View source for List of Law & Order characters

{{Short description|Television show character list}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE: List of ''Law & Order'' characters}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2009}}

The [[Television in the United States|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.<ref name="APMercury">{{cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainmentheadlines/ci_10868230|title=Can 'Law & Order' outlive 'Gunsmoke'?|last=Carlson|first=Erin|date=2008-10-31|work=San Jose Mercury News|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=2008-11-06}}</ref> The progression of the record for longest serving main cast members of the series is: Jerry Orbach as Det. Lennie Briscoe (1992–2004, 12 seasons), S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt. Anita Van Buren (1993–2010, 17 seasons) and Sam Waterston as EADA/DA Jack McCoy (1994–2010 & 2022–2024, 19 seasons).

==Characters==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
! scope="col" rowspan=2|Name 
! scope="col" rowspan=2|Portrayed by
! scope="col" rowspan=2|Position
! scope="col" colspan=25|Seasons
|-
! [[Law & Order season 1|1]]!! [[Law & Order season 2|2]]!! [[Law & Order season 3|3]]!! [[Law & Order season 4|4]]!! [[Law & Order season 5|5]]!! [[Law & Order season 6|6]]!! [[Law & Order season 7|7]]!! [[Law & Order season 8|8]]!! [[Law & Order season 9|9]]!! [[Exiled: A Law & Order Movie|M]]!! [[Law & Order season 10|10]]!! [[Law & Order season 11|11]]!! [[Law & Order season 12|12]]!! [[Law & Order season 13|13]]!! [[Law & Order season 14|14]]!! [[Law & Order season 15|15]]!! [[Law & Order season 16|16]]!! [[Law & Order season 17|17]]!! [[Law & Order season 18|18]]!! [[Law & Order season 19|19]]!! [[Law & Order season 20|20]]!! [[Law & Order season 21|21]]!! [[Law & Order season 22|22]]!! [[Law & Order season 23|23]] || [[Law & Order season 24|24]]

