The Real Reason These Law & Order Actors Left The Franchise

Law & Order has seen dozens of actors come and go since the original series' debut in 1990, but departures haven't always been on the best terms. So what really happened to those members of two separate yet equally important groups? These are their stories.
#LawAndOrder #Actors #Departure
Chris Noth | 0:00
Fred Thompson | 1:24
Michael Moriarty | 2:45
Jesse L. Martin | 4:00
George Dzundza | 4:54
B.D. Wong | 5:46
Dean Winters | 6:37
Richard Belzer | 7:34
Danny Pino | 8:41
Philip Winchester | 9:23
Jamie Gray Hyder | 10:09
Jill Hennessy | 11:01
Carey Lowell | 12:03
Elisabeth Röhm and Angie Harmon | 12:59
Benjamin Bratt | 14:02
Jerry Orbach | 15:07
Paul Sorvino | 16:12
Anthony Anderson | 17:02
Steven Hill | 18:09
Annie Parisse | 19:08
Dianne Wiest | 20:03
Adam Beach | 20:50
Kelli Giddish | 21:41
Jeff Goldblum | 22:46
Voiceover By: Jacent Jackson
Read Full Article: www.looper.com/171395/the-rea...

[@Looper]

Which of these actors do you wish would've stayed longer with the franchise?

[@fairyprincess911]

Munch but I know he was ill 😿

[@anitachiquita70]

They didn't mention why Richard Brooks left. He was assistant DA in the first season or two.

[@karenshurley4793]

Jesse L. Martin

[@mlynettepinky595]

Law and Order You forgot Sam Waterson and Jeffery Donovan from Burn Notice Both of them left this season. Jeffery was replaced by Reid Scott. They gave a lame reason why his character left. They never gave a reason for Anthony's character Sam Waterson was just replaced this season by Tony Goldwyn from the show Scandal. Who also played Vincent's brother on Law & Order: Criminal Intent Sam said he wanted to do other things SVU Michelle Hurd who was there before Ice T. You also forgot Tamara Tunie, she was the corner on SVU She just made a cameo on Law & Order: Organize Crime

[@tracyshipman5728]

Christopher Meloni

[@jeannehall6546]

The real reason Richard Belzer left the show was because he in declining health and then he died. I miss Munch!😢

[@MaryBerryGray]

Me too😢

[@BiteMeShineyMetalAss]

Munch was an amazing character. I loved him.

[@user-ro2vb8by7u]

So sad

[@theresaiwright7085]

John Munch was my favorite character. RIP Richard Belzer 🙏🏻

[@nataliestownsend4211]

Yeah, RIP Richard Belzer

[@suechapel1443]

And also Lenny Brisco 😢

[@PaulKelly-sy6xu]

Yeah a class act.R-I-P.

[@SueC]

Starting with Homicide: Life on the Streets.

[@phantomrequim]

I miss Richard Belzer. Munch was my favorite character 😢

[@Vivian-hz3hz]

I love Richard Belzer 😂 God bless him

[@Al_Catraz1]

Same here...Loved his one-liners👍

[@eljefe6731]

Dean Winters is very underrated. His Mayhem character should be developed into a super hero character.

[@ChooseCompassion]

I think he’s awesome! I remember him and his brother on that overly violent show Oz.

[@BonitaGardner]

I love them commercials 👍🏾

[@rodx5571]

we can only hope!

[@GrayWolf8472]

😂

[@chadmiller2224]

I thought he was terrible on SVU though. His acting was so forced. Go back and watch season 1.

[@OlDirtyChinesRestaurant]

Bd wong was amazing. Was sad to see him go.

[@lolahernandez6871]

I know!!! ❤❤❤

[@ginnywilkison3655]

My favorite is Dean Winters as Cassidy. He had such a great connection with Olivia!

[@alexandria5955]

munch is a legend, richard belzer gave his all and he will forever be immortalized for it. rip

[@marinashear3818]

Fave L&O was Criminal Intent. Vincent D’Onofrio was acting genius on that show.

[@BeRosie1]

Yes, Vincent D'onofrio and Kathryn Erbe fit perfectly as his partner

[@jjdillon1207]

Rene balcor is an amazing writer

[@leiamims3633]

I loved Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe on Criminal Intent!

[@user-xv6jk7dd1c]

Loved loved loved the quirkiness of Vincent. I can always watch the repeats .

[@carolsimpson4422]

My fave too! I even love the non-Vinnie episodes, because they're not soap operas, but focus on the actual crimes.

