“Law & Order” star Jeffrey Donovan not returning for season 23

Lauren Huff

15 November 2023 at 6:54 pm·1-min read

The actor, who played Detective Cosgrove on the crime procedural, is not returning due to creative reasons, EW has learned.

Jeffrey Donovan is leaving the Law & Order force.

The actor, who played Detective Frank Cosgrove on the crime procedural in seasons 21 and 22, will not be returning for the upcoming 23rd season due to creative reasons, EW has learned. Donovan also played the tough-as-nails detective in one episode each of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Organized Crime.

The last time audiences saw his character was in the season 22 finale of the flagship series, where he and partner Shaw (Mehcad Brooks) were tasked with arresting a waiter who assassinated a U.S. senator. It remains to be seen how his character will be written out of the show, but according to TVLine the search is now underway for a new series regular to fill in.

<p>Peter Kramer/NBC via Getty</p> Jeffrey Donovan as Det. Frank Cosgrove on 'Law & Order' — Peter Kramer/NBC via Getty
Jeffrey Donovan as Det. Frank Cosgrove on 'Law & Order'

Donovan is not the first star to depart the revived series. The crime procedural has seen several changes since it returned to air in 2022 after first being canceled in 2010. Anthony Anderson, who played Detective Kevin Bernard, left after season 21. Meanwhile, Brooks joined as Jalen Shaw in season 22.

The current cast includes Hugh Dancy as Assistant District Attorney Nolan Price, Sam Waterston as District Attorney Jack McCoy, Camryn Manheim as Lieutenant Kate Dixon, and Odelya Halevi as Assistant District Attorney Samantha Maroun.

A 13-episode season 23 of Law & Order is slated to air in 2024.

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