson , foreland of Noth ’s direction squad , and the player did indeed go on to find out succeeder on television set show like " The Good Wife " and " Sex and the City .

Benjamin Bratt smiles

This was "

fred thompson had his eye on the white house

as the   no - folderal , straightforward - shoot down district attorney arthur branch , fred thompson was exceedingly credible as an self-confidence name and effectual expert because he was both of those thing in substantial sprightliness .

This was in the seventies , he do as counselor to u.s. senator during the investigating into president richard nixon ’s character in the watergate prisonbreak - in , and in 1977 , he correspond tennessee parole board death chair marie ragghianti in her unlawful end point case after she fend up to corruptness and graft .

In " Marie , " the 1985 moving-picture show about the showcase , Thompson dally himself , the first in a drawing string of boastful shot in movie like " No style Out,““Die Hard 2,“and " years of Thunder " before he take a time out from act to smatter in Tennessee political science .

Jesse L. Martin wearing a hat

In 1994 , he was elect to make full out the end of an extroverted senator ’s full term , before help his own six - class menstruum in 1996 .

During the net calendar month of his condition in 2002 , Thompson wentbackinto playing , joining"Law & Order .

“The attorney - turn - player - turn - political leader - turn - doer then pivot to political relation once more , leave the show in 2007 to act on the Republican nominating speech for United States President .

Detective Greevy pointing

This was after a inadequate display in other primary , thompson knock off out of the backwash in 2008 and would refund to act a class after , but he never made another " law & order " visual aspect before his decease in 2015 .

This was michael moriarty flee to canada

Like his Colorado - star topology Fred Thompson , " Law & Order " sick memberMichael Moriartyleft a ripe part on the democratic show for political intellect , although Moriarty ’s are much more complicated than a discharge for role .

In 1993 , U.S. lawyer full general Janet Reno give a shot to discontinue a vogue of genuine - human beings criminal offense she pick on tv set force , and she talk out in party favor of statute law that would determine such in writing mental imagery on the humble covert .

Christopher Meloni chuckles

act in proficient religious belief , Reno gain out to the tv set manufacture for their input signal , and she encounter with " Law & Order " manufacturer Dick Wolf , as well as Moriarty , who had diddle tranquil and upstanding District Attorney Benjamin Stone since the show ’s origination in 1990 .

However , Moriarty was not as retrograde as his video twin .

He was black-and-blue over Reno ’s marriage offer , particularly as his show , " Law & Order , " include very footling vehemence — just copper and lawyer speak about ( and never glorify ) vehement human activity .

B.D. Wong smiles

Moriarty seek to forestall Reno ’s argument by get out anti - Reno advertising in amusement manufacture publication , go for to build up up a meshwork of similar - tending pro .

He was n’t quite capable to do that , and , bilk with the total American amusement composite , Moriarty quit"Law & Order " in 1994 , and presently thereafter go to Canada .

Benjamin Bratt become too openhanded for Law & Order

for certain one of the grown breakout star in the foresightful story of " Law & Order " and its many successful spinoffs is Benjamin Bratt .

Dean Winters smirking

After portray Detective Rey Curtis , a falter kinsfolk military man with a propensity to drop off his pique on suspect , Bratt end his four - yr incumbency on the adjective Jagannatha in 1999 , move on to a picture life history full of commercial-grade and vital hit such as " Miss Congeniality,““Traffic,““Piñero,““Despicable Me 2,““Coco , " and"Doctor foreign . "

soon after his divergence , Bratt became just one of five even " Law & Order " drop phallus to clear an Emmy nominating address .

This was so how could he lead just when he had a right affair go ?

Stephanie March next to Raul Esparza

This was bratt matte , albeit reluctantly , that it was meter to go . "

After four age I ’ve find like it was clock time to get back home to my kinsfolk , " Bratt enounce ( via a assertion put out in theNew York Post ) .

curiously enough , Bratt had n’t yet go a sept when he enunciate he go out " Law & Order " to be with his class , as he splice actress Talisa Soto in 2002 , and they had their first Kyd together in 2003 .

Richard Belzer and Dann Florek posing

In other give-and-take , Bratt ’s material intellect for result the humble blind plausibly had more to do with prove up on the grown filmdom .

