Law & Order: SVUis best known (and loved) for the iconic duo of Benson and Stabler.Mariska HargitayandChristopher Melonihave crafted their characters with such grace, compassion and sincerity that the show has outlasted even the originalLaw & Orderseries. However, the show is so much more than just two of the best detectives on TV. On the air since 1999, the episodic format of the show has meant all the goodSVUdetectives have caught a lot of bad guys, and found justice for a lot of victims as well.
These characters may not all be as memorable as our main cast, so here is a reminder of some of the actors who cut their teeth onSVUbefore becoming famous and iconic in their own right. Dun Dun
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Adam Driver
Before feeling the force and becoming Kylo Ren,Adam Driverhad a small role in theSVUepisode, “Theatre Tricks.” He plays Jason Roberts — I.T. Specialist, stalker, and potential rapist. We can see some of Driver’s trademark darkness and intensity in his small role, as well as his penchant for naturalistic dialogue. He would hone these skills the same year in his breakout role inGirls, before eventually going on to receive two Oscar nominations and working with an array of famous directors. This episode in Season 13 ofSVUwas actually his second foray into theLaw & Orderworld, having had a small role in the original series two years earlier.
Rooney Mara
In just her second screen credit,Rooney Marastars in the Season 7 episode, “Fat.” This episode was so early in her career she was credited as Tricia Mara. Eventually she would refine her stage name to Rooney — her middle name. While she would eventually becomeThe Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, receive two Oscar nominations, and have a child withJoaquin Phoenix, her start as victim and bully Jessica DeLay was not a great signifier of the actress she was to become. The episode isbetter knownfor the plotline where Benson is moved to a different unit for the crime committed against Jessica. However, we can already see that Mara was drawn to complicated characters with complex motivations, something she has now become known for. Her older sisterKate Maraalso guest-starred onSVUearly in her career during the show’s second season.
Bradley Cooper
As a bona fide movie star with nine Oscar nominations under his belt, it is hard to imagineBradley Coopertaking a bit part on the small screen. Given his long run of hit films, it is no surprise that his impeccable taste began early, choosing to start his career in one of most loved episodes ofSVU: “Night.” Also guest starringAngela LansburyandAlfred Molina,the episode focused on a serial rapist who targets illegal immigrants. Cooper plays a charming lawyer, showing early signs of the movie star he was to become.
Zoe Saldana
Now best known for her roles in fantasy franchises likeStar Trek,Guardians of the Galaxy, andAvatar,Zoe Saldanahad early roles in bothLaw & OrderandSVU. She plays a loving daughter of a heroin addict and murder suspect in her Season 5 episode, “Criminal.” While she initially is an antagonist to our beloved Captain Cragen, suing him for $12 million dollars over the mishandling of her father’s case, her character eventually turns to theSVUteam for help when her father threatens suicide.
Logan Paul
Before he was a YouTube sensation, Logan Paul was trying more traditional routes to fame. His first professional gig as an actor was in theSVUepisode “Intimidation Game” in Season 16. The episode focused on misogyny in the gaming world, with Paul’s character being a perpetrator of video-game like violence in the real world. As his content gained popularity Paul has steered away from acting in many other roles and concentrated instead on his social media fame.
Elle Fanning
Playing a young child abuse victim who is discovered in a van that has been driven into the river, Fanning captured our hearts as a seemingly innocent victim of a terrible crime. Elle’s character Eden plays a significant role in the larger plot of the show, as her manipulation and subsequent attempt to murder Detective Beck (played byConnie Nielsen) led to the character’s permanent departure from the show. Only 8 when the episode premiered, it was clear the young star had turned in a noteworthy performance amongst veterans of the industry.
Jon Bernthal
Now one of the hardest working and most interesting actors in Hollywood, it’s hard to escape the ubiquitous star these days. Pursuing roles on both the big and small screens,Jon Bernthalis a character actor of the finest caliber, so perhaps it is no surprise that one of his earliest roles was onSVU. Bernthal’s episode revolves around two Marines who attack their wives due to medication given to them by the military. Despite being best known for playing a violent ex-soldier inThe Punisher, Bernthal shows his range early here playing a quick-witted reporter.
Sarah Hyland
Prior to becoming a TV mainstay inModern Family,Sarah Hylandguest-starred inSVUnot once, but twice! A rare feat only possible because she started acting so young, starring in her first episode — Season 3’s “Repression” — when she was just 10. Hyland had grown up by the time she took another role in the show, also starring in the Season 10 episode, “Hothouse,” where she plays a student who has a psychotic breakdown and murders her roommate. It’s hard to imagine the doe-eyed Dunphy sibling we know and love taking such a dark turn. OtherModern Familyalum have also guest starred early in their careers, includingTy Burrell,Ariel Winters, andJulie Bowen.
Abigail Breslin
After winning our hearts with her breakout debut performance inM. Night Shyamalan’sSigns,Abigail Breslincontinued to work in small roles until her standout role inLittle Miss Sunshine. One of these smaller roles was playing 6-year-old Patty Branson in the Season 5 episode, “Birthright.” Showing maturity beyond her years playing a victim of an attempted abduction, Breslin shines as the centerpiece of a complicated storyline surrounding the custodial rights of the biological versus the birth parents in cases of fertility issues.
Ian Somerhalder
While now a staple of the small screen thanks to his smouldering performance inThe Vampire Diaries, as well as roles inLostandSmallville,Ian Somerhalderwas relatively unknown when he starred in the Season 4 episode “Dominance.” He used his icy blue eyes to chilling effect playing a psychopath guilty of raping his younger brother and beating his father. He was not the only Salvatore brother to guest-star inSVUbefore hitting the big time.Paul Wesleyalso guest-starred in two episodes of SVU: Season 2’s “Wrong is Right” and Season 7’s “Ripped.”
