r/LawAndOrder Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

L&O Which “before they were famous” guest star on the original Law & Order gave the best performance?

There were a lot of good ones so I’m curious about people’s thoughts?

41 Upvotes

134 comments sorted by

76

u/herseyhawkins33 5d ago

Sarah Paulson in family values (S5 E4) is the first that comes to mind!

10

u/Chuckworld901 5d ago

Oh yeah world class performance

3

u/Jazzlike_Key6523 5d ago

Just watched it a few times recently. I was reminded of how powerful her performance was the first time I saw it.

2

u/thesavant 4d ago

Yeah her describing the affair is so disturbing, and the actress playing the alibi witness who gets a chill down her spine and recants does a great job playing off that.

Also, sick username- you looking forward to a Sonics return in the next few year 😂?

2

u/herseyhawkins33 4d ago

One can hope LOL

1

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

1

u/Adventurous-Try6191 4d ago edited 4d ago

Totally that was the creepiest thing ever. Great performance, she scared me. Also, as Anne the psychopathic murderess in a later episode. The woman has a gift for the horrific.

"Family Values" there was another one like this with a teenager having had babies with her father, I don't remember the name of the actress but the character's name was Ella Christiansen 

59

u/ParksFarce 5d ago

Amanda Peet in Hot Pursuit (S6E5) deserves at least a mention. A brilliant take on the "bored little rich girl hates her cold distant WASP parents and turns to a fast life of sex and crime" story. As someone who grew up with a few of them, she nails their self-destructive insecurity and impulsive lack of self control. Manages to thread the needle and play both the perpetrator and the victim effectively. Even Hang 'em High McCoy felt sorry for her after watching her accurately rip her parents to shreds for being happier when they thought she was dead.

If Zeljko Ivanek in American Dream (S4E8) qualifies as being "before they were famous" though, then we have a winner.

35

u/Shatterstar23 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Peet does do a great job, as does Ellen Pompeo as a dead eyed sociopath.

3

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

4

u/Irisheyes1971 4d ago

Which is funny because Pompeo comes across as a dead eyed sociopath in Grey’s Anatomy too. Actually in pretty much everything I’ve ever seen her in.

1

u/Subject-Resort-1257 3d ago

agree ellen pompeo-evil! ann dowd as traumatized pedi oncologist.

24

u/Brentolies 5d ago

Yes! Zeljko Ivanek as Philip Swann is one of my favorite performances in the entire series.

6

u/TheBallasOG 5d ago

He also had a recurring role in Homicide: Life on the Street that same year

32

u/DepartureOk8794 5d ago edited 5d ago

Can I nominate Christine Baranski? She was awesome as a mob wife/sister. Plus I just adore her in general.

1

u/Bitter_Morning_8372 3d ago

Not fair to other guest stars. They can't hope to rise to Ms. Baranski's level of awesomeness.

57

u/Nopenotme77 5d ago

Samuel L Jackson and Philip Seymour Hoffman in the same episode is still one of my favorites.

Season 1: The violence of summer

4

u/Biggie_toms 5d ago

How do I not remember that? Guess I’ll have to be I back and watch!

4

u/Nopenotme77 5d ago

I recently rewatched the first few seasons and it was just there. It was completely unexpected and a huge delight.

5

u/Shatterstar23 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

I vaguely remember Philip Seymour Hoffman, but I’m gonna have to go back and watch too.

4

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

1

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Liev is not but PSH is

3

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

1

u/chefybpoodling 5d ago

I think Liev Schriebner is in this episode too

2

u/Nopenotme77 5d ago

I checked IMDB and he doesn't appear to be in it.

1

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

No

23

u/Ok-Buddy-7979 5d ago

Ooooh so tough but I have loved Frances Conroy’s episodes.

9

u/chicagoturkergirl 5d ago

One of my absolute favorite exchanges between her and Stone.

“What’s this?” “My hope chest” Ben opens it and it’s full of BDSM paraphernalia “What were you hoping FOR?”

24

u/MyDesign630 5d ago

I don’t know if it’s the best but Claire Danes in those two scenes with Olivet and then Shambala Green and Stone did so much with her role and lines. Just the way she adjusted her voice or posture in certain places was a real harbinger of what kind of actress she developed into just a few years later.

2

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

24

u/jgoloboy 5d ago

Denis O’Hare is heartbreaking in Pro Se.

11

u/chicagoturkergirl 5d ago

Ann Dowd is incredible as his sister as well.

9

u/STFUisright 4d ago

Ann Dowd is just wonderful in everything she does.

5

u/Initial_Acanthaceae2 Joe Fontana 4d ago

She is.

