- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Then 55-year-old actor Richard Belzer first appeared as Detective John Munch in Season One of Law & Order: SVU in 1999. He remained a series regular through the 15th season and returned as a guest in Season 17 in 2016, marking his final appearance at age 72.
Prior to SVU, Belzer was a successful actor and comedian. He even served as the warm-up comic for Saturday Night Live in the 1970s. Sadly, Belzer passed away in 2023.
- Age: Dec. at 78 (1944-2023)
- Birthplace: Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA
Big change?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Dean Winters first portrayed Brian Cassidy in the first season of SVU in 1999 when he was 35 years old. He left after that first season and later returned as a guest star beginning in 2012. Winters' most recent appearance was during Season 19 in 2018 when he was 54.
Before joining the law enforcement's side in acting, Winters appeared behind bars in HBO's Oz. He's also known for his roles in 30 Rock, Brooklyn 99, and as “Mayhem” in the Allstate Insurance commercials.
- Age: 60
- Birthplace: New York, New York, USA
Big change?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Ned Eisenberg first played Defense Attorney Roger Kressler back in 2001 during SVU Season 3 when he was 42-years-old. He has continued to appear in the series most recently in the Season 19 episode "Flight Risk" when he was 61.
- Age: Dec. at 65 (1957-2022)
- Birthplace: New York, New York, USA
Big change?- Photo:
- Photo:
Mariska Hargitay has appeared in every single season of Law & Order: SVU since 1999. She joined the cast when she was 35-years-old and was 60 in 2024 for the 26th season. She portrayed Olivia Benson as she rose up the ranks of the SVU from a junior detective to a lieutenant.
Hargitay has also appeared elsewhere in the Dick Wolf shared universe, with roles on other Law & Order shows, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Fire.
- Age: 61
- Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, USA
Big change?- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Dann Florek was 49 when he first played New York City Police Captain Donald Cragen on Season 1 of SVU in 1999. He left the show in 2014, but returned as a special guest. He most recently appeared on the show in 2021 at 71-years-old.
- Age: 74
- Birthplace: Flat Rock, Michigan, USA
Big change?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Then 35-year-old actor Peter Hermann first appeared as defense attorney Trevor Langan in SVU Season 3. He has defended clients in several seasons, his most recent appearances being in 2022 at age 55.
Fun Fact: Hermann has been married to SVU star Mariska Hargitay since 2004.- Age: 57
- Birthplace: New York, New York, USA
Big change?- Photo:
- 7
Peter Scanavino (Dominick Carisi Jr.)
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Then 33-year-old actor Peter Scanavino joined the cast of Law & Order: SVU in the 16th season and has played Detective Dominick Carisi, Jr. in every season since, and was 44 in the most recent season.
- Age: 44
- Birthplace: Denver, Colorado, USA
Big change? - Photo:
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Then 41-year-old actor BD Wong first appeared as Special Agent George Huang as a recurring cast member in season 2 of SVU in 2000. He joined the main cast for Seasons 4-12 and continued to appear as a guest through season 17. In his most recent appearances on the series, he was 55.
Long before SVU, Wong wowed on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for his portrayal of Song Liling in M. Butterfly in 1988.
- Age: 64
- Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA
Big change?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
In the recurring role of Captain Ed Tucker, Robert John Burke first appeared on SVU in 2002 when he was 42 years old. He has appeared in many episodes since, most recently in 2020 at age 60.
- Age: 64
- Birthplace: Washington Heights, New York, USA
Big change?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Stephanie March joined the SVU team as Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot during the second season when she was 26. She was a steady cast member until season 5 and has since returned to guest star on several occasions. Most recently, she appeared in season 19 at age 44.
- Age: 50
- Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, USA
Big change?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Tamara Tunie first appeared on SVU as Medical Examiner Melinda Warner in season 2 when she was 41. She appeared on a regular basis throughout the course of the series. In her most recent appearance on the show in 2021, she was 62.