[@suegreco9452]

You also forgot, Stephanie March who was DA and Diane Neal also DA

[@terinn7115]

Stephanie March played that small, but funny scene with Ricky Gervais, in 'Invention of Lying'. I liked her in L&O.

[@ChevinMalia-vy9ly]

And Raul Esparza, whom I believe was SVU's longest ADA Rafael Barba. He reportedly left to return to Broadway.

[@spikefivefivefive]

I really liked them both.

[@leiamims3633]

Loved Bratt!

[@leiamims3633]

Loved Briscoe! R.I.P

[@Valkyrie5685]

I figured Christopher Meloni would be number 1. He left SVU for a long tim till he came back for Organized crime

[@sureshmukhi2316]

I was waiting for that, but I guess they didn't mention him because he came back.

[@chrisgrube8529]

Criminal intent I stopped watching , got way too violent for me .

[@ChooseCompassion]

@@chrisgrube8529Me too! Especially for network television were you expecting us to be a little more team, the subject matter was oftentimes deeply disturbing.

[@fionam7768]

Sure, but there wasn't much doubt over why Maestro Meloni left - it was everywhere at the time, and thoroughly aired again when OC came back. So no 'real reason' needed.

[@henriettaparks4266]

DIDNT LIKE NOTH! VINCENT AND JEFF GOLDBLUM!!✔ THE BEST!!✔I DID LIKE THE SENATOR!!!✔ LIKE MORIARTY! ALSO!!🎉🎉🎉❤❤! JESSE L.MARTIN!! ALSO!!✔😂😂😂😂 !IRRATIONAL!!

[@ItzMzJulez2U]

Man, I felt every one of these mentioned from SVU.😔 But nothing about Stabler/Meloni? Cragen/Florek? Barba/Esparza? Warner/Tuni? I watched CI when D’Onofrio was on it, disappointed there’s barely a mention here.🤦🏻‍♀️ Thank you Belzer for the memories. John Munch was a legend.❤️

[@DNSKansas]

Where were Cabot (March) and Novak (Neal)?

[@Gardenstateking]

right.....seemingly obvious omissions

[@kmaidotia]

Was looking for Stabler😮

[@sct4040]

This is about the original l&o

[@jerushamaxwell281]

I'm still loving Elliott Stabler in his current L&O Organized Crime series.

[@ericbosken3114]

No mention of Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti)? Also, before playing Lenny Briscoe, Jerry Orbach played a sleezy defense attorney in an episode of the og Law & Order

[@soniaclarkstewart]

I think he went to the Sopranos.

[@Maxine1630]

I loved all of Law&Orders❤❤❤!!

[@YolandaAnneBrown95726]

No mention that Noth returned as Logan in a Law and Order Movie and in Law and Order: Criminal Intent?

[@COMPFUNK2]

How about mention of his sexual assault allegations in recent years?

[@jjdillon1207]

He’s walking a beat in Staten Island

[@mlynettepinky595]

Favorite from each franchise who left Law & Order Jessie L Martin, Benjamin Bratt, Jerry Orbach, Sam Waterson who just left replaced by Tony Goldwyn SVU - Richard Belzer, Adam Beach,Christopher Meloni, B D Wong and Mayhem a.k.a Dean Winters Kelly will be back as a guest Criminal Intent Courtney Vance and Vincent

[@Itsmyturn-notpickme]

I loved Michael Moriarty and Richard Brooks.

[@shelbywilkerson235]

Winters or "Mr. MAYHAM" is and always my fav

[@William-us7nj]

Richard Belzer originally portrayed Detective Munch on "Homicide: Life On The Street", set in Baltimore!

[@citizen_morgan7444]

Back Down Memory Lane ... THANKS! ❤

[@sidneygreenglass106]

Jerry Orbach and Richard Belzer were my faves.

[@mildredalayon7095]

I think that SVU has gotten somewhat unbelievable. A detective all of a sudden becomes an ADA? Another becomes a professor? I'm not saying that it can't be, just that it was too fast. But this is a great show. I was shocked when that ADA turned up in the trunk of a car and when the other one died in that car accident. My favorite character was Lennie Briscoe; he made me laugh.

[@dicksonfranssen]

I still watch reruns but we stopped watching years ago. How many different ways are there to rape a woman or abuse a kid? Same with Criminal Minds. There was an episode where victims were set on fire, then they actually showed a woman being burnt alive. Enough is enough.

[@jocelynmartin1572]

I had a colleague who retired from being a police chief to join the department of criminal justice at the University where we both worked as professors.