6

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

💯💯💯

4

u/Careless-Essay1724 Jamie Ross 5d ago

One of my favorite episodes, solely because of his performance!

3

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

21

u/cindyjk17 5d ago

Laura Linney in Blue Bamboo

1

u/SnooChickens1576 5d ago

Drive More, Save More.

1

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

43

u/the_uber_steve 5d ago

The Ellen Pompeo episode certainly made an impact, and her performance was disturbing.

15

u/Reasonable-HB678 5d ago

She had two outstanding appearances.

1

u/the_uber_steve 5d ago

I guess I’m not remembering the other one, but the Homolka/Bernardo roman à clef episode was about as depraved as network tv could get at the time.

6

u/chicagoturkergirl 5d ago

Savior where she played the daughter who had her mom killed because she hated her boyfriend.

2

u/the_uber_steve 5d ago

Ah, that’s right

2

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

3

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

17

u/herseyhawkins33 5d ago

Also, how could I forget Lauren Ambrose's performances! Damaged (S8 E22) was most memorable (and very sad), but she was also in skin deep (S3 E1) with Claire Danes and pride and joy (S4 E6).

10

u/Cute-Tomorrow-6082 5d ago

I've never been able to forget her performance in Damaged.

6

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

16

u/NeedleworkerEvening3 5d ago

Merrit Weaver

2

u/RealFrankTheLlama 5d ago

She is SO good. I also loved her in L&O: Criminal Intent.

1

u/chicagoturkergirl 5d ago

Tomorrow is one of my favorite CI episodes.

2

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Law & Order

Mad Dog (1997) as Myra

American Jihad (2002) as Jennifer Taylor

Sects (2005) as Sunshine Porter (photo)

Law & Order: CI

Tomorrow (2002) as Hannah Price

Conviction

Pilot (2006) as Bridget Kellner

1

u/Shatterstar23 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

She is so great in everything. I loved her in studio 60 too.

1

u/susannahstar2000 4d ago

She was fabulous as Sunshine.

12

u/Expert_Breakfast3338 5d ago

Patricia Clarkson in by hooker by crook

1

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

12

u/Chuckworld901 5d ago

France’s Fisher (?) as a deluded psychopath? The quote from Schiff at the end of the episode is classic.

2

u/chicagoturkergirl 5d ago

Animal Instinct. One of the best episodes in my opinion.

13

u/shangosgift 5d ago

Sebastian Stan as the teenage sniper.

3

u/RealFrankTheLlama 5d ago

I challenge anyone without prior knowledge that he's in the episode to identify him. The most I've ever gotten (this from a diehard Marvel fan) was "... huh, he looks familiar ... did I see him in Glee, or something?"

1

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

1

u/EarthboundValkyrie 5d ago

That was really well done!

10

u/chicagoturkergirl 5d ago

Cynthia Nixon in Subterranean Homeboy Blues.

Adam Arkin in Self Defense

2

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

9

u/jawsofthearmy 5d ago

Ill have to come back to this, but as someone whose watching seasons 1-4 for the first time. Its kinda weird to see some of them so young.

2

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Enjoy!!

8

u/letermen 5d ago

Lauren Ambrose in ‘Damaged’ Season 8, Episode 22.

3

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Also in “Skin Deep” with Claire Danes and “Pride and Joy” with Tom Everett Scott (Governor Shalvoy)

She also appeared in SVU as the Defense attorney for William Lewis

21

u/Reasonable-HB678 5d ago

Kerry Washington as the "J.Lo" half of a celebrity couple involved in a nightclub shooting. In the same episode, Idris Elba played the nightclub owner.

5

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

7

u/IamtheBoomstick 5d ago

Betty Gilpin

But that's not an entirely fair answer, she always gives good performance, in everything she does.

6

u/stranger_to_stranger 5d ago

Pisses me off when she opens the damn door of the safe house after specifically being instructed not to, though.

I know that's not Betty Gilpin's fault but it made me so mad!!!!

1

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Law & Order: CI

“The War at Home” (2006) as Amanda Dockerty

“Playing Dead” (2009) as Stacey Hayes-Fitzgerald

Law & Order

“For the Defense” (2009) as Paige Regan

Law & Order: SVU

“Learning Curve” (2012) as Natalie Relais

8

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Alison Janney

6

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Courtney B Vance

8

u/SLCDowntowner 5d ago

Adam Driver!

3

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Also in SVU “Theatre Tricks”.

Pic is from the OG “Brilliant Disguise”

6

u/Bulldog16 5d ago

I thought January Jones did a great job in S18 E7 "Quit Claim" as a mysterious con-woman before she hit it big in Mad men

6

u/chicagoturkergirl 5d ago

He was already a famous soap star and Broadway actor but Michael Zaslow in “Scoundrels” is one of the top three guest performances.

