List of Law & Order characters - wikipedia List of Law & Order characters This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( April 2009 ) The American television police procedural and legal drama Law & Order ( 1990 -- 2010 ) follows the cases of a group of police detectives and prosecutors who represent the public interest in the criminal justice system. Known for its revolving cast, most of the original stars had left the show within the first five seasons ; though Dann Florek reprised his role of Capt. Donald Cragen on the spin - off series Law & Order : Special Victims Unit from 1999 to 2014, and Chris Noth reprised his role of Det. Mike Logan on Law & Order : Criminal Intent from 2005 to 2008. The longest - serving main cast members of the original series include Steven Hill as D.A. Adam Schiff ( 1990 -- 2000 ), Jerry Orbach as Det. Lennie Briscoe ( 1992 -- 2004 ), S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt. Anita Van Buren ( 1993 -- 2010 ), Sam Waterston as EADA / DA Jack McCoy ( 1994 -- 2010 ) and Jesse L. Martin as Det. Ed Green ( 1999 -- 2008 ). Long - running recurring cast members on the series include John Fiore as Det. Tony Profaci ( 1990 -- 1998 ), Carolyn McCormick as Dr. Elizabeth Olivet ( 1991 -- 2009 ), Leslie Hendrix as Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers ( 1992 -- 2010 ) and J.K. Simmons as Dr. Emil Skoda ( 1997 -- 2010 ). Contents 1 Main characters 2 Police officers 2.1 Sergeants 2.2 Senior Detectives 2.3 Junior Detectives 2.4 Supervising Officers 3 Prosecutors 3.1 Executive Assistant District Attorneys 3.2 Assistant District Attorneys 3.3 Manhattan District Attorneys 4 Other main characters 5 Recurring characters 5.1 NYPD Personnel 5.1. 1 NYPD Officials 5.1. 2 27th Precinct Support Detectives 5.2 Crime Scene Unit Investigators / Crime Laboratory Technicians 5.3 Medical Examiners 5.4 Defense Attorneys 5.5 Judges 5.5. 1 Arraignment Judges 5.5. 2 Trial Judges 5.5. 3 Appellate Judges 6 See also 7 References Main characters Name Portrayed by Occupation Seasons 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Max Greevey George Dzundza Senior Detective ( Sergeant ) Main Mike Logan Chris Noth Junior Detective Main Donald Cragen Dann Florek Captain Main Guest Guest Guest Ben Stone Michael Moriarty Executive Assistant District Attorney Main Paul Robinette Richard Brooks Assistant District Attorney Main Guest Guest Adam Schiff Steven Hill District Attorney Main Phil Cerreta Paul Sorvino Senior Detective ( Sergeant ) Main Elizabeth Olivet Carolyn McCormick Psychologist Guest Also Starring Guest Guest Guest Lennie Briscoe Jerry Orbach Senior Detective Main Anita Van Buren S. Epatha Merkerson Lieutenant Main Claire Kincaid Jill Hennessy Assistant District Attorney Main Jack McCoy Sam Waterston Executive Assistant District Attorney, District Attorney Main Rey Curtis Benjamin Bratt Junior Detective Main Guest Jamie Ross Carey Lowell Assistant District Attorney Main Guest Abbie Carmichael Angie Harmon Assistant District Attorney Main Ed Green Jesse L. Martin Junior Detective, Senior Detective Main Nora Lewin Dianne Wiest Interim District Attorney Main Serena Southerlyn Elisabeth Röhm Assistant District Attorney Main Arthur Branch Fred Thompson District Attorney Main Joe Fontana Dennis Farina Senior Detective Main Nick Falco Michael Imperioli Junior Detective Main Guest Alexandra Borgia Annie Parisse Assistant District Attorney Main Nina Cassady Milena Govich Junior Detective Main Connie Rubirosa Alana de la Garza Assistant District Attorney Main Cyrus Lupo Jeremy Sisto Junior Detective, Senior Detective Main Michael Cutter Linus Roache Executive Assistant District Attorney Main Kevin