Discover how the iconic crime series Law & Order became a springboard for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, from Bradley Cooper to Zoe Saldaña.
Ever wonder how many big-name actors got their start in the gritty streets of New York City?
Well, not really the streets, but on the set of Law & Order! At the 2025 SAG Awards, Mariska Hargitay, who’s been kicking butt as Olivia Benson since forever, gave a shout-out to all the guest stars who’ve graced the Law & Order universe.
She even did a hilarious imitation of the show’s iconic opening lines!
You won’t believe the A-listers who popped up on Law & Order before they hit the big time.
We’re talking Bradley Cooper, Viola Davis, David Harbour, and even Keke Palmer! It’s like a who’s who of Hollywood’s finest.
And the list goes on! Hargitay kept the names coming, mentioning stars like Kerry Washington, Sebastian Stan, and Leighton Meester.
It’s wild to think these icons were once just guest stars on a crime show.
Liza Colón-Zayas, who’s now killing it on The Bear, shared her Law & Order journey. She played five different characters in six episodes and even discovered two bodies!
Talk about versatility. She called it a “right of passage” for actors, and honestly, she’s not wrong.
Tony Hale, the hilarious guy from Arrested Development, admitted he didn’t think he was an authority on Law & Order since he only did one episode.
But surprise! He actually appeared in two. He joked that his parents only care about his Law & Order gigs, not his Emmys or SAG awards. Classic parent move, right?
Keke Palmer and Colman Domingo, both Law & Order alums, took the stage to present an award.
Palmer had a fun idea: let’s play a drinking game! Take a sip if you’ve ever been on Law & Order.
Domingo was like, “The whole room would be wasted!” But they went for it, and sure enough, stars like Timothée Chalamet and Zoe Saldaña were sipping away. It was a riot!
And speaking of Zoe, she took home the award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role for Emilia Pérez. Talk about a night to remember!
Quick Facts: Law & Order’s Star-Studded Past
- Mariska Hargitay has played Olivia Benson since 1999.
- Liza Colón-Zayas appeared in six episodes as five different characters.
- Tony Hale thought he was only in one episode but actually appeared in two.
- Keke Palmer and Colman Domingo both guest-starred on Law & Order.
- Zoe Saldaña won a SAG award for her role in Emilia Pérez.