How many times has Law & Order 'recycled' guest actors for different roles?

Question

It seems like one day someone is a lawyer then the next they're the suspect. Still a great show though.

Answer 1

You have a point. When you have 97 versions of a show, I suppose you start running out of actors.

Answer 2

If I recall:
Jerry Orbach
S Epatha Merkersen
Annie Perissi
Michael Imperioli
Diane Neal
Courtney Vance
Julieane Nicholson
New det. on original L&O
new capt. in CI

all had guest spots on one of them before becoming regulars, Logan and Green's respective new partners were both in conviction, I believe all of "Trial By Jury" was cast from prior guest stars

not to mention, the rotating guest defense lawyers, including Brooks, and Lowell who's characters are also former ADA's

they do a decent job of casting great people, even if they go back to the same pool, New York based actors screen actors are a small pool. My biggest complaint is that All three current L&O's have done the 'shock jock' story, and a few other's seem to be cut and pasted from headlines as opposed to 'ripped'

Answer 3

Heehee!

I've noticed that too.

Jerry Orbach, known as one of the longest running cops on the show, once played a defense attorney on the show.

The actor who plays the current DA (Vance, I believe) once played the part of a know-it-all defendant that was convicted of murder.

When you see one of the reruns with one of the actors who play regular roles in a different role, yo uhave to scratch your head a second.

Answer 4

You can look this up on www.imdb.com
Each show has a list of the actors who have been on more than once....each listing shows their character's name.

Answer 5

The show that was the worst offender was Perry Mason.

Answer 6

Not as much as Jerry Springer, but still several times.

Answer 7

as long as people keep watching, they will continue to repeat guest stars. even within each show.

Answer 8

NYPD BLUES did it to.
I guess good Actors are hard to find.