[@jaebyrd4608]

He didn't become an Ada just a DA meaning a regular prosecutor and it's fairly common for cops to go to law school.

[@mildredalayon7095]

@jaebyrd4608 an ADA is an Assistant District Attorney. The position is assistant to the ELECTED District Attorney and is 2nd to the DA.

[@tammycosby4495]

Dominic (Sonny) Carisi, the guy who went from detective to ADA was already in law school when he started on the show, and ADA Barba helped him get hired by the DA’s office after he passed the Bar. It wasn’t really that fast.

[@mblackman6627]

What about Richard Brooks. Like him.

[@gigijohnson3211]

There are just so many faces, great actors that we spent years watching that they seem like distant family. Lenny briscoe and munnch and bd wong and angie harmon, chris noth and so many more. It became such a successful franchise thanks to great actors and great writer. Thank you all.

[@tammythomson8813]

Always referred to Criminal Intent as the Bobby show😊

[@QueenOfTheNorth65]

One of my favorite shows. Loved Bobby’s character so much!

[@marinashear3818]

My fave L&O. D’Onofrio was a legend in that part. His character sometimes reminded me of Columbo and how he’d get under the suspect’s skin with his questioning.

[@wrlord]

Dan Florek? S. Epatha Merkeson?

[@jongmod9440]

LOVED D'Onofrio and how his character was portrayed. Dean Winters was intense and likeable and Munch, always a punch line you didn't see coming! Long before Jerry Orbach was on Tv, he did stage work and pretty well, 😔 sadly some of the best have gone one to the best " White Way"😢

[@marinashear3818]

D’Onofrio was a genius in that role. He hasn’t had many other acting opportunities to display his immense talent, sadly.

[@lacollaros3641]

Annie Parisse had a big role on the soap As the World Turns. She played Julia who kept breaking up Jack and Carly.

[@krissyturner88]

WTF???? Where is Dennis Farina???? More popular than some of those throw-aways you mentioned. Stupid mistake guys.

[@LadyAmethyst70]

The video doesn’t claim to be an exhaustive list of characters/actors who left. I’m quite sure the creator of this list cherry picked the stories that were most appealing to them out of the “dozens and dozens” that have left.

[@dicksonfranssen]

What I read was that Farina had no idea how much work was involved in weekly shoots. He's a great actor, just not cut out for the day to day grind of 40 shoots a year. Our loss.

[@paulzammataro7185]

Throw-aways? What a fine human being you are!!

[@LadyAmethyst70]

@@paulzammataro7185 what on earth are you talking about?

[@victoriavickery6086]

Dennis Farina's character was really different. I enjoyed him a lot.

[@lysem4392]

No mention of Dennis Farina?

[@djbennett900]

Wow, I'm impressed. You've held me all the way through and I can only pedantically quibble. Thanks for your very good work. Subscribed.

[@Texasfrank512]

What?! Chris Noth wasn't the first to leave. It was George Dzundza and was replaced by Paul Sorvino. Of the DAs, it was Richard Brooks replaced by Jill Hennessy.

[@thesegacampgamerandwerecam7504]

and the Crazy Thing is This Show is still going on Today in 2024! I would find it Difficult to get into now!

[@lizzyfaire8857]

Barba? BARBA!

[@fairyprincess911]

Love that man😻

[@garywemmer9342]

Jerry....one of a kind..... Love his style. Sure do miss him......

[@michelecox5241]

Thompson was also in Hunt for Red October.

[@rosea8953]

Chris Noth came back several times after 1995

[@katrinachance]

Mostly during criminal intent for several seasons.

[@georgesouthwick7000]

Interesting how so many members of the cast of the HBO series OZ, also because cast members of Law and Order.

[@user-qp6pv9nc8v]

Miss John munch RIP

[@intentionaloffside8934]

What about Richard Brooks as Paul Robinette or Stephanie March as Alexandra Cabot?

[@kamanama3671]

Diane Weiss was awesome

[@sandisteinberg731]

Too many female actors ignored entirely! Why?😮

[@SuperSailorOutlawGeorgeIshaq]

Nice video 😀

[@alexacarrillo4339]

I love Jesse L. Martin enough I was willing to try to watch Irrational despite knowing the professor it is based on has been committing fraud in his studies(many he said he did he didn’t but wrote papers and books about it)which has oddly not cost him much. I hope he does another show because Irrational isn’t that great even if I didn’t know someone that had made big money off of faking studies was making more money off of it and his bad science is quoted in the show frequently.

