Law & Order
Law & Order
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Law & Order

"Truth matters."

7.3
Yr 1990
Status Returning Series
Crime Drama
Your Verdict
Unrated

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Series Brief

Overview

In cases ripped from the headlines, police investigate serious and often deadly crimes, weighing the evidence and questioning the suspects until someone is taken into custody. The district attorney's office then builds a case to convict the perpetrator by proving the person guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Working together, these expert teams navigate all sides of the complex criminal justice system to make New York a safer place.

Status

Latest

  • Reid Scott exits, replaced for season 26 — July 23, 2026
  • Reid Scott exits, James Badge Dale joins — July 23, 2026
Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 75 /100

When Law & Order debuted in 1990, critics viewed its split police procedural and courtroom structure as a novel concept, though early reviews were somewhat mixed on how smoothly the two halves converged. While some contemporary reviewers initially dismissed it as formulaic or overly moralistic, retrospective appraisals acknowledge that the show was revolutionary for its era, reshaping the network crime drama landscape with its grounded, unglamorous style and strong ensemble acting.

Over the course of its historic run, the series earned enduring praise as addictive, twist-filled comfort television. Commentators celebrated its signature ripped-from-the-headlines narrative approach and reliably high-caliber casting, noting that even with frequent cast turnover, the format delivered consistently compelling procedural drama, albeit with quality that could vary depending on the chosen case.

More recent reviews examining the show's later revival have taken a more skeptical tone. Modern critics argue that the series has struggled to update its sensibilities, pointing to rigid plotting and writing that feels reluctant to adapt to contemporary storytelling standards.

“Law & Order never lost focus on what it was: the most addictive (and twist-filled) hour of ripped-from-the-headlines TV comfort food of its time.”

“in 1990, Law & Order was something completely new that helped change the crime drama landscape.”

“The show's 'ripped from the headlines' mantra makes engaging -- but fictional -- drama. Key to Law & Order's success is its first rate cast.”

“Unfortunately, though the idea seems novel and innovative, it works only fitfully, despite the presence of such name actors as Michael Moriarty and George Dzundza.”

Why fans love it

Law & Order established a rigid, recognizable rhythm since its 1990 premiere. By splitting each hour into the detective investigation and the subsequent legal prosecution, the show avoids the sprawl found in typical procedural dramas. The process remains the focal point, emphasizing the procedural mechanics of the New York City criminal justice system over the personal lives or backstories of those involved.