Bernard Anthony Anderson Junior Detective Main Police officers Sergeants Name Portrayed by Year Episodes Junior Partners Notes Maxwell `` Max '' Greeevy George Dzundza 1990 -- 1991 23 Mike Logan * Murdered in 1991. Philip `` Phil '' Cerreta Paul Sorvino 1991 -- 1992 31 Mike Logan * Transferred to a desk job at the 110th Precinct after being shot on the job. Senior Detectives Name Portrayed by Year Episodes Junior Partners Notes Leonard `` Lennie '' Wilbur Briscoe Jerry Orbach 1992 -- 2004 273 Mike Logan ( 1992 -- 1995 ) Rey Curtis ( 1995 -- 1999 ) Ed Green ( 1999 -- 2004 ) * Retired ( 2004 ) * Deceased ( 2005 ) ( Due to Jerry Orbach 's death ). Joseph `` Joe '' Fontana Dennis Farina 2004 -- 2006 46 Ed Green ( 2004 -- 2006 ) Nick Falco ( 2005 ) * Retired ( 2006 ). Edward `` Ed '' Green Jesse L. Martin 2006 -- 2008 198 Nina Cassady ( 2006 -- 2007 ) Cyrus Lupo ( 2008 ) * Promoted to Senior Detective ( 2006 ). * Retired following his absolution during an Internal Affairs investigation ( 2008 ). Cyrus Lupo Jeremy Sisto 2008 -- 2010 63 Kevin Bernard ( 2008 -- 2010 ) * Transferred from Intelligence Division ( 2008 ). * Promoted to Senior Detective ( 2008 ). Junior detectives Name Portrayed by Year Episodes Senior Partners Notes Michael `` Mike '' Logan Chris Noth 1990 -- 1995 111 Max Greevey ( 1990 -- 1991 ) Phil Cerreta ( 1991 -- 1992 ) Lennie Briscoe ( 1992 -- 1995 ) * Assigned to Staten Island from 1995 -- 2005 after punching a homophobic politician. * Solved a major murder & police corruption case in Exiled : A Law & Order Movie. * Joined One Police Plaza 's Major Case Squad 2005 - 2008. * Retired after solving a cold case ( CI : Last Rites ). Reynaldo `` Rey '' Curtis Benjamin Bratt 1995 -- 1999 94 Lennie Briscoe * Took early retirement so he could care for his ill wife ( 1999 ). * Returned in 2009 to bury his deceased wife in New York. Edward `` Ed '' Green Jesse L. Martin 1999 -- 2006 198 Lennie Briscoe ( 1999 -- 2004 ) Joe Fontana ( 2004 -- 2006 ) * Promoted to senior detective ( 2006 ). * Retired following his absolution during an Internal Affairs investigation ( 2008 ). Nicolas `` Nick '' Falco Michael Imperioli 2005 5 Joe Fontana * 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 Cassady Milena Govich 2006 -- 2007 22 Ed Green * 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 ( However, it was most likely due to her lack of detective experience ). Cyrus Lupo Jeremy Sisto 2008 63 Ed Green ( 2008 ) * Transferred from Intelligence Division ( 2008 ). * Promoted to Senior Detective ( 2008 ). Kevin Bernard Anthony Anderson 2008 -- 2010 49 Cyrus Lupo * Transferred from Internal Affairs ( 2008 ). Supervising officers Name Portrayed by Rank Year Episodes Notes Donald `` Don '' Cragen Dann Florek Captain 1990 -- 1993 66 * Transferred to the Anti-Corruption Task Force and later to the Manhattan 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. Anita Van Buren S. Epatha Merkerson Lieutenant 1993 -- 2010 390 Prosecutors Executive Assistant District attorneys Name Portrayed by Year Partners Episodes Notes Ben Stone Michael Moriarty 1990 -- 1994 Paul Robinette & Claire Kincaid 88 * 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 Jack McCoy Sam Waterston 1994 -- 2007 Claire Kincaid, Jamie Ross, Abbie Carmichael, Serena Southerlyn, Alexandra Borgia & Connie Rubirosa 368 * Promoted to interim D.A. ( 2008 ) * Begins his campaign to be elected as New York County District Attorney in 2009, with support from Adam Schiff. * Later episodes of Law & Order : Special Victims Unit references a `` new District Attorney, '' implying McCoy is no longer in office. Michael Cutter Linus Roache 2008 -- 2010 Connie Rubirosa 63 * Promoted to