Law & authority loses another experienced actor.
The NBC drama is saying goodbye to its star Camryn Manheim on May 16, the season 23 finale. The actress played a key role in the cast as Dick Wolf revived the flagship procedural for its 21st season.
Manheim becomes the second star to leave L&O this season with her impending departure hot on the heels of the original star Sam Waterston, who left in February as District Attorney Jack McCoy. Having appeared in more than 400 episodes of the flagship series, he returned to helm the revival that remains a high priority for both Wolf and NBC.
To fill the void left by Waterston's departure, L&O former enlisted Scandal favorite Tony Goldwyn to be the show's new prosecutor, joining a cast that also includes Hugh Dancy, Reid Scott, Mechad Brooks and Odelya Halevi.
“I thank Camryn for her three wonderful seasons that helped us relaunch Law & authority. She is a class act and I wish her nothing but the best for her next chapter,” Wolf said in a statement The Hollywood Reporter.
Manheim's departure comes as TV shows face increasing pressure to cut budgets during an industry-wide era of contraction and amid declining linear broadcast viewership. Other programs, such as CBS' Bob Hearts AbisholaSeries regulars reduced to recurring status, and some, like Blue blood, agreed to take pay cuts to keep the show on the air.
Rick Eid serves as showrunner on the flagship L&O, who will join the spin-off SVU and Wolf's three-show Chicago franchise on NBC's roster for the 2024-2025 season. Spinoff Organized crime will move to Peacock for his next season.