The show has had several cast changes throughout its run, and more are happening. Reid Scott will be departing for Season 26.
Scott is leaving his role as Senior Detective Vincent Riley on the show after three seasons. He decided to leave because being away from his family for much of the year has been difficult. He’s already filming his final episodes to give his character a proper send-off.
Law & Order’s Revolving Door of Castmates
Scott is the most recent actor to leave the show in the past several years. Before Season 25, Mehcad Brooks left his role as Jalen Shaw after being with the series for four seasons. Unlike Scott, Brooks’ departure wasn’t given a specific storyline; fans later learned through other characters that he had transferred to a different police precinct. David Ajala then joined the cast as Theo Walker.
In 2024, the TV show Law & Order said farewell to Sam Waterston, who had played District Attorney Jack McCoy for a remarkable 405 episodes. Waterston’s departure came during the show’s 23rd season, just before its 500th episode, and his character was replaced by DA Nicholas Baxter. He had been with the show since Season 5, making him its longest-running character.
Several cast members have come and gone from the show since 2022. Currently, Hugh Dancy, Odelya Halevi, Goldwyn, Maura Tierney, and Ajala are all anticipated to be back for Season 26.
Who Will Be Replacing Reid Scott?
Following Reid Scott’s departure from Law & Order, James Badge Dale is joining the cast as a new Senior Detective. While it’s unknown exactly when he’ll first appear on the show, more information about his debut and character will probably be revealed soon.
Dale is an actor most recognized for his parts in several popular projects. He played Chase Edmunds on 24, Robert Lecki in The Pacific, Trooper Barrigan in The Departed, and Eric Savin in Iron Man 3. He’s also appeared in films like 13 Hours and The Grey, as well as the TV series Hightown and Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy. Earlier in his career, he was on Law & Order: SVU during its third season in 2002, playing a character named Danny Jordan.
Dale comes from a talented family – his mother was Broadway legend Anita Rose Morris, and his father is actor, dancer, and director Grover Dale. Adding to his artistic background, he married actress Emily Wickersham (known for her role on NCIS) in 2024, and they have two children together.
The new season begins Thursday, October 8th at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on NBC. You can watch the first twenty seasons anytime on Hulu, and seasons 21 through 24 are available on Netflix. For seasons 13-20 and the latest, season 25, check out Peacock.
2026-07-23 20:38