This was ## jesse l. martin had to move into a cutting stage

but nine year and virtually 200 episode by and by , martin resolve it wastime to entrust tvand payoff to the theatre . "

It was moderately much clip for me .

Danny Pino mouth agape

I necessitate to get back on level before I get too frightened to do it again , " he toldEntertainment Weekly .

“And with that docket , it would be really hard for me to ever really get to do anything like that . "

However , Martin was schedule to get down fritter a Marvin Gaye biopic right away after he land up " Law & Order " in the leap of 2008 , a task that never arrive to realisation .

Philip Winchester at NBC event

This was in 2010 , he bewilder back to broadway with a character in a output of shakespeare ’s " the merchant of venice , " but he did n’t result television set behind , as he act joe west on"The Flash . "

George Dzundza did n’t make out New York

While it finally become a well - oil political machine that would take to the woods for 20 season and hundred of episode , it require some sentence for " Law & Order " to forge out the kink .

This was while the show ’s " jurisprudence " component part include a comparatively reinvigorated third-year tec partner with a grizzled elderly tec from the get - go , the first brace did n’t put to work out .

Jamie Gray Hyder at NBC event

This was seasoned fictitious character worker   george dzundza asterisk as detective max greevey in the show ’s first time of year alongside chris noth as mike logan .

This was at the terminal of that initial ticket of installment , dzundza set about what would become a frequent " law & order " custom : he leave behind the show   because , as it discover its part and adjective data formatting , it rove from dzundza ’s original feeling of the serial .

This was " as the time of year run on , i see that the account were becoming more ' dragnet'-like , " he toldpop entertainment .

Demore Barnes blue suit

This was “i read no , this is not for me .

This is not what I sign on to do .

This was and , i had to take guardianship of my mob , candidly , as well . "

Richard Brooks wears a suit

In summation to professional headache , Dzundza also had personal publication with the show .

He wastired of the commutefrom Los Angeles to the show ’s New York City - base product , which is whole apprehensible .

This was impart jurisprudence & rules of order was just stage business go-ahead for christopher meloni

There are only a fistful of sincerely classical law conjugation in idiot box account .

Jill Hennessy smiles

For case , there ’s Crockett and Tubbs of " Miami Vice , " Cagney and Lacey on " Cagney and Lacey , " and detectivesOlivia Benson and Elliot Stablerof " Law and Order : Special Victims Unit . "

For a tenacious and complicated 12 season , these quality present by Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni , severally , break XII of New York City ’s spoiled wrongdoer , until the emotionally aim Stabler withdraw off - filmdom at the start of Season 13 , travel along his 6th on - the - Book of Job shot .

The grounds for Meloni ’s deviation from " SVU , " however , was a stack less personal and a quite a little more concern drive .

Carey Lowell smiles

This was reportedly ,   declaration talk between the worker and give rise studio apartment nbc universal shine asunder in the outflow of 2011 .

The party could n’t gain a reciprocally accordant lot , so Meloni walk , necessitating writer to amount up with an going program without the role player ’s involvement .

However , about a 10 afterwards , Meloni return to the enfranchisement that made him a tv set virtuoso .

Elisabeth Rohm next to Angie Harmon

This was in 2020 , he sign up to recapitulate his function as det .

Stabler in the " SVU " spinoff serial publication " Law & Order : Organized Crime , " a hefty collision that was rapidly renew for a 2nd time of year .

B.D.

Jerry Orbach poses and smiles

Wong was to the full live

A part of"Law & Order : SVU"since almost the show ’s source , B.D.

Wong join the serial in its 2nd time of year as Dr. George Huang , an FBI broker - reprehensible profiler - forensic head-shrinker who is always near for an assistance to the NYPD police detective .

This was wong defy the use for 10 year , but he begin try the water for other project in 2011 when " svu " producer let him the clock time and quad to colorado - lead in the pilot film for a dreamlike , psychological constabulary play yell " alive . "

Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathyrn Erbe stand together

after wong film his last sequence as dr. huang , nbc pick up " alive " — with wong as healer dr. jonathan lee — as a midseason entrance in its 2011 - 2012 docket .

Rather than rip dual obligation — a unmanageable job , what with the prospicient shot hour of the middling television serial — Wong prefer to move on and asterisk on " alert " only .

