Law & Order reached a remarkable milestone that few television shows ever achieve, and the cast and crew gathered in style to mark the occasion. Dick Wolf, Wolf Entertainment, Universal Television and NBC hosted an elegant celebration Monday night at Cipriani42 in New York City, bringing together past and present stars of the iconic crime drama to honor its 25th season.
The guest list read like a who’s who of the Law & Order universe, spanning decades of the show’s storied history. Cast members from different eras reunited under one roof, creating moments that longtime fans would have treasured witnessing. The event highlighted just how many talented actors have passed through the show’s doors since it first premiered, building careers and creating television history along the way.
Stars from across 25 seasons attended
Sam Waterston, who portrayed Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy from seasons 5 through 23, joined the festivities alongside S. Epatha Merkerson, who played Lieutenant Anita Van Buren from seasons 4 through 20. Their lengthy tenures on the series made them fixtures in American living rooms for years, and their presence at the celebration underscored their importance to the show’s legacy.
Richard Brooks, who appeared in seasons 1 through 3, represented the show’s earliest days. Alana de la Garza from seasons 17 through 20 and Jeremy Sisto from seasons 17 through 20 also attended, along with Benjamin Bratt who starred in seasons 6 through 9.
Current cast members Tony Goldwyn, who joined in season 23 and continues in the present season, and Hugh Dancy, who has been with the show since season 21, represented the series’ current chapter. Their presence demonstrated the show’s ability to continually reinvent itself while maintaining the core elements that made it successful.
The Wolf Entertainment family showed up
The celebration extended beyond just Law & Order cast members. Mariska Hargitay from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit made an appearance, connecting the flagship series with its most successful spinoff. Zeeko Zaki from FBI and Ellen Burstyn from Law & Order: Organized Crime also attended, representing the broader Wolf Entertainment family of shows.
The gathering illustrated how Dick Wolf has built not just a single successful series but an entire universe of interconnected crime dramas that have dominated NBC’s primetime lineup for years.
A major crossover event approaches
The celebration comes just ahead of a significant programming event for the franchise. A two-hour Law & Order and SVU crossover airs Thursday, January 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, with streaming available the following day on Peacock.
The first hour follows an injured woman who suddenly disappears from a hospital, launching a murder investigation. As an eyewitness to the crime, Detective Brady teams up with Captain Benson’s SVU squad to untangle a complicated motive. An explosive discovery places both teams in jeopardy.
The second hour continues as the search for a murder suspect reveals a crime with troubling legal and ethical dimensions. Detective Bruno must safeguard his team during a raid on a suspect’s residence. ADA Carisi and ADA Price join forces in the courtroom when Brady’s interrogation methods threaten to undermine their case.
The show’s enduring legacy
Law & Order remains one of television’s most treasured and honored dramas, known for its distinctive bifurcated format that examines both the police who investigate crimes and the district attorneys who prosecute offenders. The series airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC with episodes available to stream the next day on Peacock.
The current cast includes Hugh Dancy, Tony Goldwyn, Odelya Halevi, Reid Scott, Maura Tierney and David Ajala. Dick Wolf created the series and serves as executive producer alongside Rick Eid, Alex Hall, Anastasia Puglisi and Peter Jankowski. Universal Television produces in association with Wolf Entertainment.
Source: Information provided by NBCUniversal Media and Wolf Entertainment.
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