Top 10 Stars You Forgot Were on Law & Order: SVU

Before the days of “Heroes, but around the same time as “Gilmore Girls,” Milo Ventimiglia found time to play the role of Lee Healy in this 2003 episode of “SVU.” While his character Jess had a shaky family situation in “Gilmore Girls,” Lee Healy’s family in “SVU” was infinitely worse. Lee’s step-father, and former abuser, escapes from prison where he is serving time for committing a sex crime and heads to New York to seek Lee out. The episode is full of heated emotions ranging from anger to sorrow, and Milo perfectly captures his character’s complex feelings.

Even though Elle Fanning was only eight years old when she appeared on “Law and Order: SVU,” this role was shockingly not her first acting job. While Elle is a revered young actress today, you may have missed her all those years ago in 2006 when she played the role of Eden on the "episode “Cage.” Despite being so young, Fanning’s portrayal of a child in a difficult family and housing situation was convincingly heart-wrenching and indicated the extent of her acting prowess.

While Hilary Duff is perhaps most recognized for her more lighthearted roles in “Lizzie McGuire” and a slew of romantic comedies, she definitely has the acting chops to portray a wide range of characters. Case in point: in 2009, Duff played Ashlee Walker, a reckless young mother accused of murdering her child. The episode was heavily based on the Casey Anthony case, and Duff skillfully played the part of a wild-child turned reluctant mom. Her nuanced and tortured portrayal proved that Duff could do much more than just playing bubbly and peppy characters.

Prior to playing Annalise Keating and instructing students on how to get away with murder in the hit series, Davis once played defence attorney Donna Emmett on various episodes of SVU from 2003 to 2008. We guess there’s just something about Davis that makes you want to take legal advice from her. Davis expertly portrayed her character as a competent and non-nonsense lawyer, from interrogating witness Cecilia Cruz in “Cold” to defending a doctor in “Retro.”By playing Emmett, Davis was unknowingly laying the groundwork for her future in law-centric television.

A “Full House” indeed! In this twisted episode of SVU, sitcom star John Stamos shocked audiences by playing the charming but underhandedly horrible reproductive abuser Ken Turner. The term refers to those who interfere with reproductive health, and in Ken’s case specifically, it meant poking holes in condoms to induce pregnancy and father more children -over 20 to be exact. This character was a far cry from Stamos’ loveable role as caring Uncle Jesse in “Full House” and proved that Stamos is anything but a one-trick actor.

While Ludacris is widely recognized for his rapping and contributions to the music scene, he’s also an excellent actor. He first appeared on “SVU” in 2006 in the episode “Venom,” as the infamous Darius Parker, detective Odafin’s relative. He later reprised his role in the season 8 finale “Screwed.”. While Darius had a difficult childhood, his actions made it difficult for viewers to sympathize with him as he committed a number of violent crimes throughout his time on the show, including burying a child alive and murdering the child’s mother. Ludacris’ performance brought this character to life and made Darius a quintessential villain that viewers love to hate.

One of our favorite small-screen vampires was once the man of our nightmares in this 2003 episode of “SVU.” Somerhalder is known for portraying the dreamy Damon Salvatore in the CW’s “The Vampire Diaries,” but his SVU character Charlie Baker left much to be desired. Charlie is convicted of a multiple homicide and acts out against his dad while harboring a secret about sexually attacking his own brother. Somerhalder’s convincing portrayal of a twisted serial killer definitely sent shivers up viewers’ spines in what can be considered one of SVU’s most brutal episodes.

From playing Karen in “Mean Girls” to Anita in “Jennifer’s Body,” Amanda Seyfried has done it all. Therefore, it’s no wonder that Amanda’s career spans a few decades. Back in 2004, the young actress starred in the “SVU” episode entitled “Outcry” as Tandi McCain, a young student and victim in a rape case who was found duct-taped under a dorm bench. The various plot twists and the surprising storyline really gave Seyfried an opportunity to showcase her acting skills. She was able to perfectly portray Tandi’s vulnerability and fear in this heart-wrenching episode.

This Hollywood heartthrob is perhaps best known for his movie roles and rise to superstardom in the 2010s, ranging from his role in the “Hangover” franchise, to his directorial debut “A Star is Born”, which he also co-wrote, produced, and starred in. However, he’s no stranger to the small screen. In 2005, he starred in an episode of “SVU” as attorney Jason Whittaker. Jason is placed in charge of handling the wealthy Duvall family’s fortune, so when Gabriel Duvall becomes a prime suspect in a rape case, Jason’s behavior comes under scrutiny, and his role becomes a little more complicated. Cooper pulls off playing the charming but sleazy lawyer without a hitch.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Sarah Paulson
“Shadow”

Whoopi Goldberg
“Institutional Fail”

Jesse McCartney
“Babes”

Erik von Detten
“Privilege”

Adam Driver has had a meteoric rise to fame in the 2010s. From playing Lena Dunham’s on again off again boyfriend on the hit HBO show “Girls” to skillfully portraying the complicated emotions of Kylo Ren in “Star Wars,” Driver has demonstrated an immense amount of versatility throughout his acting career. In the “SVU” episode “Theatre Tricks,” Driver plays the role of stalker Jason Roberts, a fan with an obsessive crush on theatre actress Meghan Weller. Driver’s intense gaze, acting chops, and perhaps even his theatre background, made him an excellent choice to play this complex and brooding character.