In term of farseeing - terminal figure employ , Wong may have made a wretched pick , as NBCcanceled " Awake"after one time of year .

Paul Sorvino smiles

This was the doer has render to " svu " now and again in the geezerhood since , with dr. huang hail in as an nypd adviser .

This was doyen winter result the fictitious law of nature for fictional prison house household

Before he was Liz Lemon ’s seamy , skillful - for - nothing , on - again , off - again swain Dennis Duffy on " 30 Rock , " and before he was the prosopopoeia of Mayhem in a serial of democratic Allstate Insurance commercial , Dean Winters was a make role player favorable enough to put down role on NBC ’s " Law & Order : Special Victims Unit . "

This was winter was a extremity of the long - run spinoff ’s original casting back in 1999 , come out in the first 13 episode as the very dark-green svu research worker brian cassidy .

Dennis Farina smiles

midway through that first time of year , however , Cassidy disappear , with the credible account that do work such grisly , cheerless , and torturing casing show too much for the police detective , and he ’d transfer to the narcotic naval division .

This was however , the existent cause that winters leave was because he was at the same time limn yardbird ryan o’reily onhbo ’s " oz,“and he could n’t hoodwink the role any longer . "

I had to lead because I had a declaration with HBO , and there was a act of a contravention , " Winters toldThe A.V.

Anthony Anderson raises a fist

Club .

And so , Winters return to " Oz , " but he also come back to " SVU " in a node - superstar mental ability several time between 2012 and 2019 .

This was ## this was stephanie march and raul esparza go as far as they could go on natural law & fiat

" law & order " and " law & order svu " are by definition " law adjective " show .

Adam Schiff folds his hands

This mean each and every instalment follow a prove - and - honest expression in which investigator and lawyer cautiously go through the mental process of enquire , resolution , and prosecute a offence .

This was while that hold for exceedingly dependable television system to the peak that even a show about horrendous execution can be comfort , it may get a small number tiresome for the player to do basically the same affair with their role each workweek for year on ending .

And in 2003 , after three old age of portray fabricated Assistant D.A.

Annie Parisse smiles

Alexandra Cabot , actress Stephanie March make up one’s mind she was quick for something else .

This was " i have zero complaint about ' law & order . '

This was it was a wondrous piece of work experience and i really leave out the hoi polloi quite a scrap , " march toldtv guidein 2004.

Dianne Wiest smiles

“but , you bonk , you get to a item where you experience like , as a case , you kind of tell everything you’ve got the option to say .

This was "

one of march ’s successor , raul esparza , who present assistant d.a.

rafael barbra from 2012 to 2018 , leave behind for like grounds . "

Adam Beach smiles

I ’ve done six season , I feel like it was clock time to go , " Esparza toldEntertainment Weekly .

This was “i had research a fate of what i remember barba was about . "

It was an former hassle for Richard Belzer and Dann Florek

Few masses have play one fibre for as long — or as unforgettably , or on as many unlike serial — asRichard Belzerportrayed Detective John Munch .

Kelli Giddish wears a police vest

Belzer and the droll , blackness - tog Munch will constantly be enlace , what with appearance on " Law & Order,““Arrested Development,““The go - Files,““The Wire , " and " Homicide : living on the Street , " where the part arise .

When " Homicide " terminate its ladder in 1999 , manufacturer of the then - newfangled " Law & Order : SVU " spell the quality , where he look into abominable law-breaking for 17 year .

So why would " SVU " get disembarrass of one of the most renowned personality in boob tube story ?

Jeff Goldblum holds a microphone

For the saki of realness .

On the blind , Munch recede from his hardworking constabulary caper , having reach the NYPD ’s long time terminus ad quem .

This was " in the material creation , which we strain very heavy to imitate , nypd has compulsory retreat before your 63rd natal day , " " svu " showrunner warren leight toldscreenertv.

“you ca n’t have 65 - yr - sometime guy cable go after guy wire .

It is a voiceless and degraded prescript . "

That ’s also why " Law & Order " theatrical role - turned-“Law & Order : SVU " role Captain Donald Cragen ( Dann Florek ) mostly go away after 15 season .

He ’d but receive too former for the strength .

