Since the onset of network television, one of the most popular and long-lasting genres has been the police procedural. Whether it’sLaw & Order: SVUorNYPD Blue, police procedurals have defined the way we consume television, and have spawned multiple major stars from its incarnations, some of whom have defined their careers in the roles.
With a multitude of actors and actresses who have spanned the genre, there are a few who have etched their careers in the roles. We’re looking back on ten fantastic actors and actresses who made their mark in their roles on cop shows, and who stand out as the best in their class.
10Michael Chiklis
The Commish
Before his unparalleled performance as the crooked Vic Mackey onThe Shield, Michael Chiklis played a different kind of cop. For five seasons, Chiklis played Tony Scali inThe Commish, a former NYPD detective who moves to a small town as their new commissioner while also navigating his family life.
Chiklis’ performance was praised by critics, and the show was heralded for tackling tough topics that set the tone and tenor for shows like NYPD Blue to address when it debuted two years later. Chiklis, in the police role, took a very dark turn as Vic Mackey, but as Tony Scali, he was flawless.
9Richard Belzer
Law & Order: SVU | Homicide: Life on the Street
Perhaps no one defined a character as singularly as thelate, great Richard Belzerin his role as Det. John Munch. Through almost three decades and almost a dozen different television shows, BelzerwasMunch; the wise-cracking conspiracy theorist detective who was an integral part of both his homicide years and his years withLaw & Order: SVU.
It’s impossible to imagine what the success ofSVUwould have looked like without Richard Belzer’s sarcastic levity to such a dark world, but he certainly brought his best every time. Richard Belzer was one of the best, and will always be viewed as one of the best to ever do it on every cop show he appeared on.
8S. Epatha Merkerson
Law & Order
S. Epatha Merkerson, as Lt. Anita Van Buren, was a trailblazer in the hallowed walls of theLaw & Orderfranchise. As the no-nonsense Lieutenant responsible for the oversight of Det. Lenny Briscoe (Jerry Orbach), Det. Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and a list of other names, Van Buren was the glue that held the precinct together for 17 seasons.
What sets Markerson as a leader in this field, outside her longevity, was her presence as a woman of color in a position of power at a time when it was rare to see on television, let alone a police procedural. A trend-setter, we’d love to see her return toLaw & Ordersoon.
7Tony Shalhoub
Monk
A unique spin on the classic police procedural, Tony Shalhoub embodied Det. Adrian Monk, a former detective hellbent on solving the murder of his wife and who concurrently struggled with a severe case of OCD. Throughout eight seasons,Monkworks to solve cases while navigating his struggles, for better or for worse.
Shalhoub found his career-defining role in Adrian Monk, and brought a fresh look to the police procedural through the lens of someone struggling with a debilitating disability. Shalhoub’s presence was echoed in his subdued but intense performance as a complicated widower, and this energy graced him with a place on this list.
6Peter Falk
Columbo
Without Peter Falk, the modern police procedural process would not exist, as his performance as Lt. Columbo is one of the most meek and exceptional. Quiet, observant, and oftentimes appearing bumbling, no one saw it coming whenColumbosolved the case with his classic “just one more thing” hook.
Falk’s performance was what madeColumbomust-see television, and among the most popular and revered shows of its time. His sharpness and unassuming processes made Peter Falk the bar for all cop show actors after him, and made his contemporaries work twice as hard to be half as good.
5Jerry Orbach
The face ofLaw & Ordereven after his passing, the late Jerry Orbach portrayed Det. Lenny Briscoe for 12 seasons, leading the major murder cases of the show throughout its early years. Unabashed, dry, and troubled, Orbach channeled Briscoe’s gruff personality both subtly and expressively.
Briscoe’s legend looms large today, and Jerry Orbach’s performance was pivotal in the long-term success ofLaw & Order.
Jerry Orbach is still often seen as one of the most recognizable names in theLaw & Orderuniverse, becoming so popular, New York designated him a “Living Landmark”. Briscoe’s legend looms large today, and Jerry Orbach’s performance was pivotal in the long-term success ofLaw & Order.
4Jack Webb
Dragnet
The OG of OGs, Jack Webb is the architect for the modern police procedural portrayal of Sgt. Joe Friday onDragnet. By the book and dedicated to his job, Sgt. Friday was the toughest policeman on the beat, and Jack Webb excelled in the role, providing a pitch-perfect performance.
Webb’s dedication to his role onDragnetwas deep, even spending time with the LAPD to ensure his accuracy was as close to real life as it could possibly be. No other performance crafted the modern cop portrayal on television as much as Jack Webb’s did, and we must acknowledge him as one of the best.
3Dennis Franz
NYPD Blue
One of the finest performances to grace network television was given by Dennis Franz on ABC’sNYPD Blue. As the complicated Andy Sipowicz, Franz navigated 12 years of growth, trauma, triumph and agony in this iconic role, eventually leading the character to the position of Sergeant, overseeing the 15th Precinct.
Franz was dynamic, engaged, and soul-crushingly tragic as Sipowicz, giving the performance of a lifetime as a man overcoming personal struggles to find the true version of himself. Dennis Franz’s remains the deepest dive into the portrayal of a police officer, and his work remains untouchable and among the best of the best.
2Andre Braugher
Homicide: Life on the Street | Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Few actors have two roles that define them, but the late Andre Braugher sits alone on this list, portraying both Frank Pembleton inHomicide: Life on the Street, followed byCapt. Raymond Holt onBrooklyn Nine-Nine. The juxtaposition of the roles gave a multifaceted appearance to his range, allowing him to demonstrate just how well he excelled in any role.
Navigating the differentials of the roles, Pembleton as the serious and complex detective working Baltimore’s worst, and Holt as the stoic and unwaveringly serious Captain, could have been daunting for some, but Braugher mastered both with ease. A multi-role legacy in the world of TV police, Andre Braugher was a one-of-a-kind.
1Mariska Hargitay
Law & Order: SVU
It was impossible to imagine anyone else in the top position on this list, and Mariska Hargitay was the correct and only choice to round out this list. As the respected andlong-lasting Capt. Olivia Benson onLaw & Order: SVU, Hargitay has defined what a compassionate and strong police character looks like.
In a world of fallibility among her peers, Benson has rarely ever strayed far from her moral compass, and Hargitay’s commitment to the character and her morals make her one of the most loved characters on television. WithLaw & Order: SVUstill incredibly popular and dominating the NBC airwaves, we hope Hargitay sticks around for a long time.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Cast
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is a television series that premiered in 1999. Set in the criminal justice system of New York City, it follows an elite team of detectives who investigate sexually-based offenses, focusing on their efforts to solve complex cases and seek justice for victims.
