10 main Law & Order cast members who left the show — and what they’ve been up to since

An ode to some of our favorite detectives and ADAs from the past 35 years.

By Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe is a timely SEO writer at **. She has been working at * *since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Distractify.

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January 8, 2026 12:00 p.m. ET

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Jerry Orbach as Lennie Briscoe; S. Epatha Merkerson as Anita Van Buren; Benjamin Bratt as Rey Curtis. Credit:

Paul Drinkwater/NBC; Virginia Sherwood/NBC; Jessica Burstein/NBCU Photo Bank

- After debuting in 1990, *Law & Order *is now in its 25th season.

- Over the years, the show has bid farewell to iconic characters like Jerry Orbach's Lennie Briscoe and Sam Waterston's Jack McCoy.

- No original *Law & Order *cast members remain on the show.

*Law & Order *has been an NBC staple for decades, taking gritty New York City crime stories from the street to the courtroom while creating some of TV's most enduring characters, from Lennie Briscoe to Jack McCoy.

Created by Dick Wolf, *Law & Order* originally ran for 20 seasons from 1990 to 2010. The series, which spawned a slew of spinoffs that include *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999–present) and *Law & Order: Organized Crime *(2021–2025), was revived in 2022. It's currently in its 25th season.

Any show with that kind of longevity is bound to see some shakeups to its cast. Over the years, audiences have had to say goodbye to a number of popular detectives and ADAs.

From fan favorites to scene stealers, we're checking in on 10 former cast members, unpacking why they left and what they've been doing since leaving *Law & Order*.

George Dzundza as Max Greevey (season 1)

George Dzundza as Max Greevey on 'Law & Order'; Dzundza arrives at the Griffith Observatory Re-Opening Galactic Gala on Oct. 29, 2006.

Al Levine/NBCU Photo Bank; Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty

George Dzundza's run on *Law & Order *was brief but memorable. He was a key figure during the show's first season as Sgt. Max Greevey, which is why it was such a shock when the character was shot and killed in the season 2 premiere.

In a 2003 interview, the actor said the show moved in a direction that no longer appealed to him. "As the season went on, I saw that the stories were becoming more *Dragnet*-like," he explained. "I said no, this is not for me. This is not what I signed on to do." He also cited the heavy workload and the need to "take care of my family."

Following his exit, Dzundza embraced voice acting with roles on *Batman: The Animated Series* (1993–1995) and *Superman: The Animated Series* (1996–1999). He also helped lead NBC's *Jesse *(1998–1999) and CBS's *Hack *(2002–2003), and had a recurring role on ABC's long-running *Grey's Anatomy *(2005–2007).

He now lives in Oregon, where he co-founded a non-profit theater company called Rising Tide Productions. "I love everything about it," he said of the Oregon Coast in a 2022 interview. "I love the people. I love the terrain. I love being by the ocean. I love the home I have. I love the trees. I love the temperatures. Everything about it for me is heavenly."

Dann Florek as Donald Cragen (seasons 1–3)

Dann Florek as Donald Cragen on 'Law & Order'; Florek at Edge at Hudson Yards on Jan. 16, 2024.

Alice S. Hall/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Todd Williamson/NBC via Getty

Dann Florek played Capt. Donald Cragen during the first three seasons of *Law & Order*, but his run on the show ended when NBC reportedly decided to make some changes to the cast.

In a 2010 interview for NPR, actress S. Epatha Merkerson, who played Lt. Anita Van Buren, said the network was considering canceling *Law & Order *unless more women were added to the show. "So Dick [Wolf] let two of the guys go, and he brought on two women. That's how Jill Hennessy and I ended up on the show — because NBC was going to cancel it if he didn't bring skirts in. It was really that simple."

In addition to future guest spots on *Law & Order*, Florek's Cragen appeared in 15 seasons *SVU *(1999–2025), as well as multiple episodes of *Organized Crime *(2022–2024).

Outside the franchise, Florek appeared in movies like *The Flintstones* (1994) and *Hard Rain *(2000). He also guested on series such as *Ellen* (1995), *From the Earth to the Moon* (1998), and *Under the Dome *(2015).

Michael Moriarty as Ben Stone (seasons 1–4)

Michael Moriarty as Ben Stone on 'Law & Order'; Moriarty in 'King Cohen'.

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Dark Star Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

During the first four seasons of *Law & Order*, Michael Moriarty played Catholic prosecutor Ben Stone. In the season 4 finale, Moriarty's Ben resigns after a case involving the Russian mob results in the murder of a witness. The character's son, Peter (Philip Winchester), would later appear as an ADA on *SVU.* In season 19 of the spinoff, it was revealed that Ben had died, with several characters attending his funeral.**

Moriarty's exit was tied to offscreen controversy. According to the *Los Angeles Times*, the actor's departure followed his outspoken opposition to then-Attorney General Janet Reno, who criticized *Law & Order* for promoting real-life violence. Moriarty pushed back hard, publicly calling out Reno and even taking out ads in industry trade magazines to defend creative expression. He later claimed he was written out of the show as retaliation for speaking out.**

In a 2015 interview with Money Into Light, the actor said the fallout went even further, alleging that the entertainment industry "ostracized" him after his comments and that he ultimately chose to leave the United States.