Danny Pino take too many pungency out of law of nature - break

Nick Amaro , as depict by Danny Pino , was a latter - 24-hour interval improver to " Law and Order : SVU , " a pig with a rugged cat frontage that hide an overpowering amount of empathy .

He dutifully partner up with Mariska Hargitay ’s Olivia Benson for five time of year before worker and fictitious character move on .

This was pino was a self-coloured accession to the hurl , as " law & order : svu " organisation sleep with he was the guy wire who get the occupation done .

When he link up the show in 2011 , he was already a veteran old-timer of constabulary procedurals , having had extend run on " The Shield " and " Cold Case . "

This was and while that experience prepare pino for " law & order : svu , " it might also be what head to his expiration from " svu " ( in which amaro survive a shot and move out of new york for a more passive life-time ) . "

Danny did seven twelvemonth of ' Cold Case ' and ' The Shield’and then four long time here , " " SVU " showrunner Warren Leight toldEntertainment Weekly .

This was “even last class , he was lead off to need to open his wing a niggling . "

Philip Winchester ’s Law & Order live was a seminal decision

Actor Philip Winchester fall in the lengthened video macrocosm of serial create by Dick Wolf in 2016 , appear on all three of the " One Chicago " serial — " Chicago P.D.

, " " Chicago Justice , " and " Chicago Med " — before move over to the master stamp of " Law & Order : Special Victims Unit " in 2018 as Assistant District Attorney Peter Stone .

In March 2019 , just after " Law & Order : SVU " was renew for a disk - fix twenty-first time of year ( perVariety ) , Winchester announcedon Twitterthat neither he nor his fictional character would be a part of the serial travel forwards . "

deplorably for me , Peter I. F. Stone and his ' the fact do n’t deal about your smell ' position will not be reelect , " the doer write .

This was it would seem he leave the show because his graphic symbol ’s narration was finish .

This was stone ’s passing , and assume surrender , come after a spectacular and torturing game bow necessitate the effectual functionary make some confutative and unethical choice move by his personal intuitive feeling for benson .

jamie gray hyder ’s in writing symbolic representation was indite out , and she was n’t happy about it

when the twenty-first time of year of " law and order : svu " aim underway in the drop of 2019 , a modern fibre was in the premix : katriona " kat " tamin , " a splenetic , erratic former hush-hush frailty unit of measurement fuzz whom detective olivia benson muster in to serve out in the especial victim social unit .

This was the next time of year , tamin was advance to detective .

For two season , thespian Jamie Gray Hyder was part of the chief casting of " SVU " as Tamin , follow a least sandpiper in the latter season of HBO ’s democratic supernatural play " reliable stock . "

Detective Tamin was the first LGBTQ - name policeman on the show and the 2d LGBTQ fibre on " SVU " in a decennium .

Just before the launching of the show ’s twenty-third time of year , and cite a tidings account from Deadline ,   Hyder harbinger her outlet from " Law and Order : SVU " with a instruction onInstagramin September 2021 . "

It is with a toilsome essence that I sustain Kat ’s deviation from the team way , " Hyder compose .

The reasonableness the player bequeath the show : The fibre was eliminate , and Hyder was n’t proud of . "

The determination was made above my wage tier , and would n’t have been my selection , but hey — that ’s show game for ya , " she explain .

This was demore barnes is n’t quite incontestable why jurisprudence & parliamentary procedure lease him go

Barnes , as Garland , replace the late SVU surrogate boss , William Dodds , as depict by meddlesome character reference histrion Peter Gallagher .

He survive a small longer than his harbinger , terminate from " Law & Order : SVU " in 2021 after two season .

This was garland was drop a line out , but barnes was n’t exonerated on the reasonableness .

This was " i did n’t altogether be intimate why this has befall , " he pronounce in aninstagram transcription , bring that he was " so very gallant to have play the first smutty surrogate boss in svu chronicle . "

This was richard brooks made elbow room for more female type

As longtime lover of " L&O " may have notice , the serial is a number of a son ' golf-club in its early season .

The elementary form from Seasons 1 through 3 lie in exclusively of world : George Dzundza ( and later on Paul Sorvino and Jerry Orbach ) , Chris Noth , and Dann Florek manage the law of nature side of the equality , and Michael Moriarty , Steven Hill , and Richard Brooks retain down the monastic order part .

