Project Details

Celebrating the influence of one of television’s most iconic brands, NBC aired "The Paley Center Presents Law & Order: Before They Were Stars" on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. For an up-and-coming actor, an appearance on a "Law & 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. For many actors, "Law & 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.

 The telecast featured actors whose roles on "Law & Order" played an instrumental part in shaping their careers, including Milo Ventimiglia, Ron Cephas Jones, Chris Sullivan and Susan Kelechi Watson ("This Is Us"), Leslie Odom Jr. ("Hamilton"), Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli and Aida Turturro ("The Sopranos"), Ty Burell, Julie Bowen, Sarah Hyland and Ariel Winter ("Modern Family"), Abigail Breslin ("Zombieland"), S. Epatha Merkerson ("Chicago Med") and Oscar nominees Samuel L. Jackson and Bradley Cooper.

 With over 1,200 episodes from the "Law & 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 was a celebration of 30 years of a legendary franchise and the stars who helped pave the way.