In the years since his exit, Moriarty won an Emmy, the actor's second, for his role as Winton Dean in the TV movie *James Dean* (2001). You may have also seen him in films like *Courage Under Fire *(1996), *Along Came a Spider *(2001), and *Hitler Meets Christ* (2007), which he also wrote.

In 2017, he appeared in *King Cohen, *a documentary about Larry Cohen, the cult filmmaker with whom he often collaborated.

Chris Noth as Mike Logan (seasons 1–5)

Chris Noth as Mike Logan on 'Law & Order'; Noth attends 'Richard Kind: Everywhere All At Once' on Nov. 08, 2025 in New York City.

NBC; Manoli Figetakis/Getty

For the first five seasons of *Law & Order*, Chris Noth played hot-headed detective Mike Logan. Though the character was transferred to a Staten Island squad, Noth eventually returned for both the 1998 TV movie *Exiled: A Law & Order Movie *and the spinoff *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2005–2008), the latter of which he starred on for three seasons.

Noth's initial exit came down to money. At the time, Wolf said that Noth was due for a "huge" raise if his contract was renewed, which the show couldn't afford.

"This is one of the toughest decisions you've got to make as a producer," Wolf said. "I want to emphasize that Chris has done a spectacular job this year. He's never been better."

After *Law & Order*, Noth found success as Mr. Big on *Sex and the City *(1998–2004), a role he reprised in the show's 2008 and 2010 film spinoffs and on the sequel series, *And Just Like That… *(2021). He also starred on shows like *The Good Wife *(2009–2016), *Gone *(2017–2018), and *The Equalizer *(2021–2022).

In 2021, Noth faced multiple allegations of sexual assault, which he denied. The allegations led to his firing from *The Equalizer *and the loss of several brand and business partnerships. In 2023, he stated that his only wrongdoing was cheating on his wife, Tara Wilson, and vowed to contest the allegations against him.

Jerry Orbach as Lennie Briscoe (seasons 3–14)

Jerry Orbach as Lennie Briscoe on 'Law & Order'; Orbach in New York City.

Paul Drinkwater/NBC; Debra L Rothenberg/FilmMagic

Broadway legend Jerry Orbach earned an Emmy nomination for his turn as Lennie Briscoe, the wisecracking detective now synonymous with the franchise. He joined the series in its third season and stayed on as a main cast member through season 14.

Throughout his *Law & Order* run, which includes more than 270 episodes, he also guested as Briscoe on *SVU* (1999–2000), *Criminal Intent* (2001), and *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1996–1999).

Not long after landing the role, Orbach was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which he largely kept private. He underwent treatments while continuing to work on the show, but died from the illness at the age of 69 on Dec. 28, 2004.

His final appearance, released posthumously, was on the spinoff *Law & Order: Trial by Jury* (2005). The character (and his passing) has been mentioned by numerous characters in the *Law & Order* universe over the years.

Orbach's legend lives on in New York City, where a theater is named after him in the Theater Center and a portion of 53rd Street is dubbed "Jerry Orbach Way." In 2002, he and his *Law & Order* costar Sam Waterston were named as "Living Landmarks" by the New York Landmarks Conservancy.

S. Epatha Merkerson as Anita Van Buren (seasons 4–20)

S. Epatha Merkerson as Anita Van Buren on 'Law & Order'; Merkerson at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025 in Los Angeles.

Virginia Sherwood/NBC; Amy Sussman/Getty

S. Epatha Merkerson joined *Law & Order *as Lt. Anita Van Buren in season 4, stepping in as commander of the 27th Precinct following the departure of Cragen.

Her 16-year journey on the show lasted through season 20, the initial run's series finale, and included appearances on the TV movie *Exiled *(1998) and the spinoffs *Criminal Intent *(2002) and *Trial by Jury *(2005).

When *Law & Order *was revived in 2022, Merkerson did not return. She had already decided to turn in her badge at the end of season 20, telling * *in 2010 that she "wanted to do some other things."

"It's a graceful way to go. It's the end of my contract this year, and the storyline has been so perfect. I've given it my best for 16 years," she explained. "It's time to move on. I'm doing other things and this will be a great way to leave what has been an extraordinary gig."

Since leaving, Merkerson appeared in Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning *Lincoln *(2012), the romcom *Tyler Perry Presents Peeples *(2013), and the 2025 horror movie *Eye for an Eye*. In 2023, she reunited with Wolf for *Chicago Med*, on which she plays Sharon Goodwin.