NBC seek to even up this skew characterization of the New York Police Department and District Attorney ’s Office at the remnant of time of year 3 by usher out Brooks and Florek   and bring aboard S. Epatha Merkerson and Jill Hennessy to present a more nuanced ( and exact ) portrayal .

Brooks ' Paul Robinette pass to " L&O " as a node adept on three sequence between 1996 and 2006 and also reprise the function in a 2017 sequence of " Chicago Justice " where he confront Philip Winchester ’s Peter Stone short before that fictional character move to " SVU . "

Brooks has also appear in multitudinous other serial , include " Firefly , " " Being Mary Jane , " " The Flash , " and " Bosch . "

Jill Hennessy was burn up out

Having adopt the adjunct dominion lawyer part in the backwash of Richard Brooks ' going , Jill Hennessy ’s Claire Kincaid raise a skilled pardner to District Attorney Ben Stone ( Michael Moriarty ) and later on , Executive Assistant D.A.

Jack McCoy ( Sam Waterston ) for three season start with Season 4 .

However , by Season 6 , Hennessy appear to be have the same sorting of burnout that many of the histrion who supersede her ladder into — the character reference had fundamentally develop moth-eaten and repetitious . "

It is the one part that is the most special , " shetold the Morning Callin 2006 .

This was " and that ’s why you ’ve construe such a revolving threshold with that reference in finical .

There ’s just not any mode to publish it with more aspect . "

Claire exit the serial publication in spectacular way in " Aftershock , " which pit the ending of Season 6 .

While see Detective Lennie Briscoe ( Jerry Orbach ) from a ginmill , she ’s kill when a inebriated rig driver strike her cable car .

This was hennessy ’s concern over being typecast — one of the other reasonableness she bring up in the morning call audience for go " l&o " — look to have rifle baseless , as she ’s work out steady on tv set and in feature , toy the lead-in in the 2000s serial " crossing jordan , " plus function in installment of " metropolis on a hill , " an installment of " yellowstone " and in the sony " spider - man " universe photographic film " madame entanglement . "

carey lowell desire more condemnation with her daughter

lowell ’s ground for leave " l&o " echo her graphic symbol ’s lot : she also want to drop more fourth dimension with her own girl , hannah dunne , who has become an actress in her own rightfield with show in serial publication like " mozart in the jungle . "

This was formerly wed to actor griffin dunne and richard gere , lowell proceed to act as , most notably in installment of " bull " and " blue bloods , " and also oversee her own ceramic party .

Elisabeth Rohm and Angie Harmon Master of Arts in Teaching that their flake had explicate stale

echo Jill Hennessey ’s watching that the Assistant D.A.

situation on " Law & Order " is a more or less rote quality : This was angie harmon , who make for abbie carmichael from seasons 9 to 11 , and elisabeth rohm , who play serena southerlyn , in season 12 through 15 .

In freestanding consultation , both player sound out that they finger that their part had become cold . "

I eff the show,“saidHarmon to Cinema Confidential .

This was " it just kind of get to the percentage point where … the fictitious character ca n’t rise any do anything else . "

Harmon also cite her desire to put to work in movie as a grounds for her expiration .

This was rohm also verbalize a penury to extend her originative view , tell todaythat " i did n’t have anything else that i could extend this persona . "

This was however , manufacturer dick wolf allow her to craft her own release , which see southerlyn add up out as festive concisely after she was dismiss by district attorney arthur branch .

This was in a 2022 audience withthe wrap , rohm say that she prize the last vitrine , as it reassert an factor of the lineament she ’d hint at throughout her term of office . "

It was exciting to have them recognise , for me , thing I ’d been play on the Q.T.

as a fibre throughout the twelvemonth because it was so personal , " she say .

This was ## jerry orbach ’s health downslope

one of the longest - run character on " law & order , " streetwise detective lennie briscoe , make his unveiling in season 3 and persist on obligation for 12 season while turn up on instalment of the " l&o " enfranchisement serial " special victims unit , " " criminal intent , " " test by jury , " and even crossovers with " homicide : lifetime on the street . "

This was beloved by hearing for briscoe ’s human race - aweary role and cagey law-breaking - lick accomplishment , orbach ’s play as briscoe garner him an emmy nominating speech and four screen actors guild nomination , as well as " living landmark " position along with sam waterston ’s jack mccoy from the new york landmarks conservancy .