|-
| Max Greevey || [[George Dzundza]] || Sergeant || {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || colspan=24 {{cNone}} 
|-
| [[Mike Logan (Law & Order)|Mike Logan]] || [[Chris Noth]] || Jr. Detective || colspan=5 {{cMain|Main}} || colspan=4 {{cNone}} || {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || colspan=15 {{cNone}} 
|-
| [[Donald Cragen]] || [[Dann Florek]] || Captain || colspan=3 {{cMain|Main}} || {{cNone}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan=4 {{cNone}} || {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan=4 {{cNone}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan=9 {{cNone}}
|-
| [[Benjamin Stone (Law & Order)|Ben Stone]] || [[Michael Moriarty]] || EADA || colspan=4 {{cMain|Main}} || colspan=21 {{cNone}}
|-
| Paul Robinette || [[Richard Brooks (actor)|Richard Brooks]] || ADA || colspan=3 {{cMain|Main}} || colspan=2 {{cNone}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan=10 {{cNone}} || colspan=2 {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan=7 {{cNone}}
|-
| Adam Schiff || [[Steven Hill]] || DA || colspan=9 {{cMain|Main}} || {{cNone}} || {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || colspan=14 {{cNone}}
|-
| Phil Cerreta || [[Paul Sorvino]] || Sergeant || {{cNone}} || colspan=2 {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || colspan=22 {{cNone}}
|-
| Elizabeth Olivet || [[Carolyn McCormick]] || Psychologist || {{cNone}} || {{CRecurring|{{Abbr|R|Recurring}}}} || colspan=2 {{CAlso starring|{{Abbr|A|Also starring}}}} || colspan=3 {{cRecurring|Recurring}} || {{cNone}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || {{cNone}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan=2 {{cNone}} || colspan="2" {{CRecurring|{{Abbr|R|Recurring}}}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan="3" {{cRecurring|Recurring}} || colspan=2 {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan=4 {{cNone}}
|-
| [[Lennie Briscoe]] || [[Jerry Orbach]] || Sr. Detective || colspan=2 {{cNone}} || colspan=13 {{cMain|Main}} || colspan=10 {{cNone}}
|-
| [[Anita Van Buren]] || [[S. Epatha Merkerson]] || Lieutenant|| colspan=3 {{cNone}} || colspan=18 {{cMain|Main}} || colspan=4 {{cNone}}
|-
| Claire Kincaid || [[Jill Hennessy]] || ADA || colspan=3 {{cNone}} || colspan=3 {{cMain|Main}} || colspan=19 {{cNone}}
|-
| [[Jack McCoy]] || [[Sam Waterston]] || EADA<br />Interim DA<br>DA || colspan=4 {{cNone}} || colspan=20 {{cMain|Main}} || {{cNone}}
|-
| Rey Curtis || [[Benjamin Bratt]] || Jr. Detective || colspan=5 {{cNone}} || colspan=5 {{cMain|Main}} || colspan=10 {{cNone}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan=4 {{cNone}}
|-
| Jamie Ross || [[Carey Lowell]] || ADA || colspan=6 {{cNone}} || colspan=2 {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || colspan=2 {{cNone}} || colspan=2 {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan=9 {{cNone}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan=3 {{cNone}}
|-
| Abbie Carmichael || [[Angie Harmon]] || ADA || colspan=8 {{cNone}} || {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || {{cNone}} || colspan=2 {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || colspan=13 {{cNone}}
|-
| Ed Green || [[Jesse L. Martin]] || Jr. Detective<br />Sr. Detective || colspan=10 {{cNone}} || colspan=9 {{cMain|Main}} || colspan=6 {{cNone}}
|-
| Nora Lewin || [[Dianne Wiest]] || Interim DA || colspan=11 {{cNone}} || colspan=2 {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || colspan=12 {{cNone}} 
|-
| [[Serena Southerlyn]] || [[Elisabeth Röhm]] || ADA || colspan=12 {{cNone}} || colspan=4 {{cMain|Main}} || colspan=9 {{cNone}}
|-
| [[Arthur Branch]] || [[Fred Thompson]] || DA || colspan=13 {{cNone}} || colspan=5 {{cMain|Main}} || colspan=7 {{cNone}}
|-
| Joe Fontana || [[Dennis Farina]] || Sr. Detective || colspan=15 {{cNone}} || colspan=2 {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || colspan=8 {{cNone}}
|- 
| Nick Falco || [[Michael Imperioli]] || Jr. Detective || colspan=15 {{cNone}} || {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan=8 {{cNone}}
|-
| Alexandra Borgia || [[Annie Parisse]] || ADA || colspan=15 {{cNone}} || colspan=2 {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || colspan=8 {{cNone}}
|-
| Nina Cassady || [[Milena Govich]] || Jr. Detective || colspan=17 {{cNone}} || {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || colspan=7 {{cNone}}
|-
| [[Connie Rubirosa]] || [[Alana de la Garza]] || ADA || colspan=17 {{cNone}} || colspan=4 {{cMain|Main}} || colspan=4 {{cNone}}
|- id="Cyrus Lupo"
| Cyrus Lupo || [[Jeremy Sisto]] || Jr. Detective<br />Sr. Detective || colspan=18 {{cNone}} || colspan=3 {{cMain|Main}} || colspan=4 {{cNone}}
|- 
| Michael Cutter || [[Linus Roache]] || EADA || colspan=18 {{cNone}} || colspan=3 {{cMain|Main}} || colspan=4 {{cNone}}
|-
| Kevin Bernard || [[Anthony Anderson]] || Jr. Detective<br />Sr. Detective || colspan=18 {{cNone}} || colspan=4 {{cMain|Main}} || colspan=3 {{cNone}}
|-
| Frank Cosgrove || [[Jeffrey Donovan]] || Jr. Detective<br />Sr. Detective || colspan=21 {{cNone}} || colspan=2 {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || colspan=2 {{cNone}}
|-
| Kate Dixon || [[Camryn Manheim]] || Lieutenant || colspan=21 {{cNone}} || colspan=3 {{CMain|Main}} || {{cNone}}
|-
| Nolan Price || [[Hugh Dancy]] || EADA || colspan=21 {{cNone}} || colspan=4 {{CMain|Main}}
|-
| Samantha Maroun || [[Odelya Halevi]] || ADA || colspan=21 {{cNone}} || colspan=4 {{CMain|Main}}
|-
| Jalen Shaw  || [[Mehcad Brooks]] || Jr. Detective<br />Sr. Detective || colspan=22 {{cNone}} || colspan=3  {{CMain|Main}}
|-
| Vincent Riley || [[Reid Scott (actor)|Reid Scott]] || Jr. Detective || colspan=23 {{cNone}} || colspan=2 {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}}
|-
| Nicholas Baxter || [[Tony Goldwyn]] || DA || colspan=23 {{cNone}} || colspan=2 {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}}
|-
| Jessica Brady ||  [[Maura Tierney]] || Lieutenant || colspan=24 {{cNone}} || colspan=2 {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}}
|}

