Every Major Actor from ‘Law & Order’ and Spin-Offs Who Died
The ‘Law & Order’ universe has stretched across generations of television and introduced viewers to an enormous roster of detectives, prosecutors, judges, and defense attorneys. Many of the performers who helped build that world are no longer with us, yet their characters continue to anchor reruns and streaming marathons that keep the franchise alive for new audiences.
This roundup highlights major actors from ‘Law & Order’ and its spin-offs who have passed away. For each person you will find the roles they played in the franchise, the years they appeared on the shows, and clear biographical details including when they died and where, along with other factual notes that help place their work in context.
Jerry Orbach
Jerry Orbach played Detective Lennie Briscoe on ‘Law & Order’ from 1992 to 2004 and also appeared in early episodes of ‘Law & Order: Trial by Jury’ that aired after his passing. His character became a cornerstone of the series and crossed into other entries in the franchise during special episodes.
He died on December 28, 2004 at age 69 in New York City from prostate cancer. His final filmed work in ‘Law & Order: Trial by Jury’ was broadcast posthumously and Broadway honored him by dimming its marquees.
Steven Hill
Steven Hill portrayed District Attorney Adam Schiff on ‘Law & Order’ from 1990 to 2000 across more than two hundred episodes. His character set the tone for the show’s legal side during its first decade and regularly guided prosecutors through complex cases.
He died on August 23, 2016 at age 94 in Monsey, New York. His career also included notable stage and television work before and after his long run as the Manhattan district attorney on the series.
Richard Belzer
Richard Belzer brought Detective John Munch into the franchise when he joined ‘Law & Order: SVU’ in 1999 after originating the role on another network crime drama. He remained a main or recurring presence through 2016 and made additional appearances that linked the franchise together.
He died on February 19, 2023 at age 78 at his home in France. His character holds a unique place in television history due to the number of crossovers and the span of years in which Munch appeared.
Paul Sorvino
Paul Sorvino appeared on ‘Law & Order’ as Sergeant Phil Cerreta during seasons two and three from 1991 to 1992. The character partnered in investigations that connected precinct work to courtroom developments and featured prominently in interrogations.
He died on July 25, 2022 at age 83 in Jacksonville, Florida of natural causes. His screen career continued for decades after his time on the show and he was later interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Dennis Farina
Dennis Farina portrayed Detective Joe Fontana on ‘Law & Order’ during seasons fifteen and sixteen from 2004 to 2006. A former Chicago police detective in real life, he brought procedural detail to interviews and surveillance sequences throughout his episodes.
He died on July 22, 2013 at age 69 in Scottsdale, Arizona due to a pulmonary embolism. He was buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois and is remembered for both his law enforcement background and his acting work.
Fred Thompson
Fred Thompson played District Attorney Arthur Branch on ‘Law & Order’ from 2002 to 2007. His real life experience in law and government shaped the character’s approach to policy decisions inside the prosecutor’s office.
He died on November 1, 2015 at age 73 in Nashville, Tennessee from a recurrence of lymphoma. Memorials noted his combined public service and entertainment careers along with his many seasons on the show.
Ned Eisenberg
Ned Eisenberg recurred as defense attorney Roger Kressler on ‘Law & Order: SVU’ and also appeared in the original ‘Law & Order’ in multiple legal roles. His episodes spanned many seasons and often featured plea negotiations and trial strategy.
He died on February 27, 2022 at age 65 in New York City following battles with cholangiocarcinoma and uveal melanoma. He worked steadily on stage and screen throughout his life and remained active in New York productions.
Mark Blum
Mark Blum appeared on the original ‘Law & Order’ as Assistant District Attorney Frank Lazar and turned up in other episodes as different characters, a common practice for New York based character actors on the franchise. His work included recurring television roles and a long theater career.
He died on March 25, 2020 at age 69 in New York City due to complications from COVID 19. His appearances in the franchise are part of a broad list of New York credits across film, television, and stage.
