Bye Jack McCoy, welcome DA Baxter! Things you may not know about 'Law and Order'

After 20 seasons, the famous DA Jack McCoy played by Sam Waterstone, is leaving 'Law & Order'. He was the most seasoned character in the series.

Tony Goldwyn is filling the shoes of DA Jack McCoy as District Attorney Nicholas Baxter in Manhattan. His first episode as District Attorney debuted on March 14, 2024.

Follow Showbizz Daily to stay informed and enjoy more content!

This is not the first time Tony Goldwyn appears in the series. His previous role, in 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' could not be more different from his new one! In 2007 and 2008, he appeared as the drug addict Frank Goren in four episodes of the series. His return to the set in 2024 is an interesting twist.

With more than 30 years on TV and streaming, 'Law and Order' is known among a great audience worldwide. But did you know the following facts about the iconic crime series?

When the series began in 1990, there was limited television filming going on in New York City. Dick Wolf, the series creator, pushed for the show to be filmed in the city and worked with the actors’ union to make it possible. As a result, the show offers a natural, gritty New York feel lending believability to the show.

Mike Post created both the theme song and the famous ‘dun, dun’ sound that marks the transition between scenes on the show. The sound was created by morphing several sampled sounds including the sound of 1000 Japanese men stomping simultaneously at a Kabuki event. It was created to mimic the sound of prison cell doors shutting and is still being used.

Every time that famous 1.5-second-long ‘dun, dun’ or the ‘Law and Order’ theme song plays, Mike Post is making money. Post has created two pieces of music that are embedded permanently in popular culture. Curiously, the theme song has even been known to make babies dance and dogs sing.

The crime drama stands out because it gives the audience the perspective of both law enforcement fighting crime in New York City and the judicial system that prosecutes suspected criminals.

Over the years, ‘Law and Order’ has hosted some brilliant actors who formed a strong cast. The tenure on the show was short-lived for some, but others worked on the show for decades. The original cast included Chris Noth, George Dzundza, Michael Moriarty, and Richard Brooks.

You can’t think about ‘Law and Order’ without remembering Jerry Orbach as Detective Lennie Briscoe. Orbach was an experienced television, film, and stage actor who joined the cast for season 3 and worked on the series for 12 seasons. He also made appearances on other shows within the franchise as well as ‘Exile: A Law and Order Movie.’ He left the show at the end of the 2003-2004 season due to failing health.

There was some great chemistry between Lennie Briscoe and some of the detectives he was paired with. The longest series partnership was between him and Detective Green, played by Jesse L. Martin. The pair worked together from 1999-2004.

As Detectives Lennie Briscoe and Mike Logan, the actors were a much loved pairing early on in the series. Detective Mike Logan was known for his cocky demeanour and his short fuse.

The character of Lennie Briscoe was known for his witty, dark, and sarcastic one-liners at the scene of a crime or during the arrest of a perp. Jerry Orbach was known for his gift of ad-libbing these lines which were a highlight of his scenes.

When Detective Briscoe was at a crime scene investigating the severe beating of a nun, he quipped, ‘Hope this doesn’t become habit forming.’ The internet offers a treasure trove of the best clips of Jerry Orbach bringing Lennie Briscoe to life.

He will be long remembered for his work within the ‘Law and Order’ franchise and beyond.
The City of New York honored Orbach by naming the southwest corner of 53rd Street and Eighth Avenue ‘Jerry Orbach Way.’

‘Law and Order: SVU’ is the most successful spin-off from the original series. The series premiered in September 1999 and is currently in its 24th season. It holds the title of television’s longest-running primetime drama.

These two lead characters were named after series creator Dick Wolf’s son and daughter. The characters are played by Emmy winning actress Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni. Interestingly, ‘Olivia Benson’ is also the name of Taylor Swift’s cat.

Due to failed contract negotiations, Christopher Meloni abruptly left the show and his character’s departure was explained as Stabler taking early retirement from the police force. He reprised his role in 2020 in a spin-off called ‘Law and Order: Organized Crime’ in which Stabler returns to the police force after the death of his wife. The show has been renewed for its 4th season.

Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe starred as Detectives Goren and Eames who investigated high profile murders as part of the Major Case Squad. D’Onofrio played Goren as an eccentric and intuitive detective in the series which ran for 10 seasons.

Across hundreds of episodes, many aspiring actors have gained experience in the competitive entertainment business. Emmy winner Sarah Paulson had her very first acting job on a 1994 episode of ‘Law and Order.’ In 2010, she made her return to the franchise when she guest-starred in an episode of ‘Law and Order: SVU.’

‘Law and Order’ also provided early career opportunities for Julia Roberts, Ellen Pompeo, Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Garner, and Adam Driver.

The weekly installments of the series were always enhanced by special guest stars who joined the cast, often portraying the criminal suspect on the show. Robin Williams was a memorable guest star on 'Law and Order: SVU.'

Serena Williams, Justin Bieber, and Martha Stewart are some of the celebrities famous outside of the world of acting who branched out to act in guest roles on the show.

It is not uncommon to watch an episode of ‘Law and Order’ and be struck by the similarity of the plot and characters to real events. A Manhattan attorney named Ravi Batra sued Dick Wolf for defamation over a 2003 episode called ‘Floater,’ which he felt negatively portrayed a lawyer bearing similarities to him. The case was settled out of court.

In 1998, the ‘Law and Order’ franchise made the leap to the big screen with the film, ‘Exiled: A Law and Order Movie.’ The movie starred Chris Noth and other original cast members from the television series and told the story of Detective Mike Logan’s career and personal life after being forced to leave the 27th Precinct.

The series returned for season 21 in 2022 and starred Anthony Anderson reprising his role as Detective Kevin Bernard and Sam Waterston as District Attorney Jack McCoy. Camryn Manheim, Hugh Dancy, Jeffrey Donovan, and Odelya Halevi also joined the production. The series is now in its second season and the legacy continues.

In 2003, Dick Wolf wrote a coffee table book entitled, ‘Law and Order: Crime Scenes’ which offered fans a history of the show’s beginnings, details about the characters, and crime scene photos from the series. A series-based video game entitled, ‘Law and Order: Legacies’ was released in 2011 to mixed reviews. The appetite for all things ‘Law and Order’ continues as fans can visit the NBC store to purchase items that display their loyalty to the successful franchise.