Bureau Chief of the Sex Crimes Unit of the DA 's office. ( 2011 ) Assistant District attorneys Name Portrayed by Year Partners Episodes Notes Paul Robinette Richard Brooks 1990 -- 1993 Ben Stone 66 * 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 & Jack McCoy 68 * Dies in a car crash in 1996. Jamie Ross Carey Lowell 1996 -- 1998 Jack McCoy 47 * Resigns to pursue private practice and to spend more time with her daughter ( 1998 ). * Reappears as a defense attorney in 1999 and 2001. * Reappears as a judge in Law & Order : Trial By Jury ( 2005 ). Abbie Carmichael Angie Harmon 1998 -- 2001 Jack McCoy 72 * Resigns to accept a job at the United States Attorney General 's Office ( 2001 ). Serena Southerlyn Elisabeth Röhm 2001 -- 2005 Jack McCoy 85 * Fired by Arthur Branch for being inappropriately sympathetic towards a defendant she was prosecuting ( 2005 ). Alexandra Borgia Annie Parisse 2005 -- 2006 Jack McCoy 34 * Dies after being kidnapped and beaten during a murder trial ( 2006 ). Connie Rubirosa Alana de la Garza 2006 -- 2010 Jack McCoy & Michael Cutter 85 * Moves to Los Angeles and joins the DA 's office there as a DDA ( 2011 ). * Later appears in Law & Order : SVU as a federal prosecutor leading an investigation into an underage sex trafficking operation ( 2014 ). In the 1997 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 Name Portrayed by Terms Episodes Notes Alfred Wentworth Roy Thinnes 1990 * Only appears in `` Everybody 's Favorite Bagman '' Adam Schiff Steven Hill 1990 -- 2000 228 * Leaves office to work overseas for The Holocaust Project with Simon Wiesenthal and to investigate Swiss Banks during WWII, went with former President Jimmy Carter as part of a delegation to Zimbabwe in 2008. Nora Lewin Dianne Wiest 2000 -- 2002 48 * Prior to her appointment as interim DA by the Governor of New York, she was a law professor Chooses not to run for election following her interim term. Arthur Branch Fred Thompson 2002 -- 2007 116 Branch 's departure, the reason for which was never specified on the series, occurred after Thompson announced his campaign for the Republican Party 's 2008 nomination for President. Jack McCoy Sam Waterston 2007 -- 2010 368 * Appointed interim DA after Branch 's departure in 2007. * Begins his election campaign to become New York County District Attorney in 2009. * Episode count includes those as Executive Assistant DA ( 62 as DA ). Other main characters Name Portrayed by Years Episodes Psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Olivet Carolyn McCormick 1991 -- 1997 ; 1999 ; 2002 - 2009 87 Medical Examiner Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers Leslie Hendrix 1992 -- 2010 139 Psychiatrist Dr. Emil Skoda J.K. Simmons 1997 - 2004 ; 2010 44 Recurring characters NYPD Personnel NYPD Officials Name Portrayed by Year Episodes Chief of Detectives Laird James Biberi 2008 - 2010 Borough Detective Commander James Dietz Michael Cullen 1998 - 1999 Borough Detective Commander Joseph Strudevant Dan Lauria 2000 - 2001 27th Precinct Support Detectives Name Portrayed by Year Episodes Detective Tony Profaci John Fiore 1990 -- 1998 53 Detective Morris LeMotte Larry Clarke 1998 -- 2000 20 Detective Reina Perez Nancy Ticotin 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 Crime Scene Unit Investigators / Crime Laboratory Technicians Name Portrayed by Year Episodes CSU Technician Julian Beck John Cariani 2002 -- 2006 26 CSU Technician Jessica Reed Liz Larsen 1998 -- 2006 12 CSU Technician Lisa Santoro Abigail Lopez 2004 -- 2005 Forensic Technician Medill Donald Corren 1992 -- 1999 17 Forensic Technician Arlene Shrier Christine Farrell 1992 -- 1999 16 Computer Forensic Technician Myra