Law & Order SVU Cast: Meet the Longest-Running Members and New Characters

Law & Order: SVU is one of the longest-running primetime television shows in history, at 25 seasons and counting.

Since the show’s debut in 1999, numerous celebrities have guest-starred on the procedural drama, which follows the New York Police Department’s Special Victims Unit as they work to solve sex crimes.

Actors including Robin Williams, Bradley Cooper, Martin Short, Alec Baldwin, Hilary Duff — and dozens of others — have all appeared in episodes of SVU. But it’s the show’s core cast of detectives, prosecutors and crime fighters that have made the show a success over the past two-plus decades.

For the first 12 years, Law & Order: SVU was led by an iconic duo: Detectives Olivia Benson (played by Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni).

Meloni’s exit from the show in 2011 left a hole in the Special Victims Unit and fans' hearts — one that’s been filled by other longstanding members of the cast, like Ice-T, and fresh faces over the years, including Danny Pino, Kelli Giddish and Peter Scanavino.

Law & Order: SVU returned with new episodes in January 2024, with Hargitay still at the helm of the cast — and the occasional guest appearance from Meloni, who now stars in his own Law & Order spinoff, Law & Order: Organized Crime.

“Even if I had been wildly, recklessly optimistic about the future, I couldn’t have ever dreamed that we’d be here in this moment in television history,” Hargitay told PEOPLE about the show.

In honor of its landmark 25th season, here’s a look at the Law & Order SVU cast — past and present.

Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson

Mariska Hargitay’s name is practically synonymous with Olivia Benson, the Law & Order: SVU character she’s played since 1999 — the longest-running primetime drama character in television history.

Hargitay studied acting at UCLA before landing her first movie role in 1985’s Ghoulies. Her first television job came a year later, on the series Downtown. She went on to appear on shows including ER, Baywatch and Seinfeld in the 1990s — but her breakout role came in 1999 when she earned the role of Detective Olivia Benson on NBC’s latest Law & Order spinoff.

“I fell so in love with her and so in love with the idea of this show, as progressive as it was at the time, and telling these kinds of stories,” she told The New York Times.

Hargitay’s portrayal of Benson, who has been captain of Manhattan’s Special Victims Unit on the procedural crime drama since the 21st season, has solved hundreds of fictional sex crimes over the past two decades — and become a beacon of hope for sexual assault victims in the process.

The character inspired Hargitay to become an advocate for victims in real life: She is trained as a rape counselor, launched the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004 to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and partnered with Michigan prosecutor and rape activist Kym Worthy to tackle the staggering number of untested rape kits in the U.S.

In 2018, Hargitay produced an award-winning HBO documentary called I Am Evidence about her work with Worthy. “People used to call me the accidental activist. I didn’t take this job on SVU to do this work,” Hargitay told PEOPLE in 2020. “But I think I was meant to do this.”

Her work on SVU — which has earned her both a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award — also introduced her to her husband of 19 years, Peter Hermann. The pair first met in 2002 after Hermann had a guest role on SVU in season 3 as defense attorney Trevor Langan and were married two years later. The couple are parents to three children: August, Amaya and Andrew.

“Thank you ... to August and to Amaya and to Andrew,” Hargitay said when accepting her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013. “I know one day you will grow into an understanding of how brightly the three of you shine into me and daddy’s life. And to Peter, you’re too good to be true.”

Christopher Meloni as Elliot Stabler

Christopher Meloni stood by Hargitay’s side for 12 seasons as NYPD Detective Elliot Stabler, Benson’s partner in solving sex crimes on SVU. Prior to being cast on SVU in 1999, though, Meloni had more experience portraying criminals in his acting career.

Meloni’s big break came in 1996 when he was cast in the thriller film Bound. He followed that up with a brief run on NYPD Blue as criminal Jimmy Liery before playing serial killer Chris Keller on the HBO series Oz from 1998 to 2003. Shortly after landing the role on Oz, Meloni was cast as Stabler on SVU — a role he continued to play for 12 years before abruptly leaving the show in 2011 over contract disagreements.

Meloni’s exit from SVU crushed fans and Hargitay, who was “devastated” over his departure from the show. “I was just so sad, because we started this thing and built it together,” she told PEOPLE.

But in 2021 — after a decade apart — Hargitay and Meloni reunited on-screen as Benson and Stabler in a crossover event between Law & Order: SVU and Meloni’s spinoff, Law & Order: Organized Crime. Their beloved characters have continued to show up on each other’s shows, with the former police partners almost sharing a much-anticipated kiss in season 24 of SVU. 

For Meloni, returning to the Law & Order franchise and appearing alongside his longtime friend Hargitay has been a “dream come true.”

In his personal life, Meloni has been married to artist Sherman Williams since 1995. The couple share two kids together: Sophia and Dante.