==Main characters==
<onlyinclude>
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Actor
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Character
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Rank/Position
! scope="col" colspan=3 | Seasons
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Notes
|-
! scope="col" | Regular
! scope="col" | Recurring
! scope="col" | Guest
|-
| George Dzundza || Max Greevey || Senior Detective/Sergeant || style="text-align:center;"|1 || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Chris Noth || Mike Logan || Junior Detective || style="text-align:center;" |1–5 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||rowspan=2|Appeared in ''[[Exiled: A Law & Order Movie|Exiled]]''
|-
| Dann Florek || Donald Cragen  || Captain || style="text-align:center;" |1–3 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"|5, 10 & 15 
|-
| Michael Moriarty || Ben Stone || EADA || style="text-align:center;" |1–4 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Richard Brooks|| Paul Robinette || ADA || style="text-align:center;" |1–3 || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"|6, 16 & 17 ||
|-
| Steven Hill || Adam Schiff || DA || style="text-align:center;" |1–10 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Paul Sorvino || Phil Cerreta || Senior Detective Sergeant || style="text-align:center;" |2 & 3 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| || 
|-
| Jerry Orbach || Lennie Briscoe || Senior Detective || style="text-align:center;" |3–14 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| || Appeared in ''Exiled''
|-
| Carolyn McCormick ||  Elizabeth Olivet || Psychologist || style="text-align:center;" |3 & 4 || style="text-align:center;" |5–7, 13, 14 & 16–18 || style="text-align:center;"|2, 9, 10, 19 & 20 || 
|-
| S. Epatha Merkerson || Anita Van Buren || Lieutenant || style="text-align:center;" |4–20 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| || Appeared in ''Exiled''
|-
| Jill Hennessy || Claire Kincaid || ADA || style="text-align:center;" |4–6 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Sam Waterston || Jack McCoy || EADA,<br/>Interim DA & DA || style="text-align:center;" | 5–23 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||rowspan=2|Appeared in ''Exiled''
|-
| Benjamin Bratt || Rey Curtis || Junior Detective || style="text-align:center;" |6–9 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"|20 
|-
| Carey Lowell || Jamie Ross ||rowspan=2|ADA || style="text-align:center;" |7 & 8 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"|10, 11 & 21 ||
|-
| Angie Harmon || Abbie Carmichael || style="text-align:center;" |9–11 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Jesse L. Martin || Ed Green || Junior Detective,<br/>Senior Detective || style="text-align:center;" |10–18 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Dianne Wiest || Nora Lewin || Interim DA || style="text-align:center;" |11 & 12 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Elisabeth Röhm || Serena Southerlyn || ADA || style="text-align:center;" |12–15 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Fred Dalton Thompson || Arthur Branch || DA || style="text-align:center;" |13–17 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Dennis Farina || Joe Fontana || Senior Detective || style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2|15 & 16 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Annie Parisse || Alexandra Borgia || ADA   || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Michael Imperioli || Nick Falco ||rowspan=2|Junior Detective || style="text-align:center;" |15 || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"|16 || Temporarily assigned
|-
| Milena Govich || Nina Cassady || style="text-align:center;" |17 || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Alana de la Garza || Connie Rubirosa || ADA || style="text-align:center;" |17–20 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Jeremy Sisto || Cyrus Lupo || Junior Detective,<br/>Senior Detective || style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2|18–20 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|- 
| Linus Roache || Michael Cutter || EADA || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Anthony Anderson || Kevin Bernard ||rowspan=2|Junior Detective,<br/>Senior Detective || style="text-align:center;" |18–21 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Jeffrey Donovan || Frank Cosgrove || style="text-align:center;" |21 & 22 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Camryn Manheim || Kate Dixon || Lieutenant || style="text-align:center;" | 21–23 || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Hugh Dancy || Nolan Price || EADA  || style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2| 21–present || style="text-align:center;"| || style=“text-align:center;”| ||
|-
| Odelya Halevi || Samantha Maroun || ADA || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Mehcad Brooks || Jalen Shaw|| Junior Detective,<br/>Senior Detective || style="text-align:center;" |22–present || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Reid Scott || Vincent Riley || Junior Detective || style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2|23–present || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Tony Goldwyn || Nicholas Baxter || DA || style="text-align:center;" | || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|-
| Maura Tierney || Jessica Brady || Lieutenant ||style="text-align:center;" |  24–present || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| ||
|}
</onlyinclude>