Actors like Anthony Anderson anchor this structure by playing characters who serve as gears in a much larger machine. The series prioritizes the evidence chain and the burden of proof required to secure a conviction. This clinical focus on police work and criminal law creates a consistent, reliable atmosphere that keeps the central conflict grounded in the pursuit of a guilty verdict rather than individual melodrama.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 4
Longest run 405 eps
Dennis Farina
Dennis Farina
as Joe Fontana
46 episodes
Reid Scott
Reid Scott
as Vincent Riley
57 episodes
David Ajala
David Ajala
as Theo Walker
19 episodes
Tony Goldwyn
Tony Goldwyn
as Nicholas Baxter
60 episodes
Anthony Anderson
Anthony Anderson
as Kevin Bernard
60 episodes
Hugh Dancy
Hugh Dancy
as Nolan Price
92 episodes
Odelya Halevi
Odelya Halevi
as Samantha Maroun
92 episodes
George Dzundza
George Dzundza
as Max Greevey
22 episodes
Show 67 more
Paul Sorvino as Phil Cerreta 31 episodes Mehcad Brooks as Jalen Shaw 57 episodes Benjamin Bratt as Rey Curtis 95 episodes Jesse L. Martin as Ed Green 202 episodes Chris Noth as Mike Logan 111 episodes Dann Florek as Donald Cragen 69 episodes Steven Hill as Adam Schiff 229 episodes Fred Thompson as Arthur Branch 116 episodes Dianne Wiest as Nora Lewin 48 episodes Michael Moriarty as Ben Stone 88 episodes Sam Waterston as Jack McCoy 405 episodes Linus Roache as Michael Cutter 63 episodes Jill Hennessy as Claire Kincaid 68 episodes Angie Harmon as Abbie Carmichael 72 episodes Alana de la Garza as Connie Rubirosa 85 episodes Elisabeth Röhm as Serena Southerlyn 85 episodes Richard Brooks as Paul Robinette 69 episodes Carey Lowell as Jamie Ross 50 episodes Carolyn McCormick as Elizabeth Olivet 65 episodes Jerry Orbach as Frank Lehrman 274 episodes S. Epatha Merkerson as Anita Van Buren 391 episodes Maura Tierney as Jessica Brady 48 episodes Annie Parisse as Alexandra Borgia 34 episodes Milena Govich as Geneva 23 episodes Tovah Feldshuh as Danielle Melnick 13 episodes Camryn Manheim as Beatrice Hines 48 episodes Peter McRobbie as Thomas Neustadt 19 episodes Jeffrey Donovan as Eddie Nicodos 34 episodes Christine Farrell as Arlene Shrier 16 episodes Karen Shallo as Judge Janet Shiro 11 episodes Jeremy Sisto as Clint Glover 64 episodes Doris Belack as Margaret Barry 10 episodes Frank Anello as Lawyer 16 episodes David Little as Milton Luck 10 episodes Edward D. Murphy as Lieutenant 11 episodes Bruce Altman as Dr. Alvin Lawrence 10 episodes Donald Corren as Ezra Stine 19 episodes Lee Shepherd as Barry Kaufer 10 episodes John Fiore as Tony Profaci 54 episodes Joe Gonzalez as Aguilera 12 episodes Gia Gracielle Galeano as US Attorney Simms 17 episodes J.K. Simmons as Emil Skoda 46 episodes Larry Clarke as Morris LaMotte 21 episodes Mark Zimmerman as Polygraph Tester 11 episodes Merwin Goldsmith as Trial Judge Gollub 12 episodes Selenis Leyva as Patricia Kaplan 25 episodes Lynn Cohen as Elizabeth Mizener 12 episodes David Rosenbaum as Alan Berman 14 episodes Mark Kenneth Smaltz as Elias Bunch 15 episodes Michael Mulheren as Judge Sheldon Taylor 10 episodes Barbara Spiegel as Judge Ellen Dreiser 13 episodes Liz Larsen as Ms. Corrado 17 episodes Leslie Hendrix as Elizabeth Rodgers 142 episodes Helmar Augustus Cooper as Lawrence McNeil 12 episodes Ben Hammer as Judge Frank Markman 10 episodes David Lipman as Judge Moodie 26 episodes Angel Desai as Ellen 12 episodes Richard Hirschfeld as Assistant M.E. Brody 12 episodes Andrea Navedo as Ana Cordova 24 episodes Larry Sherman as Colin Fraser 13 episodes Josh Pais as Mr. Mosley 15 episodes Charlotte Colavin as Lisa Pongracic 14 episodes John Cariani as Julian Beck 26 episodes Fran Lebowitz as Janice Goldberg 12 episodes Connie Shi as Violet Yee 48 episodes Antonio Edwards Suarez as Frank Ramos 10 episodes Joe Forbrich as Joe Cormack 16 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Director of Photography
Jon Delgado Michael F. Barrow Constantine Makris John Thomas Manuel Billeter Christopher Misiano Peter Reniers John Beymer Richard Dobbs Craig DiBona David S. Tuttman Geoffrey Erb
Wardrobe Supervisor
Rayneese Primrose
Costume Coordinator
Cristina DePasquale
Truck Costumer
Suzi Gomez-Pizzo Derek Nye Lockwood Enid Turnbull
"B" Camera Operator
Tom Wills
Hairstylist
Adenike Wright
Makeup Artist
Dina Sliwiak
Set Dresser
Andrea Mueller Vause Sait Velovic
Stunt Driver
A.J. Paratore
Makeup Department Head
Maria Maio
Key Costumer
Rena Sherman
Assistant Art Director
Kyle Evan-Reed Hill Theron Wineinger
Set Decoration
Jillian McMahon
Location Scout
Jordan M. Bowes
Camera Loader
Andrea Angell
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Law & Order overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

new york city police lawyer homicide detective crime investigation criminal law legal drama criminal justice system
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
September 13, 1990
Status
Returning Series
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
729