Before he rose to fame in Shameless and later with The Bear, Law & Order. Created by Dick Wolf, Law & Order is a police procedural and legal drama TV show that premiered on NBC in 1990. The success of Law & Order led to the launch of a franchise, and though it ended its first run in 2010 after 20 seasons, Law & Order was revived in 2021 for a 21st season. At the time of writing, Law & Order has been renewed for a 25th season.

The episodes of Law & Order have a two-part format, with the first part covering the investigation of a crime and the apprehension of the suspect. The second half of each episode is all about the legal and courtroom proceedings. Over the years, Law & Order has served as the launching pad for the careers of many actors, among them Jeremy Allen White, who played not just one character but two, both different and in different capacities.

Jeremy Allen White Played Jeremy, Who Discovers The Dead Body In Law & Order's "Melting Pot" Episode

“Melting Pot” Is Law & Order Season 17’s Episode 15

Jeremy Allen White’s career on TV began in 2006 in one episode of the legal drama Conviction, and the following year, he made his first appearance in Law & Order. White’s Law & Order debut was in season 17’s 15th episode, “Melting Pot”, where he had a very brief appearance at the beginning. The episode revolves around the discovery of the dead body of an actress in her apartment. Her death is initially believed to be a suicide, but the team is convinced there’s a lot more behind her death waiting to be revealed.

Jeremy Allen White was 16 years old when he first appeared in Law & Order.

In this episode, Jeremy Allen White played Jeremy, a college student playing strip chess with his date, when he suddenly notices the dead body of the actress from a neighboring window. He and his date notify the authorities, and the rest of the episode continues without White showing up again. Luckily, White had a bigger role when he returned to Law & Order the following year.

White's Role As Andy Steel In "Driven" Was Significantly Larger Than His First Appearance

“Driven” Is Law & Order Season 18’s Episode 5

Jeremy Allen White returned to the world of Law & Order in season 18’s fifth episode as a different character. The episode, titled “Driven”, follows the investigation of the murders of a white teenager named David and a young Black girl named Tanya. The investigation gets complicated when everyone refuses to talk, but it takes a turn when the team learns that one of the victims had an altercation with someone in the neighborhood earlier that day.

White played Andy, David’s best friend, who was there when he was killed, thus becoming a key witness. The case takes a disturbing turn when the investigation reveals that Andy and his mother had a bigger role in David and Tanya’s deaths than it initially seemed. Thanks to this, White had a larger role in “Driven” than he had in “Melting Pot”, and with that a bigger chance to show his acting skills.

However, this wasn’t White’s last visit to the Law & Order franchise, as he returned in one episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2010. In season 11’s episode 21, “Torch”, White played Michael Parisi, a young pyromaniac accused of sexual assault and the main suspect in the murder of two young girls who were left to die in a burning house.

Other Famous Actors Who Have Played Multiple Law & Order Characters

Law & Order Has Brought Back Actors In Different Roles

The Law & Order franchise has seen various actors playing different characters, both on the original show and across its different spinoffs. Some of the most notable ones are Ellen Pompeo, who appeared in Law & Order season 6 and season 10. Years before Succession, J. Smith-Cameron appeared in four episodes of Law & Order and had guest spots on SVU and Criminal Intent. David Harbour appeared in one episode of Law & Order season 10 and returned in season 18, as did Allison Janney, who appeared in season 2 and season 4.

Other actors who have made multiple appearances in the Law & Order franchise, although not in the main show, are Sarah Hyland, Hayden Panettiere, Ty Burrell, Pedro Pascal, Chandra Wilson, and Paul Wesley. The Law & Order franchise continues to give a chance to young actors, and it’s such a vast world that they can return as different characters without messing with continuity.