The Law & Order cast shakeup: Recent departures and who's joining the show

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The Law & Order franchise has always been defined by its revolving door of talent — but the stretch from 2024 to 2025 brought more change than usual. Across the flagship series and SVU, several familiar faces exited while fresh recruits stepped into the precinct. Here is a full breakdown of who left, who joined, and what it all means for Dick Wolf's long-running NBC universe.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

- Mehcad Brooks (Det. Jalen Shaw) departed the flagship series ahead of Season 25, after three seasons — the most high-profile exit of the cycle.

- David Ajala (Star Trek: Discovery) is the newest addition to Law & Order, joining Season 25 as Det. Theo Walker.

- On SVU, Octavio Pisano and Juliana Aidén Martinez both exited after Season 26, while Kelli Giddish and Corey Cott joined the Season 27 main cast.

- Sam Waterston holds the record as the longest-serving cast member of the original Law & Order, appearing in 405 episodes as Jack McCoy from 1994 to 2024.

- Season 25 of the flagship show is a milestone year — the series originally ended in 2010 and was revived in 2022.

Who's in, who's out, and why it matters

Law & Order (1990–2010 and 2022–present) follows the fictional cases of a group of police detectives and prosecutors in the criminal justice system. The show is well known for its revolving cast — most of its original stars had left within the first five seasons. That tradition continues to this day, with the 2024–2025 broadcast cycle bringing some of the biggest roster moves since the show's 2022 revival.

Recent departures

Sam Waterston — Jack McCoy (left during Season 23)

- Full name: Samuel Atkinson Waterston

- Role: Executive ADA / District Attorney Jack McCoy

- Seasons on show: Season 5 (1994) – Season 23 (2024), plus 2022–2024 revival

- Total episodes: 405

The longest-serving actor on Law & Order, Sam Waterston had been part of the NBC drama since 1994. He departed partway through his 19th season on the series, having appeared in more than 400 episodes as McCoy. The record for longest-serving main cast members of the series runs: Jerry Orbach as Det. Lennie Briscoe (274 episodes), S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt. Anita Van Buren (390 episodes), and Sam Waterston as EADA/DA Jack McCoy (405 episodes).

Tony Goldwyn (Scandal, Oppenheimer) joined Law & Order as the new DA following Waterston's exit. In his role as Jack McCoy, Waterston went on to be Law & Order's second-longest-running cast member, and he was nominated for 11 SAG Awards; he first appeared from 1994 to 2010, then re-joined for a stint from 2022 to 2024.

Camryn Manheim — Lt. Kate Dixon (left before Season 24)

- Full name: Camryn Manheim

- Role: Lieutenant Kate Dixon, head of the Homicide Unit

- Seasons on show: Seasons 21–23 (2022–2024)

Camryn Manheim's Kate Dixon had been head of the Homicide Unit for three seasons. She was only the third person to take on this role since the series began in 1999 — and she was replaced by Maura Tierney, who plays Lieutenant Jessica Brady. Manheim's announcement that she would not be part of the Season 24 cast came as a surprise shortly before the Season 23 finale.

Jeffrey Donovan — Det. Frank Cosgrove (let go before Season 23)

- Full name: Jeffrey Donovan

- Role: Detective Frank Cosgrove

- Seasons on show: Seasons 21–22 (2022–2023)

Jeffrey Donovan returning to Law & Order is considered unlikely. He was let go ahead of Season 23, reportedly for "creative reasons." Donovan had joined the rebooted series as part of its original 2022 revival cast, alongside new cast members Hugh Dancy and Odelya Halevi.

Mehcad Brooks — Det. Jalen Shaw (left before Season 25)

- Full name: Mehcad Brooks

- Role: Detective Jalen Shaw

- Seasons on show: Seasons 22–24 (2022–2025)

Mehcad Brooks, who played Detective Jalen Shaw, did not return for Law & Order Season 25. Brooks exited after three seasons, with the decision described as a mutual one between him and producers, according to Deadline.

Brooks will next appear on screen in Mortal Kombat II, reprising his role as Jax from the 2021 film, scheduled to release on October 24, 2025. He is also recurring in Season 3 of And Just Like That as Marion Odin.

Octavio Pisano & Juliana Aidén Martinez — SVU Season 26 exits

- Roles: Det. Joe Velasco (Pisano) and Det. Kate Silva (Martinez)

- Show: Law & Order: SVU

- Final season: Season 26 (2024–2025)

Before NBC renewed Law & Order: SVU for Season 27, multiple outlets confirmed in May 2025 that Octavio Pisano and Juliana Aidén Martinez — portraying Detective Joe Velasco and Detective Kate Silva, respectively — were leaving at the end of Season 26. Pisano returned to give his character an on-screen send-off, while Martinez moved on to FBI.

