The show has been on TV since 1999, so it’s no surprise that some of the best guest appearances from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit feature huge names. The show follows a team of New York detectives who specialize in investigating and prosecuting sex crimes. The series’ lineup has changed considerably since it first debuted, but the formula remains largely the same. Law & Order: SVU also hasn’t slowed down with its nonstop churn of guest appearances and celebrity cameos.
Last & Order: SVU is gearing up for season 25, and it recently passed the 500-episode milestone. Each week brings a new raft of victims, witnesses, and suspects, so there are always plenty of fresh faces to accompany the regulars. Many of the actors who had small parts in SVU later went on to achieve huge success, winning awards and heading major franchises. Other times, a celebrity cameo was just as confusing when it aired as it is now looking back on it.
10 Amanda Seyfried Played A Victim
Law & Order: SVU season 6, episode 5
Around the same time Amanda Seyfried appeared as Karen Smith in Mean Girls, she portrayed a rape victim in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Her guest appearance was in Law & Order: SVU season 6, episode 5, “Outcry.” Seyfried played Tandi McCain, whose case sparked a media frenzy.
SVU wasn’t the only TV drama Seyfried showed up in. She also made single-episode appearances in House and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation before breaking into movies. Today, Seyfried is best known for movies such as Les Misérables and Mamma Mia! She recently returned to TV for her portrayal of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes in The Dropout.
9 David Harbour Was A Kidnapper In SVU
Law & Order: SVU season 4, episode 7
Stranger Things star David Harbour played a tormented kidnapper on SVU long before he became Chief Jim Hopper. In Law & Order: SVU season 4, episode 7, “Dolls,” Harbour played a serial child kidnapper who would soothe his victims with his collection of vintage dolls.
Harbour showed flashes of his incredible talent, and his character’s eventual breakdown revealed a tragic past. The cruelty of the character’s crimes and the supposed generosity of his motivations made this one of Law & Order: SVU’s saddest episodes. Harbour also appeared in different roles in Law & Order: Criminal Intent and the original Law & Order.
8 Pedro Pascal Played Special Agent Greer
Law & Order: SVU season 12, episode 24
In Law & Order: SVU season 12, episode 24, Pedro Pascal played Special Agent Greer, a corrupt ATF agent who was arrested for selling a gun that ended up being used as a murder weapon. Pascal’s best movies and TV shows, including Narcos and The Mandalorian, showcase his ability to mix charm with a ruthless streak. He also managed this with Special Agent Greer. His on-screen death at the end of the episode was overshadowed by the shooting of fan-favorite character Sister Peg. Like Harbour, Pascal also had roles in two other shows under the Law & Order umbrella.
7 Adam Driver Was A Suspect In SVU
Law & Order: SVU season 13, episode 11
Adam Driver manages to bring depth and intensity to even the smallest of roles. He was one of the rare guest stars on Law & Order: SVU who was notable not just for the fame he would go on to achieve, but for his quietly convincing performance on the show. In Law & Order: SVU season 13, Episode 11, “Theater Tricks,” Driver played Jason Roberts, a socially awkward computer geek who became a suspect in a rape investigation after he was discovered to have been stalking the victim. The episode also featured Fisher Stevens, who recently directed Netflix’s Beckham documentary.
6 Ludacris Played A Murderer In SVU
Law & Order: SVU season 7, episode and season 8, episode 22
Chris “Ludacris” Bridges is no stranger to the big screen. His best known role is Tej, a source of comic relief in the Fast and Furious franchise, which he has sustained for nine movies. Before joining the family with Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, his role as a young criminal in Crash set him apart as one of the best rappers-turned-actors in Hollywood.
The “Area Codes” rapper played Darius Parker in two episodes of Law & Order: SVU, a relative of Fin who committed two murders after finding out that he’d been lied to his entire life. Ice-T and Ludacris were not the only rappers to have starred in SVU. Snoop Dogg also made a cameo in season 20.
5 Bradley Cooper Portrayed A Sleazy Attorney
Law & Order: SVU season 6, episode 20
Long before he starred alongside Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis in The Hangover, Bradley Cooper appeared as a sleazy attorney in Law & Order: SVU, and his fingerprints were found at a crime scene. Cooper was convincingly underhanded, but the episode also featured two other surprising guest appearances.
Alfred Molina, who played Dr. Octavius in Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man movies, featured as Cooper’s client at the center of the investigation. Angela Lansbury also played Molina’s character’s mother, though she might have been more comfortable assisting the investigation thanks to her long-running detective show Murder, She Wrote.
4 Jennette McCurdy Played An Abuse Victim
Law & Order: SVU season 6, episode 11
Jennette McCurdy provided one of the most outstanding performances from a child actor as Holly in Law and Order: SVU season 6, episode 11, “Contagious.” The episode delved into the complex trauma of survivors of childhood abuse. It was a lot for McCurdy to deal with, but there was an incredible sense of authenticity to her approach.
Nickelodeon’s iCarly would propel McCurdy to teenage stardom just two years after her appearance in SVU, but the show’s goofy charm would exclude her from exercising her talents as a dramatic actor. McCurdy recently published a memoir about her experiences as a child actor, and she’s taken an extended hiatus since 2018.
3 Martin Short Showed A Sinister Side
Law & Order: SVU season 6, episode 18
If Benson and Stabler were assigned to a case, it was usually not the right time for a few laughs. Martin Short is best known as a comedian and impressionist, but his guest appearance on Law & Order: SVU showed a far more sinister side, as he played a phony psychic responsible for kidnapping and murdering women.
Short’s reputation as a madcap comedian added an extra layer to his chilling performance in Law & Order:SVU season 6, episode 18, “Pure.” The Only Murders in the Building star was expected to bring the laughs, so it was deeply unsettling to see him in action as a calculated and manipulative murderer.
2 Robin Williams Played A Compelling Antagonist
Law & Order: SVU season 9, episode 17
Another beloved comedian who took on a darker role for Law and Order: SVU, Robin Williams played an anti-authoritarian anarchist in season 9, episode 17 “Authority.” Williams displayed his famous talent for voice work, as his character Merritt Rook provided his own alibis over the phone. However, this was far from Mrs. Doubtfire, as Rook psychologically tortured people into committing horrific crimes.
Williams’ affable charm made him a pretty compelling villain, typified by his playful behavior when he represented himself in court. Rook could have been a fantastic recurring character, as he made a compelling antagonist to both ADA Novak and the detectives.
1 Serena Williams Played A College Athlete
Law & Order: SVU season 5, episode 12
She only appeared in one scene, but 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams was by far the most surprising star to have a cameo in Law & Order: SVU. The tennis legend played a college athlete in Law & Order: SVU season 5, episode 12, “Brotherhood.”
It was pretty strange to see Williams holding a basketball instead of a tennis racquet while Stabler and Benson questioned her about her experiences with a nefarious fraternity on campus. Williams’ first acting credit was on The Simpsons in 2001, and she has played heightened versions of herself in many projects, including Glass Onion and Ocean’s Eight. However, she rarely plays completely fictional characters like she did in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