[@garywemmer9342]

Adam...such a great actor! Miss his presence! Went on to even greater rolls!

[@kathykozlak7800]

Ive had the HOTS for BARBA!!!! BRING HIM BACK!!!❤❤

[@tomperkins5657]

Excellent! Lots of research!

[@crystalshaw8744]

I wouldn't be bragging about being in Madame Webb.

[@user-lb2fv9gx8z]

I loved the show and every actor and actress Sending condolences for the one that passed He was a great manThanks for sharing

[@varianschirmer9375]

0:20 Chris Noth wasn't the first series regular to leave. Granted, he was maybe the first to have a career thrive after leaving. His first partner left after one season... didn't like the logistics. His 2nd parter, played by the late Paul Sorvino, left to preserve his signing voice after a year & a half. TV filming was straining his health. His original lieutenant & assistant district attorney were both moved on from to add women to what was originally an all-male cast. The actor that gave us DA Ben Stone... he had his reasons for abruptly quitting TV work too. Chis Noth was actually the last original cast member out... the DA for the original pilot was not retained for the series.

[@mew10521]

Chris Noth didn't leave he was fired

[@varianschirmer9375]

@mew10521 Half the time when a network says fired... I hear "wouldn't take their lowball contract offer". Noth & NBC parted ways. How they arrived at that point...

[@mew10521]

@@varianschirmer9375 I read he was fired because of a salary dispute

[@COMPFUNK2]

Demore Barnes Molly Burnett Michelle Hurd Stephanie March Diane Neal Michaela McManus

[@BradyKaynee]

and Skeet Ulrich

[@Jay-us8ko]

What are the name of the beats that use in the background? I like them a lot

[@markthomas6236]

I love what you do

[@extremeconcepts1]

Noth then came back in L&O: CI as the logan character was "brought" back from Staten Island and promoted to Major Case Squad.....

[@barbaradevine2642]

Lenny Brisco, Jerry Orbach, who said why leave when you’ve got a good thing going. He left because he died and Munch, who turned up to guest star - and watch Noah for Olivia Benson. They are both missed.

[@joseguandique7921]

I miss them

[@Gardenstateking]

you guys missed a bunch of prominent departures.....???? 🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️

[@bobbiewallace4008]

I miss John Munch and Cassidy

[@csnide6702]

Story I heard was that Dick Wolf is just too cheap .

[@cathietonkin5577]

Hmmmm really? Sounds just like Blue Bloods on CBS! Cheap…

[@GunnH74]

I really liked Jerry Orbachs character..

[@stedew001]

Alana de la Garza - loved those sweaters.

[@karyannfontaine8757]

When I used to watch TV, I liked Law and Order, especially Lennie Briscoe. He acted like he had seen everything and was tired of it, but, he was very clever in solving crimes.

[@kerfymon]

love the way you glossed over Mike M, and the real reasons he left the show, and america..

[@gotch09]

Michele Herd(?) is left out a lot. She was on SVU early on.

[@billmcg1676]

Loved Jesse L. Martin on the show. Nice to see him successful in other endeavours as well.

[@blueduck5589]

Also known as Fingers Green. Forever waving his hands or pointing his fingers.

[@richardvinsen2385]

Michael Moriarity was a nut job. I was in Toronto for work in 2006 or so. One Sunday afternoon, I met with a coworker in the hotel bar. It was empty except for MM who was with a man and a woman across the room. He kept staring at us but every time we glanced at him, he’d quickly look away at the tv or out the window. At one point, I left for a couple minutes to go to the bathroom. When I came back, my coworker said that he could hear MM frantically telling the people he was with that I was probably there to kill him. They managed to calm him down but he kept staring at us. Deciding to have a little fun with him, when I had to make a phone call, I glared at him for a bit and then stood up and left the bar for another few minutes. My coworker said he heard MM tell the man he was with to follow me to see where I was going and to warn him when I returned. He refused. A few minutes after I returned, MM must have had enough and decided to leave the bar. Sadly for him, the only way out was right past where we were sitting. He slowly moved along, waiting for me to pounce or something. I looked up at him as he was just a foot or two away. When our eyes met, he looked away terrified and rushed out of the bar. In his rush to leave, he left his hat at his table. To this day, I regret not slipping a note into the hat saying something like “You can run but you can’t hide.”

