The New Times – Latest News Page

As Law & Order steps confidently into its 25th season, the franchise carries not just a legacy of gripping courtroom drama but also a remarkable history of showcasing talent before Hollywood ever caught on. For three decades, its rotating cases have provided endless opportunities for actors — whether playing a victim, a suspect, or a witness — to cut their teeth. And many of those fresh faces went on to become some of the most celebrated names in film, television, and theater.

In fact, a 2025 SAG Awards segment paid tribute to this very phenomenon, spotlighting stars like Timothée Chalamet, Pedro Pascal, Zoe Saldaña, Bradley Cooper, and Sebastian Stan — all of whom can trace part of their journeys back to the iconic “dun-dun.” As Emmy winner Liza Colón-Zayas put it: “It was a very big deal to be on Law & Order. It’s a rite of passage.”

Here, we revisit 25 future award winners whose early appearances on Law & Order became stepping stones to acclaimed careers.

The Early ’90s: Legends in the Making

The first seasons of Law & Order set the tone not just for its storytelling but also for introducing audiences to future stars.

• Cynthia Nixon (1990) — Before Sex and the City, Nixon played a subway shooter claiming self-defense in just the show’s second-ever episode. Nearly two decades later, she returned to the franchise for an Emmy-winning turn on SVU.

• Patricia Clarkson (1990) — Appearing as a high-society woman running an escort service in disguise, Clarkson would later become a two-time Emmy winner.

• Courtney B. Vance (1990, 1995) — His first role went uncredited, but within years he became an Emmy and Tony-winning powerhouse.

• Philip Seymour Hoffman (1991) — In one of his earliest credited gigs, Hoffman played a defendant in a case of sexual assault — long before his Oscar-winning career.

The Rising Stars of the Mid-’90s

By Season 3 and 4, the guest-star list read like a who’s who of soon-to-be household names.

• Allison Janney (1992, 1994) — The future Oscar and multiple-Emmy winner appeared twice, including as a soap star stalked by a fan.

• Sam Rockwell (1992, 1993) — Long before Three Billboards, Rockwell popped up as troubled young men in two different cases.

• Claire Danes (1992) — At just 13, she appeared as a teen linked to a photographer’s murder, her first-ever television credit.

• Felicity Huffman (1992, 1997) — Played both a rape case suspect and later a suburban escort, years before Desperate Housewives.

• Edie Falco (1993–1998) — As defense attorney Sally Bell, Falco returned multiple times before her Emmy-winning runs on The Sopranos and Nurse Jackie.

• Julianna Margulies (1993) — Just before her ER breakout, she played a Navy officer entangled in a murder case.

• J.K. Simmons (1994 onward) — First a suspect, later psychiatrist Dr. Emil Skoda, Simmons became one of Law & Order’s most memorable recurring players — and an Oscar winner.

• Laura Linney (1994) — Played a young actress suspected of killing a wealthy businessman, years before Ozark and her Emmy haul.

• Sarah Paulson (1994) — Her very first screen credit came as a suspect’s daughter in a Season 5 episode.

Late ’90s and 2000s: Future Icons Everywhere

As the series hit its stride, more recognizable names walked through its courtroom doors.

• Danny Burstein (1995–2010) — A Broadway mainstay with multiple appearances across decades, eventually winning a Tony.

• Rob McElhenney (1997) — Years before It’s Always Sunny, he appeared in the Season 8 premiere.

• Zoe Saldaña (1999) — In a two-part finale, Saldaña played a key witness before taking on Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy.

• Ty Burrell (2000, 2003) — Long before his Emmy-winning role as Phil Dunphy, Burrell appeared in subway and sniper-themed episodes.

• Kerry Washington (2001) — Played a nightclub case suspect, years before becoming Olivia Pope on Scandal.

2000s–2010: Stage and Screen Crossover

This era brought both rising TV stars and Broadway icons into the mix.

• Liza Colón-Zayas (2002, 2005, 2022) — Appeared three times across decades, later winning an Emmy for The Bear.

• Bobby Cannavale (2002) — Played roles in both SVU and Law & Order before building his Emmy-winning career.

• Colman Domingo (2004, 2008) — Appeared twice before his acclaimed work in Euphoria and Oscar nominations.

• Billy Porter (2004) — Starred in a Season 15 case, years before winning both a Tony and an Emmy.

• Jeremy Allen White (2007, 2008) — Before Shameless and The Bear, White appeared in teen tragedy-driven episodes.

• Tony Hale (2010) — Featured in the last season before the show’s hiatus, in a case involving a poisoned scientist.

• Annaleigh Ashford (2010) — Appeared in Season 20 as a woman caught in a double life, later winning her own Tony.

The Lasting Impact of the “Dun-Dun”

For many actors, a single Law & Order appearance was simply a job. For others, it became their very first credited role — or a chance to prove they could hold their own opposite veteran performers. Looking back, it’s clear that the series has been more than just television comfort food; it’s been a launchpad for greatness.

From Cynthia Nixon’s subway shooter to Zoe Saldaña’s mafia entanglement, from Claire Danes’ teenage suspect to J.K. Simmons’ recurring psychiatrist, these guest roles became part of a cultural rite of passage. Law & Order didn’t just deliver justice on screen. It quietly shaped the careers of some of the most acclaimed actors of our time.