Tunie also appeared as a series regular on such shows as NYPD Blue and As the World Turns. She also appears in Chicago Fire and Law & Order: Trial by Jury as Dr. Melinda Warner.
- Age: 65
- Birthplace: McKeesport, Pennsylvania, USA
Big change?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Christopher Meloni was 38 when he first played Elliot Stabler in season 1 of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He remained a main cast member through the series' 15th season. He returned in season 22 and has remained in the cast, making his most recent appearance at age 63.
After leaving SVU, Meloni returned to Camp Firewood, appearing in First Day of Camp and Ten Years Later, installments in the Wet Hot American Summer series. He also stars in SyFy's Happy! series, based on the comics of the same name.
- Age: 63
- Birthplace: Washington, D.C., USA
Big change?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
After already appearing in Law & Order, Peter McRobbie first portrayed Judge Walter Bradley during season 5 of SVU when he was 60 years old. He was in 18 episodes from 2003-2012, making him 69 during his last appearance.
- Age: 82
- Birthplace: Hawick, Borders, Scotland, UK
Big change?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Then 31-year-old actress Kelli Giddish joined the SVU cast as Detective Amanda Rollins in season 13 in 2011. She left the series in 2023, but has returned as a guest star in seasons since. In her last appearance on SVU, Giddish was 44.
- Age: 44
- Birthplace: Cumming, Georgia, USA
Big change?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Ice-T joined the cast of SVU in season 2 in 2000 and has appeared in every season since. From the age of 42 to 66, the rapper-turned-actor has played Odafin Tutuola.
- Age: 66
- Birthplace: USA, Newark, New Jersey
Big change?The Best Ice-T MoviesSee all
- 1Surviving the Game96 Votes
- 2New Jack City76 Votes
- 3Trespass49 Votes
- Photo:
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Isabel Gillies portrayed Kathy Stabler on SVU from Season 1 in 1999 to Season 12 in 2011, from the ages of 29 to 41.
- Age: 55
- Birthplace: New York, New York, USA
Big change?- Photo:
- 17
Audrie J. Neenan (Judge Lois Preston)
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Audrie J. Neenan first played Judge Lois Preston in SVU when she was 52-years-old until she was 61.
- Age: 74
- Birthplace: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Big change? - Photo:
- Photo:
- user uploaded image
Peter Gallagher first appeared on SVU in season 16 at age 59 as Deputy Chief William Dodds. He was on the show until 2019 when he was 64.
- Age: 69
- Birthplace: New York, New York, USA
Big change?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Diane Neal began playing Assistant District Attorney Casey Novak on SVU in season 5 at age 27. She remained a recurring cast member until season 9 and was last on the show when she was 36.
- Age: 48
- Birthplace: USA, Virginia
Big change?- Photo:
- 20
Raúl Esparza (Rafael Barba)
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Raul Esparza first appeared in season 14 as Assistant District Attorney Rafael Barba at age 42. Since season 19, he's appeared on a guest on several episodes. He most recently appeared in season 23 at age 52.
Big change? - Photo:
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Danny Pino played Detective Nick Amaro on SVU seasons 13-16, first appearing when he was 37. He's been on the show as a guest, making his most recent appearance in 2021 at age 47.
He previously appeared on The Shield and Cold Case.
- Age: 50
- Birthplace: Miami, Florida, USA
Big change?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
From 2002 to 2011, Joel de la Fuente, from ages 32 to 41, played Lt. Ruben Morales on Law & Order: SVU.
- Age: 55
- Birthplace: USA, New York, New Hartford
Big change?- Photo:
- 23
Caren Browning (Captain Judith Siper)
- Photo:
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/NBC
Caren Browning appeared as Captain Judith Siper on SVU from 1999 to 2011.
Big change? - Photo:
COLLECTION20 LISTS
Book 'Em, DannoIn the entertainment industry, shows and movies about cops and lawyers are considered especially great. These are their stories.
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Fact-checked by:Jules Burke
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Book 'Em, Danno
In the entertainment industry, shows and movies about cops and lawyers are considered especially great. These are their stories.
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