Their show is called Law & Order, not Cop Rock—but try telling Jerry Orbach, Jesse L. Martin and S. Epatha Merkerson. The Law costars, all of them musical theater vets, can't keep from breaking into song on set. During a recent scene, says Merkerson, "they're at a car wash, and 'Car Wash,' from the movie, was the big song of the day. That keeps the set lively."

Certainly the cast has plenty to sing about. Since its debut on Sept. 13, 1990, Law & Order has turned into TV's most durable franchise and will air its 300th episode on May 21. The cop-law hybrid drama, which now airs up to 30 times a week on NBC and TNT, has received a record 11 consecutive Emmy nominations for best drama series (it won in 1997) and launched two successful spinoffs, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. "You never seem to be able to exhaust it," says Sam Waterston of the show's famous ripped-from-the-headlines plots. "The news is always new." So is the ever-changing cast, which currently includes Orbach, 67 (Det. Lennie Briscoe); Martin, 34 (Det. Ed Green); Waterston, 62 (Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy); Elisabeth Rohm, 30 (A.D.A. Serena Southerlyn); Merkerson, 50 (Lt. Anita Van Buren); and Fred Thompson, 60 (D.A. Arthur Branch).

With ratings improving each year, Order shows no sign of arrested development ("The passion is undimmed," says creator Dick Wolf)—just a life sentence of spinoff possibilities. "Jerry and I joke that one day there will be Law & Order: Parking Violations," says Merkerson. "There's no end to it."

More From This Article

Out of Order, They Still Can't Forget the Long Arm of the Law
JILL HENNESSY A.D.A. Claire Kincaid (1993-96) Back on NBC in Crossing Jordan, Hennessy, 34, says she's "eating healthy." Good. Her first child, with actor-husband Paolo Mastropietro, is due in October.

MICHAEL MORIARTY Executive A.D.A. Ben Stone (1990-94) Fell on hard times after the show but bounced back with an '02 Emmy and new wife Margaret Brychka. Alcoholism "is a tough battle," says the actor, 62.

RICHARD BROOKS A.D.A. Paul Robinette (1990-93) Starred in the 1999 USA Network series GvsE. Brooks, 41, also recorded an R&B album, Smooth Love, and often serenades his wife, Rafaele: "She's down for that."

GEORGE DZUNDZA Sgt. Max Greevey (1990) Appeared in Crimson Tide and Basic Instinct. Married for 22 years to Mary Jo, Dzundza, 57, calls playing a priest on CBS's Hack "the best job I've ever had."

CHRIS NOTH Det. Mike Logan (1990-95) The single Noth, 48, looks back on Law with "pride and accomplishment." He made a (Mr.) Big splash in Sex and the City and next stars in TNT's Caesar.

ANGIE HARMON A.D.A. Abbie Carmichael (1998-2001) "Being in New York is how I met my husband [ex-Giant Jason Sehorn]," says the pregnant Agent Cody Banks star, 30, who is due in October.

CAREY LOWELL A.D.A. Jamie Ross (1996-98) Thanks to reruns, "I'm more recognizable now than when I was on," says Lowell, 42, who wed Richard Gere and is shooting More Than Meets the Eye for Lifetime.

DIANNE WIEST D.A. Nora Lewin (2000-02) An Oscar winner for Hannah and Her Sisters and Bullets over Broadway the single actress, 57, is now starring on Broadway in the drama Salome.

PAUL SORVINO Sgt. Phil Cerreta (1991-92) He acts (Nixon), directs (Showtime'sThat Championship Season), sings opera and sculpts. Even at 64, "it's hard to take a day off," says the single Sorvino.

STEVEN HILL D.A. Adam Schiff (1990-2000) Hill, 81, initially kept a low profile with wife Rachel after leaving the show. His Price-Waterhouse commercials are now as ubiquitous as Law & Order repeats.

DANN FLOREK Capt. Donald Cragen (1990-93) Married to artist Karen, Florek, 53, replayed Cragen for the Law spinoff SVU: "It was like putting on an old suit that looked even better than it did before."

BENJAMIN BRATT Det. Rey Curtis (1995-99) Bratt, 39, married actress Talisa Soto and welcomed daughter Sophia last December. He won critical raves in Piñero, but has called Law "probably the greatest gig I ever had."