Lead characters Olivia Benson and partner Elliot Stabler (ChristopherMeloni) were named after creator DickWolf’s daughter and son.Rapper-turned-actor Ice-T signed on for only four episodes in 2000 as Detective Odafin Tutuola, but is now in his 22nd season.RichardBelzer, who retired in 2016, played Detective John Munch on SVU and nine other TV series.Hargitay formed the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004 to raise awareness of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse.TaylorSwift is a huge fan of the show and named one of her cats Olivia Benson.Hargitay keeps a photo of her mother, Hollywood screen queen JayneMansfield, on her desk on the set.In 2016, at Hargitay’s invitation, then-veep JoeBiden guest-starred in an episode.DianeNeal, KelliGiddish and PeterScanavino guest starred as different characters before landing their series regular roles.Five SVU guest actors have won Emmys: Ann-Margret, EllenBurstyn, AmandaPlummer, CynthiaNixon and LeslieCaron.Oscar-winning guest stars include MahershalaAli, ViolaDavis, JeremyIrons and RobinWilliams. Tony Award-winning guest stars include AngelaLansbury, DaveedDiggs, AudraMcDonald, RitaMoreno, BernadettePeters and BillyPorter.A 2015 Washington State University study concluded that SVU positively educates viewers as to what constitutes rape, and viewers have a better grasp of sexual consent than viewers of other crime dramas.SVU has won six Emmy Awards, including one in 2006 for Hargitay as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.PeterHermann, who has played defense attorney Trevor Langan in 33 episodes, is Hargitay’s real-life husband.
Next, We Ranked the 30 Best Law & Order: SVU Episodes Ever
