As 'Law & Order: SVU' approaches the close of Season 24, here's what the stars of Season 1 are up to
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit', one of the longest-running television series of all time, is gearing up for its final Season 24. The show premiered in 1999 and still stands despite a huge change in its cast. The NBC show has been through many ups and downs. It got canceled in 2010 due to a steep decline in ratings and returned later as fans were tuning in to watch the re-runs.
With 'Law & Order: SVU' going into its Season 24 finale, some cast members that departed from the show are returning. Kelli Giddish, who plays former detective Amanda Rollins, departed the show in December 2022. She is set to return for Season 24. The first season of this police procedural drama series premiered on NBC on September 20, 1999, and it ran through May 19, 2000. There are 22 episodes in the season. It was the first season to feature Dann Florek as Donald Cragen. So, let’s take a look at all the actors who were in the original cast of ‘Law & Order’ and where they are right now.
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Christopher Meloni
Christopher Meloni played the role of Detective Elliot Stabler on 'Law & Order: SVU' from 1999 until 2011. During the series, Elliot was predominantly Olivia Benson's partner. The veteran actor has a daughter Sophia, 21, and a son Dante, 18, with his wife of 27 years. He returned to his beloved 'Law & Order: SVU' role as NYPD detective Elliot Stabler when he began starring in his spinoff 'Organized Crime' in April 2021. He will be featured in the Season 24 finale as the crossover star. Meloni now appears to be a little more muscular. He also likes to try new things. Most significantly, he is now leading a "Zaddy" existence.
Mariska Hargitay
Fans have enjoyed watching 'Law & Order: SVU' actor Mariska Hargitay play Detective Olivia Benson for the past few seasons. At merely 35, Mariska Hargitay made her acting debut as Detective Olivia Benson. Since then, she has served in that capacity for 23 years. At 63 years old, Hargitay hasn't given up on her iconic role and can still be seen battling crime on the NBC series regularly. She is the lone surviving member of the first season's cast. She has been married to actor Peter Hermann since 2004, and the pair has three children -- August, 16, Amaya, 11, and Andrew, 10.
Dann Florek
In the original 'Law and Order', Dann Florek's character Donald Cragen was first introduced in 1990. He returned to SVU in 1999, this time taking on the job of the Special Victims Unit's captain. Florek made an official exit from the show in 2013 after more than 300 episodes. Though he did make a major appearance in the new 'Organised Crime' series alongside Christopher Meloni, Florek has reduced the amount of acting work he does. Florek and his wife Karen have been married since 1983. They don't have any children and currently share their house with several rescue dogs as they strive to find them secure new homes.
Richard Belzer
Richard Belzer played Detective Munch, an eccentric detective notorious for his one-liners. He announced his unfortunate resignation from SVU in 2013. After his final appearance in the Robert De Niro-starring 2016 movie, the comedian's acting career came to a complete halt. He died in February 2023 at his home in Bozouls in southwest France due to various health issues.
Michelle Hurd
Michelle Hurd played Detective Monique Jeffries for just two of SVU's early seasons. Hurd quit the show in 2000. She has appeared on several TV shows, including 'Hawaii Five-0', 'The Glades', 'Blindspot' and most recently, 'Star Trek: Picards'. She is married to Garret Dillahunt, who is also an actor. They got married in 2007.
'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' is available to stream on NBC.