Camp Megan Byrne 2003 -- 2004 6 Medical Examiners Name Portrayed by Year Episodes Borak Josh Pais 1990 -- 2002 15 Brody Richard Hirschfeld 2002 -- 2006 12 Defense Attorneys Name Portrayed by Year # of Eps Danielle Melnick Tovah Feldshuh 1991 -- 2007 13 Professor Norman Rothenberg Jeffrey DeMunn 1993 -- 2008 8 Shambala Green Lorraine Toussaint 1990 -- 1994, 2003 7 Lawrence `` Larry '' Weaver Bob Dishy 1994 -- 2002 7 Nick Margolis Ben Shenkman 1999 - 2009 6 Bill Patton Bill Moor 1991 -- 2000 6 Helen Brolin Maria Tucci 1993 -- 2003 6 Peter Behrens Tom O'Rourke 1996 -- 2001 6 Arthur Gold George Grizzard 1992 -- 2000 6 Al Archer Dennis Boutsikaris 1996 -- 2004 5 Charles Garnett James Rebhorn 1995 -- 2001 5 James Granick Ned Eisenberg 1997 -- 2008 5 Douglas Greer Richard Venture 1991 -- 2000 5 Anne Paulsen Glynnis O'Connor 1998 -- 2004 5 Sally Bell Edie Falco 1993 -- 1998 Aaron Solomon John Benjamin Hickey 2002 -- 2006 Daniel Metzler John Cunningham 1997 -- 2008 Mr. Axtell Jack Gilpin 1997 -- 2001 Barry Kaufer Lee Shepherd 1998 -- 2002 Charlotte Swan Helen Carey 1999 -- 2005 Leon Chiles Joe Morton 2000 -- 2005 Paul Robinette Richard Brooks 1996, 2005, 2006 Gordon Schell Philip Bosco 1990 -- 1994 Deirdre Powell Joanna Merlin 1994 -- 1998 Max Hellman Ron Orbach 1994, 2002 James Linde Joe Grifasi 1996 -- 2001 Stephen Olson Spencer Garrett 2000 -- 2004 Erica Gardner Kate Burton 2001 -- 2004 Jessica Sheets Susan Floyd 2002 -- 2006 Randolph J. ' Randy ' Dworkin, Esq. Peter Jacobson 2003 -- 2006 Vanessa Galiano Roma Maffia 2003 -- 2006 Rodney Fallon Giancarlo Esposito 2004 -- 2005 Sanford Remz Dylan Baker 2004 -- 2006 Gary Lowenthal Eric Bogosian 1992 -- 1993 Lanie Stieglitz Elaine Stritch 1992, 1997 Ruth Miller Patti LuPone 1996, 1997 Stan Shatenstein Sig Libowitz 1997, 2005 Bernie Adler Ron Silver 2004 -- 2007 Marcus Woll Jonathan Cake 2009 Judges Arraignment Judges Name Portrayed by Year Episodes Arraignment Judge Morris Torledsky David Lipman 1992 -- 2005 26 Arraignment Judge Colin Fraser Larry Sherman 1994 -- 2004 12 Arraignment Judge Harriet Doremus Barbara Spiegel 1991 -- 2003 12 Arraignment Judge Janice Goldberg Fran Lebowitz 2001 -- 2007 12 Arraignment Judge Ian Feist Merwin Goldsmith 1991 -- 2005 11 Arraignment Judge William Koehler Mark Kenneth Smaltz 1998 -- 2007 11 Arraignment Judge Antonia Mellon Mary Lou Mellaces 1999 -- 2006 9 Arraignment Judge Joseph Flint Doug Stender 1999 -- 2005 9 Arraignment Judge Anna Shiro Karen Shallo 2000 -- 2005 8 Arraignment Judge David Venturelli Vince Pacimeo 1998 -- 2000 Arraignment Judge Lisa Cutler Kathleen Chalfant 2001 - 2009 Arraignment Judge Harper Brian Smiar 1990 Trial Judges Name Portrayed by Year Episodes Trial Judge Alan Berman David Rosenbaum 1992 -- 2004 14 Trial Judge Walter Bradley Peter McRobbie 2001 -- 2009 13 Trial Judge Lisa Pongracic Charlotte Colavin 1992 -- 2006 13 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 9 Trial Judge Harrison Taylor Michael Mulheren 1999 -- 2006 9 Trial Judge Andrew Barsky Fred J. Scollay 1992 -- 1999 8 Trial Judge Donald Karan Jordan Charney 2000 -- 2006 8 Trial Judge Grace Larkin Rochelle Oliver 1990 -- 2003 8 Trial Judge Rebecca Stein Joan Copeland 1991 -- 2001 8 Trial Judge Rebecca Steinman Susan Blommaert 1991 -- 2004 8 Trial Judge Deborah Burke Donna Hanover 1997 -- 2004 7 Trial Judge Michael Callahan Bernie McInerney 1991 -- 1999 7 Trial Judge Henry Fillmore William Severs 1991 - 2004 7 Trial Judge Rosalyn Lenz Tanya Berezin 1991 -- 2001 7 Trial Judge Barbara Lusky Iris Little Thomas 1999 -- 2009 7 Trial Judge Rochelle Desmond Patricia R. Floyd 2006 -- 2009 6 Trial Judge Eric Caffey John Newton 1991 -- 1998 6 Trial Judge Nathan Murphy Mark