Noteworthy Actors Who Took on Multiple Roles in 'Law & Order: SVU' - Including Those Who Joined the Main Cast

There have been many famous guest stars on Law & Order: SVU throughout the years. Some of them have even played multiple characters.

One example is Peter Scanavino, who first appeared as Johnny Dubcek for two episodes in season 14 back in 2013. He later landed a series regular role as Detective Dominick “Sonny” Carisi Jr. in season 16, which aired the next year.

As viewers of SVU have followed Carisi's journey from detective to assistant district attorney, he has become a beloved member of the cast.

In an exclusive interview with We in January 2024, Scanavino expressed his gratitude towards his SVU supporters, saying, "I'm honored and so thankful for the support from people who don't even know me. It means a lot to me."

Keep scrolling to see which other stars played more than one role on SVU:

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Actors Who Played Multiple Roles on ‘Law & Order: SVU’

Did you know that some actors on ‘Law & Order: SVU’ have played more than one role on the show? It's true! From minor characters to main cast members, these actors have showcased their talent in multiple roles.

Actors Who Transitioned from Minor Roles to Main Cast Members

Some actors on ‘Law & Order: SVU’ started off with minor roles before becoming main cast members. It's interesting to see how their characters evolved and how they eventually became integral parts of the show.

Many famous actors have made guest appearances on Law & Order: SVU throughout the years. Some of them have even portrayed multiple characters.

One example is Peter Scanavino, who first appeared as Johnny Dubcek in two episodes during season 14 in 2013. He later joined the cast as Detective Dominick “Sonny” Carisi Jr. in season 16, which aired the following year.

SVU fans have seen Carisi go from being a detective to an assistant district attorney, making him a beloved character on the show.

In an exclusive interview with We in January 2024, Scanavino expressed his gratitude towards his supporters on SVU. He said, "I'm honored and thankful for the support from people who don't even know me. It means a lot to me."

Keep scrolling to see which other stars played more than one role on SVU:

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Arturo Holmes/WireImage/Getty Images

Peter Scanavino

Scanavino first appeared on SVU in 2013, playing Johnny Dubcek in episodes called “Secrets Exhumed” and “Monster's Legacy” during season 14. He then came back as Carisi in the season 16 premiere in 2014.

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Kelli Giddish

In 2007, Giddish made a guest appearance as Kara Bawson in a season 8 episode of SVU called “Outsider.” Fast forward to 2011, she joined the cast as Detective Amanda Rollins and remained a series regular from season 13 to season 24. After leaving the show in 2023, Giddish made a comeback as Rollins in a guest-starring role.

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Noam Galai/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Diane Neal

During SVU season 3, Neal portrayed Amelia Chase in an episode called “Ridicule” in 2001. She later rejoined the show as ADA Casey Novak in a main role from 200 to 2008, appearing in seasons 5 through 9. She made a comeback in a recurring role in later years.

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Hayden Panettiere

The actress made two guest appearances on SVU during the show's run. Her first time was in 2001 as Ashley Austin Black in the season 2 episode called "Abuse." Her second appearance was in 2005 when she portrayed Angela Agnelli in the season 6 episode titled "Hooked."

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Christian Siriano

Sarah Hyland

Hyland made two guest appearances on SVU before gaining fame on her own. In 2001, she played Lily Ramsey in the season 3 premiere episode "Repression." Then, in 2009, during season 10, she portrayed Jennifer Banks in an episode called "Hothouse."

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: David Livingston/WireImage/Getty Images

Chandra Wilson

The Grey’s Anatomy star had two guest-starring roles in SVU. In 2002, she appeared as Nurse Jenkins in the episode "Waste" from season 4. Later in 2005, she portrayed Rachel Sorannis in a season 7 episode titled “911.”

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Sara Ramirez

Ramirez appeared as Mrs. Barrera in the episode "Baby Killer" in season 2, which first aired in 2000. They also portrayed Lisa Perez in the season 4 premiere episode "Chameleon" in 2002.

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for IMDb

Paul Wesley

Before joining The Vampire Diaries, Wesley first appeared as Danny Burrell in the season 2 premiere back in 2000. He then portrayed Luke Breslin in a 2005 episode of season 7 called "Ripped."

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Rich Fury/VF20/Getty Images for Vanity Fair

Michael K. Williams

The actor from The Wire first appeared on SVU as Double-D Gamble in the episode "Escape" in 2003. He later portrayed Victor Bodine in the season 8 episode "Underbelly" in 2006.

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

Terry Serpico

Serpico actually appeared in four episodes of SVU before taking on the role of Police Chief Tommy McGrath, a recurring role that originated in 2021.

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Paget Brewster

In the episode "Scheherazade" from season 8 of Criminal Minds, the actress played Sheila Tierney in 2007. She made a comeback in 2012, portraying ADA Paula Foster in several episodes.

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

Aaron Tveit

The Broadway star appeared as Jan Eyck in an episode called "Beef" in 2010, during season 11. He made a comeback as Stevie Harris in the episode "Personal Fouls" in season 13, which debuted in 2011.

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

Ann Dowd

Dowd made her debut as Louise Durning in season 2, appearing in the episode "Victims" in 2001. She later portrayed Sally Wilkens in the season 4 episode "Soulless," which aired in 2003.

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Paramount+

Pablo Schreiber

The actor initially appeared as Dan Kozlowski in a season 8 episode called "Haystack" in 2007. He then made multiple appearances as William Lewis in different episodes during seasons 14 and 15.

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

Zach Gilford

Chris played Kevin Wilcox in the "Contagious" episode of season 6 back in 2005. He made another appearance in the season 21 episode "The Burden of Our Choices" in 2019.

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

Bradley Whitford

Whitford made his debut in 2014 on the show in the role of Frank Maddox in the episode "Reasonable Doubt" from season 15. He later made a comeback in 2023 during season 24, playing the character Pence Humphreys in the episode "King of the Moon."

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Kelly Bishop

She played a registrar in a 2000 episode titled “Slaves" in the show’s first season. Later, Bishop returned as Julia Zimmer in two episodes in 2008 and 2009.

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Betty Buckley

Buckley appeared as Attorney Walsh in three 2006 episodes before returning as Trial Division Chief Lorraine Maxwell in a recurring capacity starting in 2021.

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Kyle MacLachlan

He first appeared as Dr. Brett Morton in the episode "Conscience" in 2004 during season 6. Later on, he made a comeback as Andrew Raines in the season 13 episode "Blood Brothers" in 2011.

Actors Who Played More Than 1 Role on Law Order SVU And Some Became Main Cast Members

Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Isiah Whitlock Jr.

In 2001, he starred as Todd Smythe in the season 2 episode titled "Paranoia.” The actor returned as Captain Reece in three episodes from 2012 to 2015.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the versatility of actors who have portrayed multiple roles on the beloved crime drama "Law & Order: SVU." Notable examples include Peter Scanavino, who transitioned from a minor character to a series regular, and Kelli Giddish, who left the show as a main cast member but later returned as a guest star. Other actors, such as Hayden Panettiere and Sarah Hyland, made guest appearances before gaining fame in their own right.

Moreover, the article acknowledges the impact these actors have on the show's dynamics. Characters like Michael K. Williams' Double-D Gamble and Terry Serpico's Chief Tommy McGrath have brought depth and complexity to the narratives. This showcase of multi-role actors not only demonstrates the talent within the industry but also adds an intriguing layer to the long-running series.