==Police officers==

===Sergeants===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! style="width: 10%"|Name
! style="width: 12%"|Portrayed by
! style="width: 10%"|Year
! style="width:  5%"|Episodes
! style="width: 10%"|Junior Partners
! style="width: 20%"|Notes
|-
| Max Greevey || George Dzundza || 1990–1991 || 23 || rowspan=2|Mike Logan || Murdered in 1991.<ref name=LA>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-08-20-ca-1452-story.html|publisher=LA Times|accessdate= October 25, 2023|author1=Jane Hall|title=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. |date=August 20, 1991}}</ref><ref name=Impact>{{cite news|publisher=Looper|accessdate=October 25, 2023|title=The Impact Of Greevey's Death In Law & Order|author1=Jennifer Mashuga|date=January 6, 2022|url=https://www.looper.com/726982/the-impact-of-greeveys-death-in-law-order/}}</ref><ref name="S3E03">{{Cite episode|title=Stolen|episode-link=Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 3)#ep3|series=Law & Order: Special Victims Unit|series-link=Law & Order: Special Victims Unit|network=NBC|airdate=October 12, 2001|season=3|number=3}}</ref> [Note: The title card for the episode indicates his murder occurred on Friday, April 6th, which would mean he was murdered in 1990.]<ref>{{Citation |title=Greevey's Death - Law & Order |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSUt5s_jV88 |access-date=2024-01-28 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| Phil Cerreta || Paul Sorvino || 1991–1992 || 31 || Transferred to a desk job at the 110th Precinct after being shot.
|}

===Senior detectives===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! style="width: 10%"|Name
! style="width: 12%"|Portrayed by
! style="width: 10%"|Year
! style="width:  5%"|Episodes
! style="width: 10%"|Junior Partners
! style="width: 20%"|Notes
|-
| Lennie Briscoe || Jerry Orbach || 1992–2004 || 273 || {{bulleted list|Mike Logan<br />(1992–1995)|Rey Curtis<br />(1995–1999)|Ed Green<br />(1999–2004)}} || {{bulleted list|Retired (2004)|Deceased (2005) (due to Jerry Orbach's death in December 2004).}}
|-
| Joe Fontana || Dennis Farina || 2004–2006 || 46 || {{bulleted list|Ed Green<br />(2004–2006)|Nick Falco<br />(2005)}} ||{{bulleted list | Retired (2006).}}
|-
| Ed Green || Jesse L. Martin || 2006–2008 || 198 || {{bulleted list|Nina Cassady<br />(2006–2007)|Cyrus Lupo<br />(2008)}} || {{bulleted list |Promoted to Senior Detective (2006).|Retired following his absolution during an [[Internal affairs (law enforcement)|IAB]] investigation (2008).}}
|-
| Cyrus Lupo || Jeremy Sisto || 2008–2010 || 63 || Kevin Bernard|| {{bulleted list |Transferred from Intelligence Division (2008).|Promoted to Senior Detective (2008).}}
|-
| Kevin Bernard || Anthony Anderson || 2022 || 60 || Frank Cosgrove || {{bulleted list |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 || {{bulleted list |Promoted to Senior Detective (2022).|Let go by IAB (2024)}}
|-
| Jalen Shaw || Mehcad Brooks || 2024– || TBD || Vincent Riley || {{bulleted list |Promoted to Senior Detective (2024).}}
|}

===Junior detectives===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! style="width: 10%"|Name
! style="width: 12%"|Portrayed by
! style="width: 10%"|Year
! style="width:  5%"|Episodes
! style="width: 10%"|Senior Partners
! style="width: 20%"|Notes
|-
| Mike Logan || Chris Noth ||style=white-space:nowrap| 1990–1995 || 111 || {{bulleted list |Max Greevey<br/>(1990–1991)|Phil Cerreta <br/>(1991–1992)|Lennie Briscoe<br/>(1992–1995)}} ||{{bulleted list |Assigned to [[Staten Island]] from 1995 to 2005 after punching a homophobic politician.|Solved a major murder & police corruption case in ''Exiled''.|Joined One Police Plaza's [[Law & Order: Criminal Intent|Major Case Squad]] 2005–2008.|Retired after solving a cold case (''CI'': "[[Last Rites (Law & Order: Criminal Intent)|Last Rites]]").}}
|-
| Rey Curtis || Benjamin Bratt || 1995–1999 || 94 || Lennie Briscoe || {{bulleted list |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 ||style=white-space:nowrap| {{bulleted list |Lennie Briscoe<br/>(1999–2004)|Joe Fontana<br/>(2004–2006)}} || {{bulleted list |Promoted to Senior Detective (2006).|Retired following his absolution during an IAB investigation (2008).}}
|-
| Nick Falco ||style=white-space:nowrap| Michael Imperioli || 2005 || 5 || Joe Fontana || {{bulleted list |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 || rowspan=2|Ed Green || {{bulleted list |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 || {{bulleted list |Transferred from [[Intelligence (information gathering)|Intelligence]] Division (2008).|Promoted to Senior Detective (2008).}}
|-
|style=white-space:nowrap| Kevin Bernard ||style=white-space:nowrap|Anthony Anderson || 2008–2010 || 51 || Cyrus Lupo || {{bulleted list |Transferred from IAB (2008).|Promoted to Senior Detective (2022).|Most likely retired, resigned or transferred (2022).}}
|-
| Frank Cosgrove || Jeffrey Donovan || 2022 || 10 || Kevin Bernard || | {{bulleted list |Promoted to Senior Detective (2022).|Let go and jammed up by IAB (2024).}}
|-
| Jalen Shaw || Mehcad Brooks || 2022– || 22 || Frank Cosgrove || {{bulleted list |Transferred from another Homicide Division (2022).|Promoted to Senior Detective (2024).}}
|-
| Vincent Riley || Reid Scott || 2024– || TBD   || Jalen Shaw || {{bulleted list |Recruited by Lieutenant Kate Dixon (2024).}}
|}

