'Law and Order: SVU': What the Show's Original Cast Is Doing Now

Now in its 21st season, Law & Order: SVU — the acronym being short for Special Victims Unit — has been entertaining audiences with ripped-from-the-headlines stories since it premiered on September 20, 1999. Given that so much time has passed since Dick Wolf‘s beloved series debuted, let’s take a look at what the original cast up to now, shall we?

During season 1, the cast was made up of Richard Belzer as John Munch, Dann Florek as Donald Cragen, Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson, Michelle Hurd as Monique Jeffries, Christopher Meloni as Elliot Stabler and Dean Winters as Brian Cassidy. Of the entire bunch, Mariska is the only one still around to this day. Of those who have left, it was perhaps Christopher’s departure after season 12 that was the hardest for fans to grapple with.

This is the second series in Dick’s wildly popular Law & Order franchise — with Law & Order, which ran for 20 seasons from 1990 to 2010, being the original. There have also been numerous spin-offs, such as Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001-2011), Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005-2006), Law & Order: LA (2010-2011), Law & Order: True Crime (2017) and the yet-to-air Law & Order: Hate Crimes. Oh, and that’s just taking into account TV shows.

Mariska Hargitay on 'Law and Order: SVU' in 1999 — Michael Parmelee/Universal TV/Kobal/Shutterstock

Law & Order: SVU is currently the longest-running live action series on TV, only being bested by the animated juggernaut that is The Simpsons — which is on season 31 and has been running since 1989 — in terms of what is currently airing. That’s super impressive and is a testament to why Mariska has walked away with an Emmy in 2006.

“You couldn’t make up what’s in the news today,” Dick — who also created TV’s Chicago franchise — told Closer Weekly in 2018 about the real-world crimes that keep fueling the show each year. “And it’s a terrific group of actors.”

“I feel so grateful that we brought something that has been traditionally swept under the carpet to the watercooler,” Mariska chimed in, adding that the role of Olivia “went straight to my heart and soul” all those years ago. “To tell these stories has been nothing but a privilege and a gift.” It also helps that she met her husband, Peter Hermann, on the set.

Scroll down to see what Mariska and the rest of the original Law & Order: SVU cast is doing today!

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Richard Belzer

After playing Detective John Munch for seven seasons on Homicide: Life on the Streets and then 15 on SVU, Richard, 75, added to his credits as author by releasing a new book, Corporate Conspiracies: How Wall Street Took Over Washington. He now spends a lot of his time poolside with his dog Houdini at his home in France.

Dann Florek

Capt. Donald Cragen was retired after the show’s 15th season. But Dann, 69, has continued to work — appearing on TV’s Under the Dome and the telepic DisIllusioned and starring as the mayor in the Broadway revival of The Front Page. He’s also devoted his efforts to the rescue organization Best Friends Animal Society.

Mariska Hargitay

Just like now–Capt. Olivia Benson throughout her stint on TV’s longest-running primetime drama, Mariska, 55, has been on the case to help victims of sexual abuse — by founding a support organization, the Joyful Heart Foundation, and producing the Emmy-winning doc I Am Evidence. “It turned me from sort of actor to activist,” she says.

Michelle Hurd

Though Detective Monique Jeffries reluctantly got transferred to the vice squad after two seasons, Michelle, 52, transitioned very nicely to subsequent TV work — starring on The Glades, Ash vs. Evil Dead and Blindspot as well as appearing on ER, Gossip Girl, 90210, Hawaii Five-0, Daredevil and Lethal Weapon.

Christopher Meloni

Following 12 seasons patrolling the streets as Olivia’s partner Detective Elliot Stabler, Christopher, 58, didn’t lose a beat. He appeared in movies such as 42 and Man of Steel and starred on the TV series True Blood, Surviving Jack, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, Underground and Happy!

Dean Winters

While Detective Brian Cassidy got transferred to narcotics during the show’s first season, Dean, 55, has kept a high profile appearing in the pic John Wick, starring on TV’s Rescue Me and landing recurring roles on 30 Rock, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Divorce…and again SVU. He’s also caused mayhem on many an Allstate ad.