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Check Out the Talented Cast of Law & Order: SVU Season 26
Check out the talented actors who bring the fearless Manhattan SVU to life.
Dick Wolf's Law & Order franchise has spawned numerous spin-offs, but Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is a special fan favorite — in huge part because of the show's talented cast, who keep fans glued to their screens week after week.
Like many previous seasons, the Season 26 cast of Law & Order: SVU is a welcomed mix of veteran characters and new ones, and they all work together to make an unforgettable ensemble.
Below, we break down the Season 26 cast of SVU.
Who is in the Law & Order: SVU Season 26 cast?
The Season 26 cast of Law & Order: SVU includes Mariska Hargitay, Ice T, Peter Scanavino, Octavio Pisano, and Kevin Kane.
Joining the SVU cast in Season 26 is Juliana Aidén Martinez, who plays a new detective working with Benson and the squad.
RELATED: All About Terry Bruno, Law & Order: SVU's New Detective
Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson
The woman, the legend, the spine of SVU: Mariska Hargitay. Hargitay has played SVU's focal character — the dynamite Captain Olivia Benson — since the series' 1999 series premiere. In addition to the seven Emmy nominations she has earned for her role on the show, Hargitay took home an Emmy Award in 2006 for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her captivating portrayal of Benson.
Hargitay is not only an SVU actor, she's also a certified Law & Order director, having helmed eight must-watch episodes.
"I’ve been doing this for so long, and the character is me, it’s part of me. I couldn’t play it if it wasn’t," Hargitay told The Cut in 2023. "I did so much work at the beginning when I learned about these issues — law enforcement, sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, trauma — that I’ve spent these last 24 years studying that."
"This character has taught me so much," Hargitay continued. "I’ve become a more whole person, a more self-aware person. I want to inspire people to have the strength to look in the mirror, go deep, and know that they can tolerate the pain and get to the other side so they can achieve what they want, especially the peace that they crave."
Ice-T as Sergeant Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola
We've seen Fin Tutuola grow tremendously across each of SVU's seasons, witnessing him gain Sergeant status and close dozens of cases. Ice T has become one of the most celebrated stars of the Law & Order franchise with his witty one-liners and ceaseless sarcasm. Benson and Fin have a hefty history between them, which of course has translated to a darling relationship between Hargitay and Ice T. With hundreds of episodes under his belt, Ice T is a certified SVU staple.
Peter Scanavino as ADA Sonny Carisi
Peter Scanavino first appeared in Season 16 after Benson requested an "experienced, empathetic detective" for the SVU. She got what she asked for with Dominick "Sonny" Carisi, one of the most dedicated investigators and legal professionals the squad has ever seen.
Carisi's steadfast passion for the law eventually led him to become the SVU's trusted Assistant District Attorney, serving fans the "order" in Law & Order since Season 21. Scanavino is always a scene-stealer as Benson's BFF, Amanda Rollin's (Kelli Giddish) loving husband, and the squad's go-to legal counsel.
Octavio Pisano as Detective Joe Velasco
Another valuable member of the Law & Order: SVU cast is Octavio Pisano, who plays the quiet-yet-calculated Detective Jose "Joe" Velasco. Joe entered the SVU as a detective after Katriona Tamin (Jamie Gray Hyder) retired at the end of Season 22.
RELATED: Octavio Pisano’s Best Memories with Mariska Hargitay and Ice T on the Set of SVU
He has had to jump through some hefty hoops to earn Benson's trust and earn his keep within the precinct, but he has proved to be a powerhouse investigator and the perfect partner for Tutuola.
Kevin Kane as Detective Terry Bruno
A Season 24 addition to the SVU cast was Kevin Kane as Terry Bruno, a sardonic yet genius detective recruited by Fin from the Bronx SVU.
Everyone knows Bruno cares about helping special victims but, after winning a million-dollar settlement against his own department, he wasn't exactly popular at work in the Bronx. Yet he remained at the Bronx SVU to see criminals go behind bars, a testament to his passion for the gig and seeing justice served.
Benson could tell Bruno's zeal was perfect for the Manhattan SVU, and the rest is history.
Watch Season 26 of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC.
Originally published Jul 12, 2022.