Ice-T as Fin Tutuola

Ice-T has been playing Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola on Law & Order: SVU since 2000 — the second-longest running character in the show’s tenure, only behind Olivia Benson.

Before his two-plus decades on SVU, Ice-T (born Tracy Lauren Marrow) rose to fame as a rapper in the 1980s and '90s, first as a solo artist and later with the group Body Count. One of the Body Count’s most famous (and controversial) songs was the 1992 track “Cop Killer” — which is especially ironic, considering the majority of Ice-T’s acting career has been spent playing an NYPD detective (now sergeant).

SVU creator Dick Wolf brought up Ice-T’s issues with law enforcement after he cast him on the series in 2000.

“He goes, ‘You don’t like cops, do you?’ ” Ice-T recalled to Today. “And I go, ‘Well, Dick, I used to be a criminal, and the cops were the opponent. It wasn’t that we didn’t like them — we knew they were there to do their job, and we were doing our job.’ ”

Ice-T continued: “He said, ‘But you admit we need them?’ I’m like, ‘Hell yeah.’ He said, ‘Play the cop we need.’ ”

Ice-T has been doing just that for 24 seasons and counting — earning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the process — and has no plans of stopping anytime soon. “I’mma stay on until the wheels fall off,” he said during a March 2023 appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.

Off camera, Ice-T met his wife, Coco Austin, in the early 2000s and they welcomed a daughter together named Chanel Nicole. Ice-T also has two adult children from previous relationships: daughter LeTesha and son Tracy Jr.

Richard Belzer as John Munch

The late Richard Belzer played Detective (and later Sergeant) John Munch on SVU from 1999 to 2013, with two additional appearances in 2014 and 2016.

“I would never be a detective, but if I were, that's how I’d be,” Belzer said in an interview with The Boomer Tube about his SVU role. “The character is very close to how I would be. They write to all of my paranoia, anti-establishment dissonance and conspiracy theories, so it's been a lot of fun for me. It’s like a dream, actually.”

Belzer began playing Munch on the NBC show Homicide: Life on the Street in 1993, and he continued the role until the police drama was canceled in 1999. A few months later, the actor reprised the character when Law & Order: SVU debuted.

While Belzer was best known for his portrayal of Munch, he also had notable film roles in Scarface and Species II and appeared on the television series The Flash (1990-1991). He was also a celebrated comedian who served as the warm-up act for Saturday Night Live from 1975 to 1980, and a published conspiracy theorist (he wrote five books on topics including UFOs and John F. Kennedy’s assassination).

Belzer died on Feb. 19, 2023, at the age of 78. The actor is survived by his wife of 38 years, Harlee McBride, and remembered by his fellow SVU cast members.

"He was just such a beautiful and complex [person], and it was such a privilege to know him,” Hargitay told PEOPLE following his death.

Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen

Dann Florek led the Special Victims Unit as Captain Donald Cragen for 15 seasons, exiting the show in 2014.

The actor, whose career began in the 1980s and included stints on L.A. Law and Smart Guy, first played Captain Cragen on the original Law & Order from 1990 to 1993. Six years later, Florek reprised the role on the spinoff series Law & Order: SVU — and remained there for the next 15 years and 400 episodes, making him the third most-tenured cast member.

“Friday was the last day for Cragen/Florek. It was a sweet send off! But he’ll live on in syndication land 4 evah!” Florek wrote on X (formerly Twitter) following his exit from the procedural drama.

Florek — who has been married to his wife Karen since 1983 — returned as Cragen for the series’ 500th episode in 2021. He has also appeared on two episodes of Law & Order: Organized Crime.

BD Wong as Dr. George Huang

Helping the SVU solve their sex crimes was FBI psychiatrist Dr. George Huang, played by actor BD Wong. The character aided the Special Victims Unit detectives by serving as their resident psychiatrist and criminal profiler.

Wong first appeared on Law & Order: SVU in season 2 in 2001, but it wasn’t until season 4 that he became a series regular. He continued on the show for the next 10 years, through season 12. Wong’s total run on SVU is 143 episodes — including guest appearances in seasons 13, 14, 15 and 17.

Beyond Law & Order: SVU, the critically acclaimed actor has had an esteemed career that includes Broadway, film and television. Some of his most notable roles include Howard Weinstein in Father of the Bride, Dr. Henry Wu in Jurassic Park, Whiterose on Mr. Robot and Wally on Awkwafina is Nora From Queens.

Wong married his longtime partner Richert Schnorr in 2018. He was previously in a 16-year relationship with talent agent Richie Jackson. The former couple, who split in 2004, share a son named Jackson Foo Wong.

