Law & Orders Kate Dixon Replacement Pays Off A 23-Year-Old Cameo Role

Kate Dixon’s Law & Order replacement recalls a decades-old cameo role. Lieutenant Kate Dixon was played by Camryn Manheim in Law & Order. Manheim was a lead and series regular throughout all three rebooted seasons of Law & Order, the first of which went on air again in 2022 after a 13-year hiatus. As she was appearing in Law & Order seasons 21, 22, and 23, the character of Dixon also made two special appearances in Law & Order: SVU, guest starring as Dixon in two episodes of SVU season 24.

Now, the main show is gearing up for the Law & Order season 24 premiere on Thursday, October 3. Back in May, it was announced that Manheim would be leaving her role of Dixon on the series, leaving the Law & Order team needing a new lead for the show. As per a recent announcement, Law & Order has found their Dixon replacement, and it will be an actor who will make a cameo from years earlier.

Maura Tierney Is Replacing Kate Dixon As A Series Regular In Law & Order Season 24

The Nature Of Tierney’s Role Is Under Wraps

Earlier this week, Maura Tierney was announced as a series regular in Law & Order season 24. Details as to what character she will play are still under wraps, but she will be one of the leads in the series. Tierney’s casting is part of a host of recent changes to the Law & Order cast since rebooting the series, as cast members have come and gone, including Anthony Anderson and Jeffrey Donovan, who left after seasons 21 and 22, respectively.

Law & Order season 23’s ending did not write off Dixon in any way, so the next season will have to find a way to do so. With Manheim gone, the character will not receive an on-screen goodbye, making it such that the Law & Order team will have to find a clever way to explain the character’s absence. With Manheim replaced by Tierney, the new actor will also have to be introduced in the upcoming Law & Order season, making for a busy pilot.

Maura Tierney Once Played A Small Role In Law & Order Season 2

Tierney Was In One Episode In 1991

Though she has never been a series regular before, this is not the first time that Tierney has ever appeared in Law & Order. The actor had a small cameo role back in Law & Order season 2. She played a character named Patricia ‘Patti’ Blaine in season 2, episode 3, “Aria.” The episode aired on October 1, 1991, and was Tierney’s only credit in the Law & Order franchise before her upcoming role in season 24.

When Tierney first appeared in Law & Order, she was a much smaller-name star than she is now. Before her brief role as Patti, her credits include a recurring role in The Dick Van Dyke Show and a one-off part in Family Ties. Since then, she has gone on to star in several films and TV shows, including this year’s titles Twisters and American Rust, which released its second season earlier this year. Now a much more recognizable star, Tierney’s addition to Law & Order is even more exciting.

Maura Tierney Is No Stranger To NBC Shows

Tierney Previously Played A Role In ER

One of Tierney’s claims to fame was actually through another NBC show. Said series was ER, the hit medical procedural that ran from 1994 to 2009. Tierney played Abby Lockhart in the NBC series. After making her debut as the character in 1999, she went on to star in 189 episodes and appeared on the series up until its conclusion. Abby was a fan-favorite character in the drama series, and Tierney even earned an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actress for the role in 2001.

Thus, Law & Order season 24 marks two important returns for Tierney. For one, Tierney’s man part will pay off her cameo from 33 years ago, giving her more screen time on the series rather than just a single episode. Secondly, it will mark Tierney’s triumphant return to NBC. Both ER and Law & Order were/are vital series for the network. After the upcoming season of Law & Order, Tierney will be a part of the success of both procedurals and will hopefully continue to contribute beyond the first season.

Law & Order

The beginning of the long-running franchise Law & Order is a crime-drama series created by Dick Wolf and launched on NBC in 1990. The series follows the day-to-day lives of detectives and legal professionals in New York who are involved in apprehending and prosecuting dangerous criminals.

Cast

George Dzundza , Chris Noth , Dann Florek , Michael Moriarty , Richard Brooks , Steven Hill , Paul Sorvino , Carolyn McCormick , Jerry Orbach , S. Epatha Merkerson , Jill Hennessy , Sam Waterston , Benjamin Bratt , Carey Lowell , Angie Harmon , Jesse L. Martin , Dianne Wiest , Elisabeth Rohm

Release Date

September 13, 1990

Seasons

23

Writers

Dick Wolf

Showrunner

Walon Green , Michael S. Chernuchin , René Balcer , William M. Finkelstein , Artuhr Penn , Barry Schindel , Nicholas Wootton , Rick Eid

Creator(s)

Dick Wolf

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