Jeffrey Donovan leaves Law & Order ahead of season 23 on NBC… two years after becoming Detective Frank Cosgrove
With NBC’s long-running drama series Law & Order reportedly beginning production on season 23 later this month, Jeffrey Donovan will not be returning.
Donovan, 55, signed on for season 21 of Law & Order in 2021, as Detective Frank Cosgrove.
Now People reports that Donovan will not return for season 23, which has a 13-episode order and will debut sometime in 2024.
Donovan has not publicly commented on his departure from the series at this time, after Anthony Anderson left the series as Detective Kevin Bernard after season 21.
The long-running series debuted in 1990, but was unceremoniously canceled in 2010 by NBC, which then debuted a new spinoff Law & Order: Los Angeles, although it only lasted one season.
Departing: With NBC’s long-running drama series Law & Order reportedly beginning production on season 23 later this month, Jeffrey Donovan will not return
Detective Frank: Donovan, 55, has signed on for Law & Order season 21 in 2021, playing Detective Frank Cosgrove
While the Law & Order franchise is run by Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — which has spanned 24 seasons since 1999 — and Law & Order: Organized Crime — which debuted in April 2021 — NBC made the surprise announcement that the original Law & Order returned in September 2021.
Season 21 debuted in February 2022 and brought back Sam Waterston as District Attorney Jack McCoy, who was a regular on the original series from season 5 through season 20, and Anthony Anderson’s Detective Kevin Barnard, who starred in seasons 18 through with 20, although Anderson left. after season 21.
They were joined by an influx of new cast members such as Frank Cosgrove from Donovan, Lt. Kate Dixon as Camryn Manheim, Executive ADA Nolan Price as Hugh Dancy and Odelya Halevi as ADA Samantha Maroun.
NBC renewed the flagship Law & Order for a 22nd season in May 2022, while it also renewed Law & Order: Organized Crime for a third season and previously renewed Law & Order: SVU for a 24th season, extending its record as the longest-running primetime . live-action series of all time.
“The iconic ‘Law & Order’ brand has long been synonymous with NBC and we couldn’t be more excited to bring all three of these dramas back for the 2022-2023 season,” said Lisa Katz, President, Scripted Programming, NBCU Entertainment and streaming in May 2022.
“It is a testament to the brilliance of Dick Wolf’s storytelling that audiences remain captivated by these unforgettable characters week after week, year after year,” she added.
Law & Order creator and executive producer Dick Wolf added, “Dreams do come true. The renewal of the entire line-ups on Wednesday and Thursday evenings is the ultimate confirmation of our partnership with NBC and Universal Television.’
He added: ‘Personally, I would like to thank the talented writers and casts, the producers who keep the trains running on time and the crews who tirelessly create excellent shows, despite a level of difficulty never before experienced due to the pandemic.’
Detectives: Season 21 debuted in February 2022 and brought back Sam Waterston as District Attorney Jack McCoy, who was a regular on the original series from season 5 through season 20, and Anthony Anderson’s Detective Kevin Barnard, who starred in the seasons 18 through 20. Anderson left after season 21
Renewed: NBC renewed the flagship Law & Order for a 22nd season in May 2022, while it also renewed Law & Order: Organized Crime for a third season and previously renewed Law & Order: SVU for a 24th season, tying the record as the longest season was extended. featuring all-time primetime live-action series
In the 22nd season, NBC delivered an impressive and ambitious crossover premiere, interweaving the plots of Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Organized Crime in a three-hour block.
NBC renewed all three Law & Order shows, along with all of Dick Wolf’s Chicago franchise shows, in April, just a month before the writers struck.
The writers’ strike ended at the end of September and the actors’ strike ended last week, with NBC having already put together a 13-episode season for Law & Order.
While no debut date has been given yet, filming of the new season is expected to begin later this month.