Tamara Tunie as Dr. Melinda Warner

Not every regular on the SVU was a cop: Tamara Tunie played medical examiner Dr. Melinda Warner from season 2 until season 17 — with cameos that continued through the series’ 500th episode in 2021.

“It was supposed to be one episode, possibly recurring. And it evolved into 16 years of Dr. Warner,” she told DuJour magazine.

In addition to her long run on Law & Order: SVU, Tunie played attorney Jessica Griffin on the soap opera As the World Turns for a total of 15 years, from 1987 to 1995 and again from 2000 to 2007.

Her acting résumé includes theater (she won a Tony Award in 2007 for Spring Awakening) and film, with credits including Wall Street, The Devil’s Advocate and Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody.

Stephanie March as Alex Cabot

Stephanie March played Assistant District Attorney Alex Cabot on Law & Order: SVU from 2000 to 2003 — but has made several return appearances over the show’s 25 seasons. Her latest cameo was in 2018 for a season 19 episode when Cabot and Benson cross paths while searching for an abducted woman and her young daughter.

“I am delighted to be on the SVU set again,” March told PEOPLE at the time. “The show is such a meaningful part of my life and I get to see two people I have missed dearly — Mariska Hargitay and Alex Cabot.”

March appears in more than 90 episodes of Law & Order: SVU, making her one of the most-tenured ADAs in the show’s history. She also reprised the role of ADA Cabot on the spinoff series Conviction, which lasted one season.

“She is and will always be part of SVU‘s DNA,” executive producer Michael Chernuchin said about the actress.

March, who has also appeared in films and theater productions, was married to chef Bobby Flay from 2005 to 2015. She’s been married to tech investor Dan Benton since September 2017.

Diane Neal as Casey Novak

Diane Neal played one of the most legendary ADAs in the SVU universe: Assistant District Attorney Casey Novak. Neal appeared on the show as Novak for five straight seasons from seasons 5 through 9 — the only female ADA to do so in any Law & Order series.

Before becoming the no-nonsense Novak, though, Neal — who got her start as a model for Ponds and Shiseido — had a guest appearance on SVU in 2001 as a woman who raped a male stripper. After she landed the part of ADA Novak, Neal appeared on SVU from 2003 to 2008, with guest appearances through 2012.

Following her departure from Law & Order: SVU, Neal went on to appear on other television shows, including NCIS, Suits and The Following. Unfortunately, a 2013 car accident involving a drunk driver fractured Neal’s spine and caused her to step away from acting. In 2018, she turned to politics instead — launching an unsuccessful bid for Congress.

“I would love to see us go back to an America where the good guys aren’t penalized and where you’re not punished for doing the right thing and trying to help people,” Neal wrote for Elle in 2018. “I would like that very much.”

Danny Pino as Nick Amaro

Following Meloni’s departure from SVU in 2011, Danny Pino stepped in to play Benson’s new partner, Detective Nick Amaro. He played the role from season 13 to season 16 — with a return appearance during the show’s 500th episode in 2021.

“I have such respect for the legacy of SVU, and Law & Order in general,” Pino told Entertainment Tonight before his cameo in the historic episode. “So, it meant a lot to me. And for that to happen on the 500th episode, it’s an honor to be a part of.”

The Miami native is no stranger to playing law enforcement on television: Before his role on SVU, he starred as Detective Scotty Valens on the CBS series Cold Case from 2003 to 2010. Pino also portrayed drug lord Armadillo Quintero on FX’s The Shield, Desi Arnaz on the TV movie Lucy and had a guest stint as Alex Vargas on ABC’s Scandal.

After exiting SVU, Pino went on to appear in the film adaptation of the Broadway hit Dear Evan Hansen and starred in the FX Sons of Anarchy spinoff series Mayans M.C. In his personal life, Pino has been married to his wife Lilly since 2002; the couple have two sons together named Luca and Julian.

Kelli Giddish as Amanda Rollins

Also signing on in season 13 of SVU was Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins, an ambitious Atlanta transplant who joins the Special Victims Unit following Stabler’s departure.

“They've lost a family member with Chris Meloni leaving, but they've been very accepting of us,” she told TV Guide about joining the crime series. “Amanda is thrilled to be here working with these people, and so am I."

However, Giddish’s debut as Rollins in 2011 was not her first time appearing on Law & Order: SVU. Four years prior, the Georgia-born actress had a guest role on the show as rape victim Kara Dawson in the episode “Outsider.” 

In addition to her appearance on SVU, Giddish’s early career credits include playing Diana Henry on All My Children from 2005 to 2007 and U.S. Marshall Annie Frost on the short-lived NBC drama Chase in 2010.

But the longest run of Giddish’s acting career has been SVU: She played Rollins for over a decade, exiting the series in season 24 in 2022. “She's grown and changed, and I have as well,” she said when announcing her departure.

