I gotsta limit my answers to the original series. I promise that these are all from memory.
• Name the three future regular cast members who played different characters in earlier episodes.
Jerry Orbach. S. Epatha Merkerson. Does Skoda count?
• Name the three regular cast members who have returned as the same character in guest spots after they left the show.
Richard Brooks. Carey Lowell. Dann Florek. Chris Noth (does that movie count?)
• List the regular cast members whose characters were killed off.
Jill Hennessey. George Dzunda.
• What is the profession of Jack McCoy’s father?
Cop
• What is the profession of Claire Kincaid’s father?
• What is the profession of Jamie Ross’ ex-husband?
Slimy defense atty.
• Where did Abbie Carmichael get her Law degree?
Texas?
• What does Jack McCoy drive?
Harley, sometimes.
• Why did Ben Stone resign?
Cuz he got C.J. iced by the Russian mob. He’s clear as a bell though.
• List the regular cast members who are recovering alcoholics.
Lenny. Hmmm…are there more?
• Which former regular cast member won two Oscars?
• Which regular cast member appeared in The X-Files? Bonus points if you can name the episode.
An additional guest star that became a regular cast member–Courtney Vance (ADA on Criminal Intent). He played a Wall Street up-and-comer accused of killing his boss.
I think the Oz question is still unanswered. Chris Meloni and J.K. Simmons were on Oz.
And the X-Files one: Jesse L. Martin played a baseball player who was really an alien. I don’t know the title of the episode, but I do know that it was the one that David Duchovny wrote.
That is the one I was thinking of. (If Richard Belzer was on the X-Files I was unaware of it). Although now I’m just remembering that BD Wong was in an X-Files episode - the one with the Chinese lottery where they find a guy with a frog in his chest.
Two more: BD Wong, (Father Ray), and Dean Winters (Ryan O’Reilly) - he was a Detective in the first season of SVU, replaced by Ice-T.
I’m completely guessing, but is it the goofy-looking guy who played the LA ADA in the three-part LA episode, and also the kinda dumb husband who realized his wife was killing their babies for attention? (“You’re a good person. I just don’t know why you do this.”)
Well harrumph, the IMDB says he was in a certain episode yet I can’t find one by that name on an episode guide. So who knows. Perhaps the aliens stole that one.
Nope, Richard Belzer (as Det. Munch) was in an X-Files episode primarily featuring the Lone Gunmen in Baltimore. The exact title escapes me, but it was shot during the filming of the X-Files movie and therefore featured only a cameo by Duchovny as Mulder.
GB4: This probably isn’t what you were looking for (because I know Joe Piscopo, for example, is probably a “right” answer, and you say guest starring), but Ana Gasteyer appeared in one ep as a social worker.
She’s a Judge. I don’t remember her character’s name (Lisa?)
Darryl Hammond was a drug dealer in one episode. Also, Martin Short was in a recent episode of SVU as a creepy “psychic” - he was actually pretty damn good.
D1: How did Max Greevey’s killer convince Robinette that Logan forced his confession?