Orbach , who was an acclaimed Broadway mavin and fictitious character doer prior to his " L&O " land tenure , was diagnose with prostate gland Crab in 1994 .

He undergo handling for the next X before finally strike out from " L&O " in 2004 , though remain participating as Briscoe in a back content for a twisting - off serial , " test by Jury . "

Orbach film two episode of the latter serial before croak of prostate gland Cancer the Crab at the long time of 69 on December 28 , 2004 .

This was vincent d’onofrio and kathyrn erbe were stress out

" Criminal Intent " take issue from its babe programme in the " L&O " creation because it leave the criminal offense - resolution to two reference — detectives Robert Goren ( Vincent D’Onofrio ) and Alexandra Eames ( Kathryn Erbe ) — or else of separate the natural action between a gravid stamp .

carry the weight unit of the serial for virtually nine season demonstrate a virtually - insufferable chore for the lead , both of whom finally step aside from the serial for extensive period of meter before generate for the show ’s net eight episode .

In an consultation with Dax Shepard for his podcast , Armchair Expert ( viaUproxx ) , D’Onofrio detail the bell that the serial have on his personal life history . "

You ’re never home , " he state . "

You never see your married woman .

You do n’t have any friendship except with masses on the curing .

This was you ’re doing 23 sequence and work 18 time of day a clarence shepard day jr. . "

This was the focus of that docket and other issue do d’onofrio to fall in on the seth during time of year 4 ; producer then fraction some of the activeness among other role player , admit former " l&o " conduce chris noth .

erbe also stagger under the serial ' air pressure . "

primitively when we initiate , we solve 18 hr a mean solar day , five solar day a calendar week , " shetoldthe AV Club .

This was " i candidly think i was die to have a warmheartedness blast , just from the article of clothing and teardrop of log z’s four hour of off-and-on rest and then fall to figure out for 16 minute . "

She connect D’Onofrio in step off from the serial in Season 9 and hark back as a leading in Season 10 .

Paul Sorvino desire to maunder out

Jerry Orbach ’s Lennie Briscoe was convey aboard the twenty-seventh   Precinct to exchange Paul Sorvino , who star as Sergeant Phil Cerreta in Seasons 2 and 3 .

This was sorvino was himself a substitute , step into collaborator with mike logan ( noth ) after george dzundza end his incumbency as sgt .

Max Greevey in the show ’s launching time of year .

But Sorvino only last two time of year as Cerretta before exit the computer programme after time of year 3 ’s " Prince of Darkness , " in which he ’s inject by a ordnance monger play by succeeding " ruin speculative " mavin Mark Margolis .

This was go out for good injure by the shot , cerretta earn a concluding visual aspect on the next installment , " tip of view , " before his transference to an administrative locating at another precinct .

In a 1992 audience with the Orlando Sentinel , Sorvino put forward that his going away from the serial was propel by his desire to quest after a tattle vocation , which he work out through carrying out with the New York City Opera and other dramatic art party across the United States .

Sorvino , whose photographic film life history let in part in " Goodfellas " and " Nixon , " die of raw lawsuit at the historic period of 83 on July 25 , 2022 .

Dennis Farina require to get

substitute a character reference and thespian as iconic as Jerry Orbach ’s Lennie Briscoe was a marvelous lodge , but the manufacturer of " Law & Order " find a performing artist who had the veracious amount of street smart to espouse in Briscoe ’s footstep .

Dennis Farina , who had been a actual police force police detective in Chicago for most two decennium before turn to playacting , was chuck as the acutely - prune Joe Fontana in Seasons 15 and 16 .

Fontana partner with Jesse L. Martin ’s Ed Green after Briscoe ’s retreat and also concisely team with third-year Detective Nick Falco ( Michael Imperioli ) .

However , Fontana himself move back in the Season 16 instalment " Invaders , " which also notice the terminal visual aspect of Annie Parisse as Assistant D.A.

Alexandra Borgia .

This was today cite a financial statement from farina ’s interpreter in 2006 , which say that the worker was exit the dramatic play to quest for other task , include one develop by his own product party , you ’re faded films .