Who's joining the shows

Maura Tierney — Lt. Jessica Brady (joined Season 24)

- Full name: Maura Tierney

- Role: Lieutenant Jessica Brady

- Joined: Season 24 (2024–2025)

- Network: NBC / Peacock

Maura Tierney officially joined the cast of Law & Order in Season 24 as Lt. Jessica Brady, replacing Camryn Manheim. Hugh Dancy, who has played Nolan Price since Season 21, and Odelya Halevi, who has portrayed Samantha Maroun since Season 21, are both expected back for Season 25 alongside Tierney.

David Ajala — Det. Theo Walker (joined Season 25)

- Full name: David Ajala

- Date of birth: May 21, 1986

- Nationality: British (born in Hackney, London)

- Role: Detective Theo Walker

- Joined: Season 25, Episode 7 ("Guardian"), November 13, 2025

- Previously known for: Star Trek: Discovery (Cleveland Booker)

Law & Order's 25th season welcomed David Ajala as a series regular, portraying a detective alongside Reid Scott's character, Det. Vincent Riley. Ajala, born May 21, 1986 in Hackney, London, is a British actor who stars in a main cast role starting with Season 25 as Detective Theo Walker.

The London-born actor made his Law & Order debut in Season 25's "Guardian," airing November 13, when Detective Vincent Riley meets his new partner and the two investigate the murder of a teen boy. Ajala is best known for his portrayal of Cleveland Booker in Star Trek: Discovery.

"There is something very, very special about being part of this franchise." — David Ajala, NBC Insider

Kelli Giddish & Corey Cott — SVU Season 27 additions

- Kelli Giddish returns as series regular: Sgt. Amanda Rollins

- Corey Cott promoted to series regular mid-season: Det. Jake Griffin

- Show: Law & Order: SVU, Season 27 (2025–2026)

Kelli Giddish originally departed Law & Order: SVU in the middle of Season 24 after more than a decade on the show. She was a guest star in various episodes throughout Seasons 25 and 26 before being confirmed as a series regular for Season 27.

Mid-season, on January 13, Deadline reported that Corey Cott — who had come in as new detective Jake Griffin — was upped to series regular. Michele Fazekas also serves as showrunner for Season 27, the first woman to hold this position in the history of the series.

Season 25 cast at a glance

Actor | Character | Role | Status (Season 25) |

Tony Goldwyn | DA Nicholas Baxter | District Attorney | Returning |

Maura Tierney | Lt. Jessica Brady | Lieutenant | Returning |

Reid Scott | Det. Vincent Riley | Senior Detective | Returning |

Hugh Dancy | EADA Nolan Price | Exec. ADA | Returning |

Odelya Halevi | ADA Samantha Maroun | Assistant DA | Returning |

David Ajala | Det. Theo Walker | Junior Detective | New (Ep. 7) |

Mehcad Brooks | Det. Jalen Shaw | Detective | Departed |

FAQs

Why did they change the cast of Law & Order?

Considering the franchise's longevity, some cast changes are inevitable each season. In the case of Mehcad Brooks specifically, the decision to leave was said to be a mutual one between Brooks and producers. For Camryn Manheim, the announcement came as a surprise shortly before the Season 23 finale, with no creative explanation offered on-screen.

Who is the longest-serving cast member of Law & Order?

Sam Waterston, the longest-serving member of the Law & Order cast, left the show partway through Season 23. The record for longest-serving cast members is: Jerry Orbach (274 episodes), S. Epatha Merkerson (390 episodes), and Sam Waterston as Jack McCoy (405 episodes). Across the entire franchise, Mariska Hargitay holds the honor of being the longest-running primetime live-action actress in television history.

Who is the newest cast member of Law & Order?

David Ajala, born May 21, 1986 in Hackney, London, is the newest series regular on the flagship Law & Order, joining in Season 25 as Detective Theo Walker. Beginning with the seventh episode of Season 25, Ajala joined the cast as Junior Detective Theo Walker.

What happened to Mehcad Brooks after leaving Law & Order?

Brooks returned to screens in Mortal Kombat II, reprising his role as Jax from the 2021 film adaptation, scheduled for release on October 24, 2025. He also picked up a recurring role on And Just Like That, Season 3, playing Marion Odin. His departure from Law & Order was described as mutual by both sides.

Is Law & Order: SVU getting a new cast for Season 27?

Yes — significantly so. Multiple outlets confirmed in May 2025 that Octavio Pisano and Juliana Aidén Martinez were leaving SVU at the end of Season 26, creating two vacancies. Season 27's cast includes Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino, Kevin Kane, Aimé Donna Kelly, and Corey Cott — a reshaped squad that still anchors around Hargitay's iconic Captain Benson.

Tuko.co.ke also highlighted facts about Mariska Hargitay’s impressive financial journey, detailing how she amassed a net worth of $100 million through her iconic role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and various other ventures. Despite her remarkable success, Hargitay faced significant challenges in her early life, losing her mother at a young age, yet persevered to become one of television’s highest-paid actresses, inspiring millions along the way.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.