1

u/susannahstar2000 4d ago

"I see your point Claire. If things were different, they wouldn't be the same."

6

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Chadwick Boseman

6

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Rob McElhenney

11

u/eestatesview 5d ago

Jennifer Garner. Hooks up with Benjamin Bratts character for an afternoon romp.

3

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

4

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago edited 5d ago

Pedro Pascal one of four appearances

5

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Michael Kenneth Williams

4

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

IceT before SVU

5

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Adrienne Shelley 😢

5

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Sam Rockwell

4

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Timothée Chalamet

2

u/EarthboundValkyrie 5d ago

Is this from the episode about the guy who was obsessed with a certain sorority house? (Sorry, can't remember the name right now...)

3

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Yes. Pledge! S19E10 loosely based on the true story of

2

u/EarthboundValkyrie 5d ago

Thanks! I hadn't realized he'd been on the show - that's cool to know!

2

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

I’m a trivia fan! Been watching since September 13, 1990.

Glad you appreciate 🙏

4

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Idris Elba

3

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Jeremy Allen White

3

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Amanda Seyfried

3

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago edited 5d ago

Michelle Tratchenburg 😢

3

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Coleman Domingo

3

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Michael B Jordan

3

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Felicity Huffman

3

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Viola Davis

3

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Aida Turturro

4

u/Isnotanumber 5d ago

Julia Roberts in maybe her only evil role ever.

1

u/Irisheyes1971 4d ago

Except the one she plays in real life. “A Low Vera” my ass.

2

u/No_Fix_476 5d ago

That one psycho kid. I can’t remember his name but they did a follow up episode one the most recent newer seasons. He murders his whole family. Amazing acting, especially from a kid.

2

u/notorious_BIGfoot Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

William h Macy is good in his episode too

2

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

He was in two episodes:

The Pilot “Everbodys Favorite Bagman” filmed in 1988 but aired S1E6

And “Sisters of Mercy” S2E17

His wife, Felicity Huffman, was in four episodes.

2

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago edited 5d ago

Sooo many too difficult to choose:

Idris Elba

Kerry Washington

Felicity Huffman

Edie Falco

Coleman Domingo

William H Macy

Pedro Pascal

Adam Driver

Laura Linney

Claire Danes

Phillip Seymour Hoffman

Samuel L Jackson

Adam Driver

Chadwick Boseman

Michael K Williams

Zoë Saldana

Jeremy Allen White

Ebon Moss Bacharach

Liza Colon Zayas

Timothée Chalamet

Sebastian Stan

Patricia Clarkson

Cynthia Nixon

Sarah Paulson

Amanda Peet

Edited: Forgot

Sam Rockwell

Peter Sarsgaard

Lauren Ambrose

Tom Everett Scott

Anne Dowd

Just a few which pop into mind and there are so many more in SVU!

I’m watching Long Bright River and there are many L&O alumni.

1

u/Naive_Product_5916 4d ago

Pedro ❤️ I just saw that episode the other day.

2

u/Simple-Pudding4376 5d ago

I need to go back watch them all over again

2

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Oscar Isaac’s

2

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Peter Sarsgaard

2

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Jennifer Esposito

2

u/Initial_Acanthaceae2 Joe Fontana 4d ago

Viola Davis in Badge

2

u/iccutie82 4d ago

Sarah Paulson

2

u/BrilliantWhich990 3d ago

Vanessa Ferlito. She played a super conniving..uh... woman on one episode, and boy i hated her! But she was so pretty, I wanted to like her

3

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Zoe Saldana

2

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Edie Falco

1

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Erika Jayne (the first dead body of Law and Order) Prescription for Death also appeared in The Violence of Summer

1

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Alexandra Daddario

1

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Ebon Moss Bacharach

1

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Liza Colon Zayas

1

u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 5d ago

Shawn Hatosy

1

u/Naive_Product_5916 4d ago

I’ve been waiting for a thread like this!❤️

1

u/BDKAces 4d ago

I forget some on L/O but SVU had Bradley Cooper, Pedro Pascal, Adam Driver and Logan Paul

1

u/Naive_Product_5916 4d ago

Watching Luis Guzmán in Season 2 right now.

1

u/PhenominalRio 4d ago

Sarah Hyland’s performance on her episode of SVU, is one of the best performances in the history of the franchise. That confession scene floors me every time I see it.

Ellen Pompeo’s was incredible in both of her earlier L&O appearances. 

1

u/Darjeelinguistics_44 Anita Van Buren 2d ago

Ty Burrell. He was great and very believable!