[@SeashelleBytheseashore]

What an interesting story you have! Teasing him with your antics probably had him paranoid all night. I can picture him closing all curtains and glancing out of them every little bit, terrified of the prankster. 😆

[@georgesouthwick7000]

Michael Moriarty never co starred with Fred Thompson. At the time Moriarity portrayed Assistant DA Ben Stone, Steven Hill played the role of District Attorney Adam Schiff.

[@berliner0]

Chris noth did law and order criminal intent too

[@garywemmer9342]

Jill Hennessy..... My hearts desire... Reminds me of my wife, Flo... But, as beautiful as she is, she is still Hollywood. Sure do miss my soul mate ........

[@blindkimberly1360]

I just love Mayhem! 😎

[@Maxine1630]

This video was half made!

[@winh998]

Noth also appeared as Mike Logan on Law & Order:Criminal Intent. I didn't hear that show mentioned.

[@Itskcdiaries]

Jesse l martin was first poc Detective on law and order

[@filthybonnet]

How do you define POC? Because Benjamin Bratt was before him and he is Latino.

[@hummingbird94ful]

@RealChuckyDoll NO, how about S. Epatha Merkerson?

[@mwolfrey]

Arthur Branch was my Absolute Favorite actor on Law&Order for all franchise versions.

[@paulfaulkner5786]

Quite a lot of people missing here, for instance the various police captains on all the series. Also the ADAs on SVU & Criminal Intent. I think there were even some regular cast members who left L&O: LA mid season after a shakeup to try and save the series.

[@lifewithlee6298]

I like B D wong , he stay calm even dealing with terrible people as clients, but would also break some rules if he had to

[@BrianJosephMorgan]

Perhaps your Part II could include Andy Karl.

[@TaDarling1]

Chris Noth will always be BIG to me.

[@Vivian-hz3hz]

My favorite was Elliot and Olivia I loved Amaro too

[@rodx5571]

Dean Winters as Mayhem is the way things were meant to be. Best ad campaign EVER! He was good on everything else though too. But MAYHEM.......... Yeah, thats awesome.

[@anthonyslazas6413]

I miss Richard on SVU

[@jerushamaxwell281]

I loved Lenny, and enjoyed watching the many other actors over a long term. I liked Adam Beach as a Native American detective who stated his connection to New York's ironworking industry. When Sonny Carisi married Amanda Rollins, it was the icing on the cake! They were perfect for each other.

[@dalestaley5637]

I love Chris Noth.

[@sandisteinberg731]

Loved Phil Cerreta, and was sorry to see Paul Sorvino leave. Also Steven Hill as Adam Schiff.

[@marinashear3818]

Loved Steven Hill.

[@Gor85]

I understand some wanted to leave.New projects,new experiences.Shame some didn't agree on money.And with producers.Law and Order is great show

[@watchdogsplaythroughs9852]

John Munch and Lennie Briscoe. What a team!

[@Yenerator]

This needs more actors! What about Chris Meloni before he returned on Organized Crime? Or Tamara Tunie (Warner), or Raul Esparza (Barba)? Or Dann Flores/Captain Cragen???

[@freddielind5282]

So many favorites! Lenny, Munch top 2!

[@edwardwood6532]

Who was the actress paired up with detective Green who played almost an 'SVU type' lead on the original law and order? Personally I thought her tone really didn't match the energy of that show.

[@paigeaustin7107]

Is that Mayhem in the thumbnail???

[@trevonpernell0814]

15:38 Your 2 faces of the OG Law & Order.

[@pattyajones]

I ADORED Elizabeth Rohm's final line: Is it because I'm a Lesbian?

[@PaulaDautremont]

One of Dalton's least remembered roles was that of the factory boss in Rosanne.

[@jamesdelaney3797]

What no Billy Batts?

[@throow]

I was expecting something about Elliot Stabler/Christopher Meloni why he left. Munch was my fav. I haven't really watched it after he was let go. I always wished, that we would see more of him in the show.

[@maxinefreeman8858]

Frank Thompson was my favorite DA or whatever they call them in NYC.

[@richardvinsen2385]

Fred.

[@HenrietteAndersen26]

1:17 he didn’t REALLY leave the franchise… he was in 36 episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent 😁

[@JohnWinchester3567]

Dunza was season 1 replaced by Sorvino season 2. You said Orbach came in season 3 so how could Sorvino last 2 seasons.

[@lynnette64]

I love Cold Case!

[@SeashelleBytheseashore]

I love it as well! Especially how they pick the perfect music tracks.

[@lisamay4376]

Fairly sure Jerry Orbach got the raise! Loved his character.