# Best Law & Order Guest Stars **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 16, 2005, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490 "2005-06-16T04:18:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/21 "2005-06-16T21:35:28Z")
> [@Indyellen](#): > > This is the episode which generated, IMHO, one of the most chilling guest shots ever: Elizabeth Hanly Rice as the mother whose baby was “kidnapped” while she was at confession. The scene where she retraces her steps with Curtis was just AMAZING. > > In the returning defense lawyer area, I’d have to say Dennis Boutsikaris is my third favorite (after Tovah & Lorraine) playing TWO DIFFERENT defense attorneys at various times. > > And in the recurring character category, Leslie Hendrix as Dr. Rodgers the ME…she went toe-to-toe with anybody, including Lennie, and held her ground. > > Oh, and I almost forgot: Marcia Jean Kurtz as Carla Lowenstein in two episodes. “Indifference” (the first one) was the best, but keeping her as the same character in “Fixed” in this latest season was GREAT continuity. And who can forget the previously mentioned David Groh as Carla’s abusive husband? ---
**Author:** ![Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ass_For_A_Hat)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/22 "2005-06-17T01:53:54Z")
My favorite was Zeljko Ivanek as Phillip Swann. Acting as his own jailhouse lawyer, Swann gets his conviction overturned and then goes after Stone. I also really liked Chris Cooper as the Klan lawyer. I like him in about everything though. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/23 "2005-06-17T04:28:59Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > My first thought was Hallee Hirsh, who played a very young psychopath in “Killerz”. She was the one who convinced her older friend to help her murder a young boy. Word. Especially that bit when Skoda (Skodaaaa!) yells at her to see if she’ll react, and she just shrugs, totally unaffected. > [@](#): > > I can’t believe no one has mentioned Larry Miller as comedy club owner Michael Dobson – so good when he killed his first wife (in “Coma”) that they brought him back to kill his second wife in “Encore”. Personal favourite, too. He’s just so ridiculously unfunny, I always stay up to watch either of these too. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/24 "2005-06-17T16:13:47Z")
Another favorite:[ul] [li]Comedian Adam Ferrara as the child-molesting comic–with a cameo by the aforementioned Larry Miller–this time playing himself (I think). [/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/25 "2005-06-17T17:44:16Z")
S. Epatha Merkerson before becoming the Leut. was a mother whose child was killed, who worked cleaning at a hospital. Remarkable for the scene where they came to tell her her children were dead. Season 1 episode 17 “Mushrooms” ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/26 "2005-06-17T19:48:00Z")
> [@want2know](#): > > and one whose name and character escapes me; he was a short little shmendrick who turned out to be a brilliant defender (appeared in at least 2 episodes) You’re probably thinking of [George Grizzard](http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0342732/) as Stone’s nemesis Arthur Gold. He still shows up, but he doesn’t get under McCoy’s skin the same way. > [@Indyellen](#): > > Oh, and I almost forgot: Marcia Jean Kurtz as Carla Lowenstein in two episodes. “Indifference” (the first one) was the best, but keeping her as the same character in “Fixed” in this latest season was GREAT continuity. Wow. I haven’t watched L&O since Elizabeth Rohm made me scream obscenities at the set; would someone care to spoil this episode for me? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/27 "2005-06-17T19:59:57Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > S. Epatha Merkerson before becoming the Leut. was a mother whose child was killed, who worked cleaning at a hospital. Remarkable for the scene where they came to tell her her children were dead. Season 1 episode 17 “Mushrooms” On that note, what about Jerry Orbach playing a defense attourney during the first season? Or the time the guy who played Skoda was a white supremacist behind a subway bombing on the first crossover with _Homicide_? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/28 "2005-06-17T20:25:21Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Or the time the guy who played Skoda was a white supremacist behind a subway bombing on the first crossover with _Homicide_? Hmmm? The character who gas-bombed a New York subway (and attracted the interest of three _Homicide_ characters who were investigating a similar attack on a Baltimore church) was Brian Egan, played by Kevin Geer (“Charm City”). JK (“Skoda”) Simmons has an earlier appearance in a racially-charged episode (“Sanctuary”, in which a Jewish man panics after running over a back child, eventually touching off riots), but offhand I don’t recall in what capacity. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/29 "2005-06-17T20:34:37Z")
