Law & Order: SVU opened its 27th season with a gut punch, killing off one of its original characters. In the premiere episode, Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) attends the wake of her old boss, Captain Donald Cragen (Dann Florek).
Cragen has been part of the Law & Order universe since 1990, appearing in the first three seasons of the flagship series before joining SVU as the squad’s captain from its 1999 pilot through Season 15. He later made guest appearances, including on Organized Crime. All told, Cragen appeared in more than 400 episodes across the franchise.
The episode doesn’t reveal exactly how Cragen died, but it includes a clip from his retirement speech. Benson honors him as “the best boss I ever had,” giving fans a chance to mourn the character while the series marks a new chapter.
Other Major Character Deaths on SVU
- Detective John Munch (Richard Belzer)
Regular: Seasons 1–15 (1999–2013), with guest appearances afterward.
Munch was a fan favorite, known for his dry wit and conspiratorial humor. Belzar passed away in real life and the series honored him with an emotional funeral.
- Sergeant Mike Dodds (Andy Karl)
Regular: Season 17 (2015–2016).
Dodds’ death in the Season 17 finale — fatally shot while trying to save a hostage — remains one of the show’s most shocking on-screen losses.
- Detective Ed Tucker (Robert John Burke)
Recurring: Seasons 3–18 (2002–2017), final appearance in Season 21.
Tucker, longtime IAB officer and sometimes ally to Benson, died by suicide after being diagnosed with a terminal illness.