The Paley Center Presents Law & Order: Before They Were Stars (2020)

For an up-and-coming actor, an appearance on a Law and Order episode is a rite of passage. Since 1990, more than a few of the attorneys, victims, perpetrators, witnesses, kids, suspects and police of the week have gone on to become some of the biggest television and movie stars in the world. The telecast will feature many actors whose roles on Law and Order played an instrumental part in shaping their careers, including Ron Cephas Jones, Chris Sullivan, and Susan Kelechi Watson (This Is Us), Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton), Michael Imperioli and Aida Turturro (The Sopranos), Ariel Winter (Modern Family) and S. Epatha Merkerson (Chicago Med). For many actors, Law and Order was a way to earn their SAG card. Some played multiple guest roles on the series before becoming famous and will explain what the experience on set meant to them at the time. Members of the Law and Order ensembles will recount the experiences of working with the great actors who were not yet household names. Some Law and Order cast members discuss appearing on Law and Order as other characters before landing a spot in the main cast. Law and Order is one of television's most iconic brands in television and has served as a springboard for so many talented actors. With over 1,100 episodes from the Law and Order library to date and tens of thousands of roles for actors, it's no surprise that many of them have gone on to incredible careers. This insightful look back is a celebration of thirty years of a legendary franchise and the stars who have helped pave the way.