===Supervising officers===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! style="width: 12%"|Name
! style="width: 12%"|Portrayed by
! style="width: 12%"|Rank
! style="width: 10%"|Year
! style="width:  5%"|Episodes
! style="width: 25%"|Notes
|-
| Donald Cragen || Dann Florek || Captain ||style=white-space:nowrap| 1990–1993 || 66 || {{bulleted list |Transferred to the Anti-Corruption Task Force and later to the Manhattan [[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit|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 and in 2024.}}
|-
| Anita Van Buren ||style=white-space:nowrap|S. Epatha Merkerson || Lieutenant || 1993–2010 || 390 || {{bulleted list |Most likely retired (2010).}}
|-
| Kate Dixon || Camryn Manheim || Lieutenant || 2022–2024 || 45 || {{bulleted list | Tagged along with her son Patrick after he accepted a job offer in Miami (2024).}}
|-
| Jessica Brady || Maura Tierney || Lieutenant || 2024– || || {{bulleted list | Transferred from the 2-9 precinct (2024).}}
|}

==Prosecutors==

===Executive Assistant District Attorneys===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! style="width: 12%"|Name
! style="width: 10%"|Portrayed by
! style="width: 10%"|Year
! style="width: 10%"|Partners
! style="width:  5%"|Episodes
! style="width: 20%"|Notes
|-
|Benjamin Stone ||style=white-space:nowrap| Michael Moriarty ||style=white-space:nowrap| 1990–1994 || Paul Robinette,<br/>Claire Kincaid || 88 || {{bulleted list | 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|Law & Order: SVU]]'' discusses his death, and shows his funeral.}}
|-
| Jack McCoy || Sam Waterston || 1994–2007 ||style=white-space:nowrap| Claire Kincaid,<br/>Jamie Ross,<br />Abbie Carmichael,<br/>Serena Southerlyn,<br/>Alexandra Borgia,<br/>Connie Rubirosa || 405 || {{bulleted list | 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 || {{bulleted list |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===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! style="width: 12%"|Name
! style="width: 10%"|Portrayed by
! style="width: 10%"|Year
! style="width: 10%"|Partners
! style="width:  5%"|Episodes
! style="width: 20%"|Notes
|-
| Paul Robinette || Richard Brooks || 1990–1993 || Ben Stone || 66 || {{bulleted list |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,<br />Jack McCoy || 68 || {{bulleted list |Dies in a car crash in 1996.}}
|-
| Jamie Ross || Carey Lowell || 1996–1998 || rowspan=4|Jack McCoy || 48 || {{bulleted list |Former defense [[Lawyer|attorney]] who graduated from [[Columbia Law School]]|Resigns to pursue private practice and to spend more time with her daughter (1998), whom she had a bitter custody battle for with her ex (Lowell requested to leave the show to spend more time with her daughter<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Law & Order: 20 Years of Arresting Drama|magazine=[[TV Guide|TV Guide Special Collector's Issue]]}}</ref>).| Initially supported the [[death penalty]], but eventually became an opponent. | Reappears as a defense attorney in 1999 and 2001.| Reappears as a judge in two episodes of ''[[Law & Order: Trial by Jury]]'' (2005).|Reappears in season 21 episode "The Right Thing" (2022).}}
|-
| Abbie Carmichael || Angie Harmon || 1998–2001 || 72 || {{bulleted list |Resigns to accept a job at the [[United States Attorney General]]'s Office (2001).}}
|-
| Serena Southerlyn ||style=white-space:nowrap| Elisabeth Röhm || 2001–2005 || 85 || {{bulleted list |Fired by Arthur Branch for being inappropriately sympathetic towards a defendant she was prosecuting (2005).}}
|-
| Alexandra Borgia || Annie Parisse || 2005–2006 || 34 || {{bulleted list |Dies after being kidnapped and beaten during a murder trial (2006).}}
|-
| Connie Rubirosa || Alana de la Garza || 2006–2010 || Jack McCoy,<br/>Michael Cutter || 85 || {{bulleted list |Moves to [[Los Angeles]] and joins the [[Law & Order: LA|DA's office]] there as a [[Deputy District Attorney|DDA]] (2011).|Later appears in ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' as a federal prosecutor leading an investigation into an underage sex trafficking operation (2014).}}
|-
| Samantha Maroun || Odelya Halevi || 2022– || Nolan Price || TBD ||
|}