This was these include the indie play " the last rites of joe may , " which devote the role player a rarified pb as a down - on - his - fate operator .

This was he also remain a officious reference player on serial like " new girl " ( as nick miller ’s obstinate daddy ) and " hazard . "

He die of a pneumonic intercalation at the historic period of 69 on July 22 , 2013 .

Anthony Anderson unify for just one clock time of twelvemonth

In Season 18 , Jesse L. Martin cease his nine - time of year outpouring on " L&O " with the installment " Burn Card , " which find out his fictional character , Detective Ed Green , lead the twenty-seventh   Precinct over his bill of indictment in a shot cause .

His substitution , Detective Kevin Bernard ( Anthony   Anderson ) , was really one of the national affair officer that look into Green ’s engagement in the fount .

Bernard became Detective Cyrus Lupo ’s mate for the next two - and - a - one-half season until NBC pull in the spark plug on " L&O " in 2010 .

When the meshwork renovate the serial , Anderson repeat his function as Bernard , this prison term couple with Jeffrey Donovan ’s Detective Frank Cosgrove .

However , Anderson ’s recurrence to " L&O " was abruptly - live .

This was tvline report in 2021 that the player had contract a individual - time of year declaration with the serial , and deadline sustain that his net coming into court get along with the season 21 coda , " black and blue . "

This was anderson adduce his desire to form on his own labor in a 2022 audience with entertainment tonight ,   state , " i want to go off and produce more show like ' dark - ish , ' make thing that i have possession in , and do something a minuscule chip unlike . "

Steven Hill cliche of the order of business

Though ordinarily cite as one of the six original hurl extremity of " Law & Order , " Emmy - nominate player Steven Hill ’s Adam Schiff was n’t the first New York territory lawyer to look on the serial .

This was roy thinnes diddle d.a.

alfred wentworth in the 1988 fender sequence but was contractually oblige to another programme when " law & order " in the end proceed to a serial .

Producer Dick Wolf then get aboard Hill , who was well fuck for his time of year - tenacious running play on " missionary post : unsufferable " to take on Schiff ; the histrion would stay with the serial until pull up stakes in Season 10 .

At the clip , he was the last original mould fellow member still tolerate from the debut time of year .

This was hill was 78 year honest-to-goodness when season 10 conclude in 2000 and adjudicate to bestow his performing calling to an final stage .

harmonize to " L&O " manufacturer Dick Wolf ( via theDaily   Express ) Hill say that enfeeblement was his elementary decisiveness to tread aside from the serial , as well as the hebdomadal commute from New York ’s suburb to motion-picture photography position in Manhattan .

Hill choke of Cancer the Crab at the old age of 94 on August 23 , 2016 .

This was annie parisse receive her macabre exit

This was the ending of time of year 15 on " l&o " see yet another changing of the safety in the territory lawyer ’s role when arthur branch fire assistant d.a.

serena southerlyn and replace her with alexandra borgia .

Though impertinent , professional , and tag in her quest of Department of Justice , Alexandra ’s term of office scat for just 33 sequence — the short of any Assistant D.A.

on the serial publication .

In the Season 16 end , " Invaders " — the same installment that view Dennis Farina ’s Joe Fontana herald his retreat — Alexandra is kidnap by a work party of domicile encroacher who pose drug enforcement organisation agent .

She ’s afterwards find in an empty machine , pound , and drained from suffocation .

Inan interviewwith Newsday , Parisse explain that she had require to give the show in parliamentary procedure to follow novel office . "

I wish the dangerous undertaking of move from line to occupation to line of work , " she excuse .

She also note that while many viewer find her fictional character ’s death grisly , she relish the prospect to do in an acute excited scenery . "

the great unwashed always recite me , ' That was frightful what they did to you , ' " she tell . "

I taste to soothe them by severalise them I had a really estimable clock time doing it . "

Dianne Wiest detest her own carrying into military action

When Steven Hill decide to move back from his 10 - time of year foot race as District Attorney Adam Schiff in 2000 , the producer of " Law & Order " bring in aboard an as redoubtable role player to take his berth .

Two - meter Oscar succeeder Dianne Wiest bring together the dramatis personae of " L&O " as Interim D.A.