Sam Waterston as Jack McCoy (seasons 5–23)

Sam Waterston as Jack McCoy on 'Law & Order'; Waterston attends the 18th Annual SeaChange Summer Party on July 26, 2025, in Laguna Beach, Calif.

Jessica Burstein/NBC; Michael Tullberg/Getty

Sam Waterston holds the record as the longest-serving cast member on *Law & Order*, having played DA Jack McCoy on more than 400 episodes between seasons 5 and 23.

Like many of his former castmates, Waterston appeared on several spinoffs, TV movies, and crossover episodes. In his final episode, McCoy gives up his career to ensure a tech baron with deep political ties faces justice.

Waterston announced his departure in a heartfelt Instagram post in February 2024, revealing that he was stepping away from *Law & Order. *

"The time has come for me to move on and take Jack McCoy with me," he wrote. "There's sadness in leaving, but I'm just too curious about what’s next. An actor doesn't want to let himself get too comfortable."

He continued, "I'm more grateful to you than I can say. … I feel very blessed. I hope to see you all on the flip side."

After exiting *Law & Order*, Waterston portrayed President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Tyler Perry's war drama *The Six Triple Eight *(2024). He'll next star opposite Chris Pine and Jenny Slate in the indie romance *Carousel*.

Benjamin Bratt as Rey Curtis (seasons 6–9)

Benjamin Bratt as Rey Curtis on 'Law & Order'; Benjamin Bratt attends the 'Runa Simi' premiere during the 2025 Tribeca Festival on June 05, 2025 in New York City.

Jessica Burstein/NBCU Photo Bank; Arturo Holmes/Getty

Noth was replaced in season 6 by Benjamin Bratt, a veteran of NBC's *Nasty Boys* (1989–1990). Bratt's Det. Rey Curtis, a conservative Catholic, partnered with Briscoe and stayed on the series through season 9, though he returned as a guest star in season 20.

In 1999, Bratt told EW he was leaving *Law & Order *to move back home to California and be closer to his family. The change also gave him more time to take on movies and step away from the show's grueling schedule. Bratt admitted it was difficult to break the news to Wolf. "I asked him to come into my trailer and the hardest part was just saying the words," he said. "I knew on some level I would disappoint him."

Shortly after, Bratt landed two of his biggest film roles: *Miss Congeniality* and *Traffic*, both released in 2000. He continues to work in film, including as a voice actor on animated hits like *Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs* (2009), *Despicable Me 2* (2013), and *Coco* (2017).

His TV credits are voluminous, with leading roles on series like *The Cleaner* (2008–2009), *Private Practice* (2011–2013) and *Star* (2016–2019). Most recently, he appeared on episodes of *Poker Face* (2023) and *Andor* (2025).

Angie Harmon as Abbie Carmichael (seasons 9–11)

Angie Harmon as Abbie Carmichael on 'Law & Order'; Harmon attends Variety's 2022 Power Of Women on May 5, 2022, in New York City.

Kevin Foley/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty; John Lamparski/WireImage

Angie Harmon played the fiery ADA Abbie Carmichael on *Law & Order *for just three seasons. According to a 2001 report from *Variety*, Harmon left the show to pursue a movie career.

Wolf added, per the outlet, that Harmon "asked to be released early from her contractual commitment to the show. As I’ve said numerous times in the past, if an actor wants to leave the series for personal reasons, and gives ample notice so that it doesn’t affect production, I have never stood in anyone’s way."

EW reported that same year that Harmon clashed with Wolf over his plan to keep the cast working to "stockpile" episodes in case of any strikes.

Following her exit, Harmon appeared in only a few films. She did, however, find her stride on TV, specifically as Jane Rizzoli on TNT's *Rizzoli & Isles *(2010–2016).

Jesse L. Martin as Ed Green (seasons 10–18)

Jesse L. Martin as Ed Green on 'Law & Order'; Jesse L. Martin attends The Fashion Awards 2024 on Dec. 02, 2024 in London.

NBC; Karwai Tang/WireImage

Jesse L. Martin boarded *Law & Order *in season 10 as Det. Ed Green, stepping in for Bratt's recently departed Rey Curtis. He left the series toward the end of season 18, after which Anthony Anderson took over as the new junior detective.

In a 2008 interview with EW, Martin said that he was eager to return to theater. "It was pretty much time for me. I need to get back on stage before I get too scared to do it again," he said. "And with that schedule, it would be really difficult for me to ever really get to do anything like that."

After leaving, Martin starred in numerous Shakespeare productions before landing leading roles on *The Flash *(2014–2023) and NBC's *The Irrational *(2023–2025).

Where can I watch Law & Order?**

The first 20 seasons of *Law & Order* are currently available to stream on Hulu. Seasons 21–24 can be purchased on platforms like Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and others.

Season 25 of Law & Order is now streaming on Peacock.

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