*In the 1997 [[Law & Order (season 7)|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===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! style="width: 12%"|Name
! style="width: 10%"|Portrayed by
! style="width: 10%"|Terms
! style="width:  5%"|Episodes
! style="width: 25%"|Notes
|-
| Alfred Wentworth ||style=white-space:nowrap| Roy Thinnes || 1988 || 1 || {{bulleted list |Only appears in "[[Everybody's Favorite Bagman]]"}}
|-
| Adam Schiff|| Steven Hill ||style=white-space:nowrap| 1990–2000 || 228 || {{bulleted list |Leaves office to work overseas for The Holocaust Project with [[Simon Wiesenthal]] and to investigate Swiss banks (2000).|Went with former [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Jimmy Carter]] as part of a delegation to [[Zimbabwe]] (2008).}}
|-
| Nora Lewin ||style=white-space:nowrap| Dianne Wiest || 2000–2002 || 48 || {{bulleted list |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.<ref name="endurance">{{Cite episode|title=Endurance|series=Law & Order|series-link=Law & Order|network=[[NBC]]|airdate=October 18, 2000|season=11|number=1}}</ref>|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 || {{bulleted list |Branch's departure, the reason for which was never specified on the series, occurred after Thompson announced his campaign for the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]'s [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 nomination for President]].}}
|-
| Jack McCoy || Sam Waterston || 2007–2010 & 2022–2024 || 405 || {{bulleted list | 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–|| TBD ||{{bulleted list |Appointed District Attorney after the departure of Jack McCoy.}}
|}

==Other main characters==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! '''Name''' !! '''Portrayed by''' !! '''Years''' !! '''Episodes'''
|-
| Psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Olivet || [[Carolyn McCormick]] || 1991–1997, 1999 & 2002–2009 || 87
|-
| Medical Examiner [[Elizabeth Rodgers|Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers]] || [[Leslie Hendrix]] || 1992–2010 || 139
|-
| Psychiatrist [[Emil Skoda (Law & Order)|Dr. Emil Skoda]] || [[J. K. Simmons]] || 1997–2004 & 2010 || 44
|}

==Recurring characters==
===NYPD personnel===
====NYPD officials====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! '''Name''' !! '''Portrayed by''' !! '''Year''' !! '''Episodes'''
|-
| Chief of Detectives Laird || [[James Biberi]] || 2008–2010 || 3
|-
| Borough Detective Commander Joseph Strudevant || [[Dan Lauria]] || 2000–2001 || 2
|-
| Borough Chief Commander James Dietz || Michael Cullen || 1998–1999 || 3
|-
|}

====27th Precinct support detectives====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! '''Name''' !! '''Portrayed by''' !! '''Year''' !! '''Episodes'''
|-
| Detective Tony Profaci || John Fiore || 1990–1998 || 53 and ''Exiled''
|-
| Detective Gia || Gia Galeano || 1994, 1995–1997 || 11
|-
| Detective Morris LeMotte || Larry Clarke || 1998–2000 || 20
|-
| Detective Byrne || Thomas Lyons || 2000–2001 || 3 episodes
|-
| 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===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! '''Name''' !! '''Portrayed by''' !! '''Year''' !! '''Episodes'''
|-
| Forensic Technician Medill || [[Donald Corren]] || rowspan=2|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===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! '''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
|-
| Cho Shen || Sonnie Brown || 2008–2010 || 4
|}