André Braugher
André Braugher recurred on ‘Law & Order: SVU’ from 2011 to 2015 as defense attorney Bayard Ellis. Storylines with his character examined past convictions and focused on questions related to process and equity within the justice system.
He died on December 11, 2023 at age 61 from lung cancer. Tributes from colleagues across television emphasized the range of his work and the impact of his recurring role in the franchise.
Ron Cephas Jones
Ron Cephas Jones appeared on ‘Law & Order: Organized Crime’ as Congressman Leon Kilbride during season two. The character operated at the intersection of New York power and organized crime investigations and figured in several long form arcs.
He died on August 19, 2023 at age 66 after long standing pulmonary issues. He underwent a double lung transplant in 2020 and continued to work in television projects in the years that followed.
Anne Meara
Anne Meara guest starred on ‘Law & Order: SVU’ in the episodes Scavenger and Dreams Deferred, playing different characters. Those appearances came late in a career that included decades of stage and television work filmed in New York.
She died on May 23, 2015 at age 85 in Manhattan. Her credits in the franchise sit alongside her long list of comedy and drama performances across multiple mediums.
Robert Vaughn
Robert Vaughn appeared in the franchise as multiple characters including a notable turn on ‘Law & Order: SVU’ in the episode December Solstice. That appearance arrived near the end of a lengthy film and television career.
He died on November 11, 2016 at age 83 from leukemia. His single episode in ‘SVU’ is remembered as one of his final television roles.
Joanna Merlin
Joanna Merlin portrayed Judge Lena Petrovsky across many seasons of ‘Law & Order: SVU’ and also appeared in the original ‘Law & Order’. Her judge presided over high profile cases and returned frequently, making her one of the franchise’s most familiar courtroom figures.
She died on October 15, 2023 at age 92 in New York City. Her screen work accompanied decades of stage performance and teaching that influenced actors beyond the shows.
Lynn Cohen
Lynn Cohen played Judge Elizabeth Mizener on both ‘Law & Order’ and ‘Law & Order: SVU’. The character oversaw numerous trials and conferences and became a recurring presence in episodes that examined legal procedure.
She died on February 14, 2020 at age 86 in New York City. Her appearances in the franchise were part of a long career that included extensive stage work.
James Rebhorn
James Rebhorn appeared frequently across the franchise beginning in the 1990s, usually as attorneys or officials in the original ‘Law & Order’ and in ‘Law & Order: SVU’. His roles often placed him at the center of negotiations and courtroom challenges that shaped episode outcomes.
He died on March 21, 2014 at age 65 in South Orange, New Jersey due to melanoma. His recurring work in the franchise was one part of a wide ranging career in film, television, and theater.
Philip Bosco
Philip Bosco recurred as a judge in the original ‘Law & Order’ over many years. His courtroom appearances anchored numerous cases and provided continuity as the series cycled through different legal teams.
He died on December 3, 2018 at age 88 in Haworth, New Jersey from complications of dementia. He was a longtime stage actor whose television work included many turns on the franchise.
Kathryn Kates
Kathryn Kates appeared as Judge Rosa Katz across ‘Law & Order: SVU’ and ‘Law & Order: Organized Crime’. Her episodes placed her on the bench during investigations that bridged precinct work and federal coordination.
She died on January 22, 2022 at age 73 after a battle with lung cancer. She worked in New York and Los Angeles and remained active in television into the years just before her passing.
Mary Mara
Mary Mara guest starred in multiple episodes of ‘Law & Order: SVU’ and also appeared in ‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent’. Her roles included victims and suspects in cases that required detailed investigative work from the units.
She died on June 26, 2022 at age 61 in Cape Vincent, New York in a drowning accident in the St. Lawrence River. Her television career spanned several network dramas along with appearances in the franchise.
Share the names and episodes you remember most in the comments so we can keep this tribute complete and up to date.