Which actor played Captain Don Cragen?

Captain Don Cragen is played by Dann Florek in Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Florek first portrayed Cragen in the original Law & Order, beginning with the series’ 1990 debut. Cragen was initially a homicide captain, but the character later returned as the commanding officer of Manhattan’s Special Victims Unit when the spin-off premiered in 1999.

Cragen is known for his stern but protective leadership style. The character is also portrayed as a recovering alcoholic, a detail that gives his mentorship of detectives such as Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler added dramatic weight. Florek’s performance helped make Cragen one of the franchise’s most recognizable supervisors.

A common mix-up is confusing the actor with Richard Belzer, who played Detective John Munch, or with Dean Winters, who played Brian Cassidy. Florek remained a major SVU presence through season 15 and later reprised the role in guest appearances.