===Defense attorneys===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! '''Name''' !! '''Portrayed by''' !! '''Year''' || '''Episodes'''
|-
| [[Danielle Melnick]] || [[Tovah Feldshuh]] || 1991–2007 || 13
|-
| Norman Rothenberg || [[Jeffrey DeMunn]] || 1993–2008 || 8
|-
| Shambala Green || [[Lorraine Toussaint]] || 1990–1994 & 2003 || rowspan=3|7
|-
| Larry Weaver || [[Bob Dishy]] || 1994–2002 
|-
| James Granick || [[Ned Eisenberg]] || 1997–2009 
|-
| Nick Margolis || [[Ben Shenkman]] || 1999–2009 || rowspan=5|6
|-
| Bill Patton || Bill Moor || 1991–2000 
|-
| Helen Brolin || [[Maria Tucci]] || 1993–2003 
|-
| Peter Behrens || Tom O'Rourke || 1996–2001 
|-
| Arthur Gold || [[George Grizzard]] || 1992–2000 
|-
| Al Archer || [[Dennis Boutsikaris]] || 1996–2004 || rowspan=5|5
|-
| Charles Garnett || [[James Rebhorn]] || 1995–2001 
|-
| Douglas Greer || [[Richard Venture]] || 1991–2000 
|-
| Anne Paulsen || [[Glynnis O'Connor]] || 1998–2004 
|-
| Sanford Remz || [[Dylan Baker]] || 2004–2006 & 2022–2023 
|-
| Sally Bell || [[Edie Falco]] || 1993–1998 || rowspan=8|4  
|-
| Mr. Axtell || [[Jack Gilpin]] || 1997–2001 
|-
| Daniel Metzler || John Cunningham || 1997–2008
|-
| Barry Kaufer || Lee Shepherd || 1998–2002 
|-
| Charlotte Swan || [[Helen Carey]] || 1999–2005 
|-
| Winters || [[Ruben Santiago-Hudson]] || 1999–2001, 2008 & 2025
|-
| Leon Chiles || [[Joe Morton]] || 2000–2005 
|-
| Aaron Solomon || [[John Benjamin Hickey]] || 2002–2006
|-
| Gordon Schell || [[Philip Bosco]] || 1990–1994 || rowspan=13|3
|-
| Deirdre Powell || [[Joanna Merlin]] || 1994–1998 
|-
| Max Hellman || Ron Orbach || 1994 & 2002 
|-
| James Linde || [[Joe Grifasi]] || 1996–2001 
|-
| Paul Robinette || Richard Brooks || 1996, 2005 & 2006 
|-
| Linda Walsh || [[Caitlin Clarke]] || 1997–2000
|-
| Stephen Olson || [[Spencer Garrett]] || 2000–2004 
|-
| Erica Gardner || [[Kate Burton (actress)|Kate Burton]] || 2001–2004 
|-
| Jessica Sheets || [[Susan Floyd]] || 2002–2006 
|-
| Randy Dworkin || [[Peter Jacobson]] || rowspan=2|2003–2006 
|-
| Vanessa Galiano || [[Roma Maffia]]  
|-
| Madeline Myers || [[Kate Miller (actor)|Kate Miller]] || 2003–2007 
|-
| Rodney Fallon || [[Giancarlo Esposito]] || 2004–2005 
|-
| Gary Lowenthal || [[Eric Bogosian]] || 1992–1993 || rowspan=7|2
|-
| Lanie Stieglitz|| [[Elaine Stritch]] || 1992 & 1997 
|-
| Ruth Miller || [[Patti LuPone]] || 1996 & 1997 
|-
| Stan Shatenstein || [[Sig Libowitz]] || 1997 & 2005 
|-
| Bernie Adler || [[Ron Silver]] || 2004–2007 
|-
| Grubman || [[Elizabeth Marvel]] || 2008–2009 
|-
| Marcus Woll || [[Jonathan Cake]] || 2009 
|}

===Judges===

====Arraignment judges====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! '''Name''' !! '''Portrayed by''' !! '''Year''' !! '''Episodes'''
|-
| Arraignment Judge Morris Torledsky || David Lipman || 1992–2005 || 26
|-
| Arraignment Judge Colin Fraser || [[Larry Sherman (actor)|Larry Sherman]] || 1994–2004 || rowspan=3|12
|-
| Arraignment Judge Harriet Doremus || Barbara Spiegel || 1991–2003 
|-
| Arraignment Judge Janice Goldberg || [[Fran Lebowitz]] || 2001–2007 
|-
| Arraignment Judge Ian Feist || Merwin Goldsmith || 1991–2005 || rowspan=2|11
|-
| Arraignment Judge William Koehler || Mark Kenneth Smaltz || 1998–2007
|-
| Arraignment Judge Joseph Flint|| Doug Stender || 1999–2005  || rowspan=2|9
|-
| Arraignment Judge Antonia Mellon || Mary Lou Mellace || 1999–2006
|-
| 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
|-
| Arraignment Judge Harvey Sirkin || [[Sully Boyar]] || 1992–1993 || 2
|-
| Arraignment Judge Barrie J. Marton || [[Doris Belack]] || 1990 || 1
|-
| Arraignment Judge Muriel Gilden || [[Billie Jean King]] || 2007 || 1
|}