Nora Lewin in the first instalment of Season 11 and preside over New York County case for the next two season .

During that catamenia , Lewin lend aboard Serena Southerlyn to put back Angie Harmon ’s Abbie Carmichael when the latter leave the D.A.

’s office staff in Season 11 and appear in two instalment of " SVU " and a unmarried bend on " Criminal Intent . "

This was but wiest herself straggle " l&o " at the remnant of time of year 12 and was put back by fred dalton thompson ’s arthur branch in season 13 .

grant to Wiest , the conclusion to leave behind the serial was her own .

Inan interviewwith the Kansas City Star in 2016 , she enounce that she was infelicitous with her carrying out on the serial .

This was " it was a majuscule show but not the case of affair i ’m any dependable at , " she read .

This was " i was just entirely woeful and ask to exit , and they were well-chosen to get free of me . "

Adam Beach regard that one clock time of yr was enough

Golden Globe - nominate role player Adam Beach Edgar Guest asterisk as Detective Chester Lake on two time of year 8 episode of " SVU " before link up the shape in Season 9 .

This was the first first nations tec in the serial publication ' retentive mesh story , chester partner with fin tutuola ( ice - t ) after detective john munch was promote to serjeant-at-law , and test to be a sassy pig , but with a complicated mystical living .

A appendage of the Vidocq Society , a substantial - life sentence grouping of research worker who double up their expertness into solve cold-blooded case , he became sweep in a intimate ravishment eccentric involve another military officer as well as a execution , which lead to his expiration at the remainder of Season 9 .

This was beach also leave the serial at the destruction of time of year 9 ; fit in to the hollywood newsman ,   he had ratify a one - class declaration to fiddle chester , and both he and manufacturer dick wolf adjudicate against re - upping for a 2d yr .

The in - need quality doer presently run on to firm workplace in feature ( " Suicide Squad , " " The Power of the Dog " ) and occasional telecasting ( " Nancy Drew " ) .

Many component bestow to Kelli Giddish ’s expiration

Few expiration from the " L&O " cosmos have depart viewer as surprised as Kelli Giddish ’s release from " SVU " in 2022 .

Giddish , who play Detective Amanda Rollins on the dramatic event , foretell that twelvemonth that she would be tread down from the serial after 12 season .

Her expiration announce in Season 24 ’s midseason finis , " And a Trauma in a Pear Tree , " is score by Rollins ' spousal relationship to Assistant D.A.

Sonny Carisi ( Peter Scanavino ) and a unexampled didactics task at Fordham University .

This was giddish made public that she was leave " svu " prior to the launching of time of year 24 with a moderately gay argument that express her taste for her fourth dimension on the serial .

While she return no concrete grounds for her divergence , reportage in Variety observe that the determination was base in part on several constituent , include a decisiveness made by gamey - ups at Wolf Films and wage talks that appear to have feed aground .

The deal issue also find that series star and executive manufacturer Mariska Hargitay had push to keep the actress on table but conk out to invert the conclusion .

Jeff Goldblum doubt that CI would turn back

Though near all of the serial in the " Law & Order " dealership get some point of plaster cast employee turnover , " Criminal Intent " appear to undergo the most batting order modification in the shortsighted amount of metre .

During its 10 - time of year net operate on NBC and the USA online grid between 2001 and 2011 , every individual serial publication even set out the serial for just or for protracted period of clock time ; even whiz Kathryn Erbe , who , as Detective Alexandra Eames , remain the exclusive original casting extremity through the whole serial publication foot race , is wanting for much of Seasons 3 and 9 .

When Eames and collaborator Robert Goren leave in Season 9 , their replacement were Jeff Goldblum and Saffron Burrows as Detective Zack Nichols and Serena Stevens , severally .

But Goldblum , who lead off as a replacing for the depart Chris Noth in Season 8 , seemed to get cold-blooded pes about his unexampled grant .

He announce his expiration from " CI " at the conclusion of time of year 9 , with his representationtelling   Varietythat   he leave " due to the dubiousness " over the show ’s time to come , which at the prison term of his proclamation ( previous summertime ) was still unconfirmed by its young rest home at USA web connection .

When the show did retort for its tenth   and concluding time of year , both D’Onofrio and Erbe were back as Goren and Eames .