If Special Victims Unit counts, I liked Martin Shorts performance recently. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/30 "2005-06-17T20:54:47Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > (Re: 2nd Lowenstein episode) > Wow. I haven’t watched L&O since Elizabeth Rohm made me scream obscenities at the set; would someone care to spoil this episode for me? You’re in luck, according to NBC’s website it’s airing again next Wednesday (6/22/05) at 10pm. If you still want it spoiled: Papa Lowenstein gets released from prison (on parole, IIRC) and is run over intentionally. Mama Lowenstein (who divorced him) is one of the people questioned. As far as spoiling “whodunnit” I simply don’t remember. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/31 "2005-06-18T03:23:33Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Hmmm? The character who gas-bombed a New York subway (and attracted the interest of three _Homicide_ characters who were investigating a similar attack on a Baltimore church) was Brian Egan, played by Kevin Geer (“Charm City”). JK (“Skoda”) Simmons has an earlier appearance in a racially-charged episode (“Sanctuary”, in which a Jewish man panics after running over a back child, eventually touching off riots), but offhand I don’t recall in what capacity. Really? I could have sworn it was Simmons? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/32 "2005-06-18T03:41:13Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Really? I could have sworn it was Simmons? Nope. Possibly you’re conflating Skoda with Simmons’ white-supremacist character of Vern Shillinger on the prison drama _Oz_. Simmons also played an ultra-liberal in _The Ladykillers_ (2004) and he seemed almost bipolar in the _Spider-Man_ movies. I like JK. He’s got range. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/33 "2005-06-18T17:25:16Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Nope. Possibly you’re conflating Skoda with Simmons’ white-supremacist character of Vern Shillinger on the prison drama _Oz_. > > Simmons also played an ultra-liberal in _The Ladykillers_ (2004) and he seemed almost bipolar in the _Spider-Man_ movies. I like JK. He’s got range. And he’s now in the new TNT series _The Closer_, with Kyra Sedgewick. I watched the first episode last week and thought it was pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/34 "2005-06-18T17:38:54Z")
I liked Episode 1:14 “The Violence of Summer,” in which two bad guys were played by Gil Bellows (probably best known for _Ally McBeal_) and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. They were appropriately psycho, especially in the opening courtroom scene. I also liked Chris Cooper as the white supremacist lawyer. But, like **Ass for a Hat** , i think Cooper is great in just about everything he does. And S. Epatha Merkerson in her guest role as the mother of a murdered baby was amazing. Also, like **want2know** , i’m a big fan of Tovah Feldshuh in her recurring role as Danielle Melnick. Just this week, TNT played Episode 13:7 “Open Season,” where Melnick inadvertantly helps her client facilitate the murder of a judge. Feldshuh is great in this one. I had always thought that this was Melnick’s exit from the show, but it seems, according to IMDB, that she appeared the follopwing season in Episode 14:14 “City Hall.” ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/35 "2005-06-18T19:46:29Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > You’re probably thinking of [George Grizzard](http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0342732/) as Stone’s nemesis Arthur Gold. He still shows up, but he doesn’t get under McCoy’s skin the same way. > Wow. I haven’t watched L&O since Elizabeth Rohm made me scream obscenities at the set; would someone care to spoil this episode for me? No, although I like the Arthur Gold character too. This was a short, much younger man. ---
**Author:** ![zippyh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/839c29/32.png) [@zippyh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zippyh)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/36 "2005-06-18T19:57:49Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Hmmm? The character who gas-bombed a New York subway (and attracted the interest of three _Homicide_ characters who were investigating a similar attack on a Baltimore church) was Brian Egan, played by Kevin Geer (“Charm City”). JK (“Skoda”) Simmons has an earlier appearance in a racially-charged episode (“Sanctuary”, in which a Jewish man panics after running over a back child, eventually touching off riots), but offhand I don’t recall in what capacity. Simmons played the guy (Col. Rausch) who told the Egan character to do the gas-bomb attack. It was actually a Homicide episode (For God and Country) that was the second part of a L&O/Homicide crossover. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/37 "2005-06-18T22:06:45Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I had always thought that this was Melnick’s exit from the show, but it seems, according to IMDB, that she appeared the follopwing season in Episode 14:14 “City Hall.” Yep. She appeared to still be disabled somewhat from the attack, but she was as determined as ever - that particular defendant was accused of shooting someone or an attack on a lawyer (I don’t remember which), so Jack at first questioned why she took that client. She, of course, wouldn’t let her bad experience get in the way of the best defense for her client. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/38 "2005-06-18T23:07:38Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Yep. She appeared to still be disabled somewhat from the attack, but she was as determined as ever - that particular defendant was accused of shooting someone or an attack on a lawyer (I don’t remember which), so Jack at first questioned why she took that client. She, of course, wouldn’t let her bad experience get in the way of the best defense for her client. Now that you describe it, i think i remember seeing that episode. She was walking with a cane, i think? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/39 "2005-06-19T02:06:35Z")
[Jenna Stern](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0827735/). Most memorable (to me, at least) as ADA Ricci in “Refuge: Part 1.” ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490/40 "2005-06-19T15:33:39Z")
> [@zippyh](#): > > Simmons played the guy (Col. Rausch) who told the Egan character to do the gas-bomb attack. It was actually a Homicide episode (For God and Country) that was the second part of a L&O/Homicide crossover. Fair enough. I was never as regular a watcher of _Homicide_ as I was of _L&O_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-guest-stars/308490.md?page=3)