====Trial judges====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! '''Name''' !! '''Portrayed by''' !! '''Year''' || '''Episodes'''
|-
| Trial Judge Alan Berman || David Rosenbaum || 1992–2004 || 14
|-
| Trial Judge Walter Bradley || [[Peter McRobbie]] || 2001–2009 || rowspan=2|13
|-
| Trial Judge Lisa Pongracic || Charlotte Colavin || 1992–2006 
|-
| 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 || rowspan=2|9
|-
| Trial Judge Harrison Taylor || [[Michael Mulheren]] || 1999–2006 
|-
| Trial Judge Andrew Barsky || [[Fred J. Scollay]] || 1992–1999 || rowspan=5|8
|-
| Trial Judge Donald Karan || [[Jordan Charney]] || 2000–2006 
|-
| Trial Judge Grace Larkin || [[Rochelle Oliver]] || 1993–2003 
|-
| Trial Judge Rebecca Stein || [[Joan Copeland]] || 1991–2001 
|-
| Trial Judge Rebecca Steinman || [[Susan Blommaert]] || 1991–2004 
|-
| Trial Judge Deborah Burke || [[Donna Hanover]] || 1997–2004 || rowspan=5|7
|-
| Trial Judge Michael Callahan || [[Bernie McInerney]] || 1991–1999 
|-
| Trial Judge Henry Fillmore || William Severs || 1991–2004 
|-
| Trial Judge Rosalyn Lenz || [[Tanya Berezin]] || 1991–2001 
|-
| Trial Judge Barbara Lusky || Iris Little Thomas || 1999–2009 
|-
| Trial Judge Eric Caffey || [[John Newton (actor)|John Newton]] || 1991–1998 || rowspan=6|6
|-
| Trial Judge Rochelle Desmond || Patricia R. Floyd || 2006–2009 
|-
| Trial Judge Nathan Murphy || Mark Zimmerman || 1997–2008 
|-
| Trial Judge Robert Quinn || Roger Serbagi || 1992–1999 
|-
| Trial Judge Joseph Rivera || [[Shawn Elliott (actor)|Shawn Elliott]] || 1994–2002 
|-
| Trial Judge Carla Solomon || Lauren Klein || 1999–2005 
|-
| Trial Judge Hugo Bright || [[Robert Hogan (actor)|Robert J. Hogan]] || 2003–2006  || rowspan=8|4
|-
| Trial Judge Delano Burns || [[Mike Hodge]] || 1991–2006 
|-
| Trial Judge Leanne Dreben || Milica Govich || 2022–2024 
|-
| Trial Judge Aldo Ianello || Ron Frazier || 1994–1998
|-
| Trial Judge John Laramie || [[Peter Francis James]] || 2008–2010 
|-
| Trial Judge Manuel Leon || Sam Gray || 1990–1994 
|-
| Trial Judge Michael Schneider|| David Little|| 2004–2006 
|-
| Trial Judge William Wright || [[Ron McLarty]] || 1998–2000
|-
| Trial Judge Norman Barclay || [[Wayne Duvall]] || 2004–2010 || rowspan=6|3
|-
| Trial Judge Eric Bertram || [[George Murdock (actor)|George Murdock]] || 1992–1999 
|-
| Trial Judge Gary Feldman || [[Cliff Gorman]] || 1998 
|-
| Trial Judge Derek Hafner || David Wolos-Fonteno || 2001–2009 
|-
| Trial Judge Elayne Link || Maggie Burke || 1993–2003 
|-
| Trial Judge Ida Zeller || [[Polly Adams]] || 2009 
|-
| Trial Judge Keith Fischer || [[Tom Mardirosian]] || 2004–2006 || rowspan=2|2
|-
| Trial Judge Linda Taft || [[Jenna Stern]] || 2009–2010 
|-
| Judge Harvey Sirkin || [[Sully Boyar]]  || 1991 || 1
|}

====Appellate judges====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! '''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 || rowspan=4|2
|-
| Appellate Judge Lewis Getman || [[Leslie Barrett]] || 1991–1993 
|-
| Appellate Judge Barry Marton || [[Graham Brown (actor)|Graham Brown]] || 1991–1993 
|-
| Appellate Judge Wayne Humphrey || Chester A. Sims II ||  1993–1995 
|}

==Guest characters==
===Defense attorneys===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! '''Name''' !! '''Portrayed by''' !! '''Year''' !! '''Episodes'''
|-
| Clay Bollock || [[Xander Berkeley]] || 2005 || "Fluency"
|-
| Depago || [[Vyto Ruginis]] || 2006 || "Public Service Homicide"
|-
| 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 || "Breeder"
|-
| Evan Braun || [[Michael Kostroff]] || 2022 || "Gimme Shelter - Part Three"
|}

==See also==
* [[Law & Order (franchise)|''Law & Order'' (franchise)]]
* [[List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit characters|List of ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' characters]]
* [[List of Law & Order: Criminal Intent characters|List of ''Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' characters]]
* [[List of Law & Order: LA characters|List of ''Law & Order: LA'' characters]]

==References==
<references/>

{{Law & Order}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Law and Order characters}}
[[Category:Lists of Law & Order characters| ]]
[[Category:Law & Order (franchise)]]
[[Category:Lists of American crime television series characters]]
[[Category:Lists of American drama television series characters]]