Though Giddish made a cameo in the season 24 finale, her official last episode as a cast member was In December 2022 during the midseason finale — and showed Rollins marrying her former partner-turned-Assistant District Attorney Dominick “Sonny” Carisi in a small courthouse ceremony.

“[Rollins] got a rare happy ending,” the actress told Entertainment Weekly about her exit. “That’s a huge legacy ... That's kind of awesome.”

Since then, the actress has returned as a guest star in seasons 24 and 25. "It's the fans and it gives me so much joy to come back and to be with a family for a little bit longer," Giddish told PEOPLE about reprising her role in a different capacity. "It's really fun. I get to step in the shoes of Rollins again."

In real life, Giddish is living her own happy ending: She welcomed her third child, Oldie, in June 2023, with her husband, Beau Richards. She also has two sons, Ludo and Charlie, from a previous marriage.

Peter Scanavino as Dominick “Sonny” Carisi

There have been several ADAs in the history of Law & Order: SVU, but only one has gotten his start as an SVU detective: Sonny Carisi, played by Peter Scanavino.

The actor first appeared in the series in 2014 as Carisi, the Staten Island-born detective who joins the Special Victims Unit after Amaro’s departure. After five seasons of working on sex crimes, Scanavino’s character moves to prosecute those crimes as assistant district attorney.

“I used to watch [the] original Law & Order with my mother when I was a kid, and now I’m part of that world,” Scanavino told TVLine about playing ADA Carisi. “It still, to this day, kind of blows my mind.”

Prior to joining SVU as Carisi, he made guest appearances on several shows within the Law & Order family: He starred on a 2005 episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, a 2009 episode of Law & Order and a 2013 episode of Law & Order: SVU. In addition to his acting credits, Scanavino is also a trained chef.

While on-screen Carisi is married to Rollins, in real life, Scanavino wed painter Lisha Bai. The couple have three children together.

Octavio Pisano as Joe Velasco

One of the latest detectives to join the Special Victims Unit is Detective Joe Velasco, played by Octavio Pisano.

Pisano, who appeared on the CBS crime drama Coyote and in the indie film Ms. Purple, was first seen on Law & Order: SVU in season 23. Velasco joined the Special Victims Unit as a former undercover agent who grew up deep in cartel territory in Mexico.

One of his first episodes involved Velasco trying to help a priest from his hometown rescue three sex-trafficked girls — a storyline that struck a nerve for the actor, who was raised in Tijuana, Mexico.

“I do know that world and I have sisters,” he told TVLine. “So I can easily put myself in that situation.”

Molly Burnett as Grace Muncy

Another new face on the long-running series is Molly Burnett, who plays Detective Grace Muncy on Law & Order: SVU.

Burnett joined the series for season 24 in July 2022, but her time at Special Victims Unit was short-lived: The actress left the show after just one season, Deadline reported. Even though her time on the show was brief, it still held special meaning to Burnett.

“My mom passed away young, and I know that this was one of her favorite shows. So that fact that I’m on SVU, I feel she played a part in that somehow,” Burnett told TV Insider in 2022.

Prior to her work on SVU, Burnett played Melanie Jonas on the soap opera Days of Our Lives from 2008 to 2012 and Kelly Ann on USA’s Queen of the South from 2016 to 2021.

Jasmine Batchelor as Tonie Churlish

A recent newcomer on Law & Order: SVU is Jasmine Batchelor as Detective Tonie Churlish, a Bronx transport who ruffles feathers at the Special Victims Unit for her by-the-book ways.

Batchelor joined the long-running series mid-way through season 24 in 2022. “Thank you to every viewer who’s sent words of love, support, or kindness. It means so much to me & I’m really grateful to be a part of something you all love so much,” she wrote on Instagram after one of her most prominent episodes, “Lime Chaser,” aired.

The Philadelphia native has had notable roles in the indie films The Surrogate and You Are Not Alone. Her TV credits include a recurring role on NBC’s New Amsterdam, as well as appearances on NCIS: New Orleans, The Good Fight and The Affair.

Kevin Kane as Terry Bruno

Kevin Kane rounds out the crew of new detectives at the Manhattan Special Victims Unit in his role as Detective Terry Bruno.

The character makes his way to SVU in season 24 after winning a wrongful termination lawsuit from Bronx SVU and collaborating with Benson to solve unsolved rapes in the Bronx.

Kane has played a police officer previously on Chicago: P.D. and an FBI agent in the Martin Scorsese film The Irishman — but the Philadelphia native’s most notable work has been in comedy, as a producer and actor on Inside Amy Schumer. Kane won a Primetime Emmy, Television Critics Award and Peabody Award for his work on Inside Amy Schumer.

Kane is married to actress Francis Benhamou. The couple share a daughter together.