Zimmerman 1997 -- 2008 6 Trial Judge Robert Quinn Roger Serbagi 1992 -- 1999 6 Trial Judge Joseph Rivera Shawn Elliott 1994 -- 2002 6 Trial Judge Carla Solomon Lauren Klein 1999 -- 2005 6 Trial Judge William Wright Ron McLarty 1991 -- 2008 6 Trial Judge Hugo Bright Robert J. Hogan 2003 -- 2006 Trial Judge Delano Burns Mike Hodge 1991 -- 2006 Trial Judge Manuel Leon Sam Gray 1990 -- 1994 Trial Judge Michael Schneider David Little 2004 -- 2006 Trial Judge Norman Barclay Wayne Duvall 2004 -- 2010 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 Linda Taft Jenna Stern 2009 - 2010 Appellate Judges Name Portrayed by Year Episodes Appellate Judge Pamela Jensen Norma Fire 1993 -- 1997, 2000 -- 2003 7 Appellate Judge Shawn McNamara George Bartenieff 1993, 1995 & 1999 Appellate Judge Bloom Ira Wheeler 1991, 1993 Appellate Judge Lewis Getman Leslie Barrett 1991, 1993 Appellate Judge Wayne Humphrey Chester A. Sims II 1993, 1995 Appellate Judge Barry Marton Graham Brown 1991, 1993 See also Law & Order ( franchise ) List of Law & Order cast members List of Law & Order : Special Victims Unit characters List of Law & Order : Special Victims Unit cast members List of Law & Order : Criminal Intent characters List of Law & Order : Criminal Intent cast members List of Law & Order : LA characters List of Law & Order : LA cast members References Jump up ^ Carlson, Erin ( 2008 - 10 - 31 ). `` Can `` Law & Order '' outlive `` Gunsmoke '' ? ``. Associated Press / San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 2008 - 11 - 06. Jump up ^ Starr, Michael ( May 18, 2004 ). `` Jerry Orbach Signs Off After 12 Years on ' Law & Order ' ''. Fox News. Retrieved December 20, 2009. Jump up ^ Brantley, Ben ; Severo, Richard ( December 29, 2004 ). `` Jerry Orbach, Star of ' Law & Order, ' Dies at 69 ''. The New York Times. Retrieved December 20, 2009. Jump up ^ http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/04/01/s-epatha-merkerson-departs-law-order/ Law & Order Characters Police Sgt. Max Greevey Sgt. Phil Cerreta Lennie Briscoe Joe Fontana Ed Green Cyrus Lupo Mike Logan Rey Curtis Nick Falco Nina Cassady Kevin Bernard Captain Donald Cragen Lieutenant Anita Van Buren District attorneys Benjamin Stone Jack McCoy Michael Cutter Paul Robinette Claire Kincaid Jamie Ross Abbie Carmichael Serena Southerlyn Alexandra Borgia Connie Rubirosa Adam Schiff Nora Lewin Arthur Branch Recurring characters Elizabeth Olivet, Ph. D. Emil Skoda, M.D. Elizabeth Rodgers, M.D. Danielle Melnick Seasons 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Notable episodes `` Prescription for Death '' `` Everybody 's Favorite Bagman '' `` Manhood '' `` Aftershock '' `` Empire '' `` Mother 's Day '' `` Sunday in the Park with Jorge '' `` Public Service Homicide '' `` Burn Card '' `` The Drowned and the Saved '' `` Dignity '' `` Fed '' `` Blackmail '' `` Steel - Eyed Death '' `` Boy on Fire '' `` Rubber Room '' TV film Exiled : A Law & Order Movie See also Episodes Cast Law & Order franchise Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Law_%26_Order_characters&oldid=804295476 '' Categories : Lists of Law & Order characters Lists of American crime television series characters Lists of American drama television series characters Law & Order ( franchise ) Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from April 2009 All articles needing additional references Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Português Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Edit links This page was last edited on 8 October 2017, at 01 : 24. 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Question: who played the district attorney in law and order
Answer: Adam Schiff