Law and Order: Special Victims Unit is notable for having plenty of popular celebrities as guest stars, and many of our favorite Gossip Girl stars have actually had an appearance (or multiple!) on SVU. Instead of combing through every episode of SVU to see when your favorite characters make a cameo, we compiled a comprehensive list for you.
Anne Archibald as A.D.A. Sherri West
“Double Strands.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf and John Paul Roche, directed by Fred Berner, 2011
Francie Swift plays Nate Archibald’s mother, Anne, a socialite who has her fair share of family misfortunes and horrid moments – one of the most memorable being when she told Lily off at the Pink Party. In SVU, Swift stars as an A.D.A. for a few episodes in season 12 and plays a defense attorney in the season 13 episode “Double Strands.” We knew we recognized those doe eyes from somewhere!
Eric van der Woodsen as Zachary and Teddy
“Web.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf and Paul Grellon, directed by Peter Leto, 2006.
Eric van der Woodsen, played by Connor Paulo, is Serena’s sweet, gay younger brother. However, in the two SVU episodes Paulo guest stars in, he is anything but a sweetheart. In “Juvenile,” he and another teen are both arrested for the rape and murder of a woman, and although Paulo’s character attempts to turn the blame on the other kid, it turns out he was the instigator of the violent acts. In “Web,” Paulo plays Teddy, a teenage boy who was molested by his father and in turn, begins molesting his younger brother. Who can imagine seeing Eric van der Woodsen as troubled teens who commit heinous crimes?
Bart Bass as Agent Tucker
“Internal Affairs.” Law and Order: Special Victim Units, written by Dick Wolf and Kevin Fox, directed by Jean de Segonzac, 2013.
Robert John Burke plays Bart Bass, Chuck’s distant and disapproving father as well as a successful businessman. However, he also plays the recurring role of Ed Tucker, IAB agent in SVU. Ed Tucker pops in every once in a while throughout the SVU series to make hell for our favorite detectives when they do something wrong (but recently, he has seem to have become involved in a romantic relationship with one of our favorite main SVU detectives…). Burke plays a total hard-a** in both shows!
Laurel as Detective Monique Jeffries
“Hysteria.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf, Dawn DeNoon, and Lisa Marie Peterson, directed by Richard Dobbs, 1999.
Laurel, played by Michelle Hurd, was Eleanor Waldorf’s assistant who bossed Jenny around when she worked for the fashion line. However, Michelle Hurd also plays Detective Monique Jeffries, one of the primary SVU detectives early on in the series. She was booted off of the squad once she admitted to a psychiatrist that she had slept with a suspect from a sexual assault case. Yikes!
Rufus Humphrey as Jackson Zane
“Storm.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf, Neal Baer, and Amanda Green, directed by David Platt, 2005.
Rufus Humphrey (Matthew Settle) is the devoted father to Dan and Jenny, the ex-rock star, and the young love and eventual husband to Lily. In SVU, he guest stars in the episode “Storm,” which is about three girls who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina and ended up in the care of a pedophile. Settle plays Jackson Zane, a reporter who almost gets in the way of the detectives’ investigation. Stay out of the way, Humphrey!
Eleanor Waldorf as Mrs. Krug
“Tortured.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf, Dawn DeNoon, and Lisa Marie Peterson, directed by Steve Shill, 2003
Margaret Colin plays Eleanor Waldorf, famous fashion designer and (more importantly) mother to our beloved Blair Waldorf. However, she plays a devilish woman, Mrs. Krug, in the SVU episode “Tortured.” In “Tortured,” a woman is found murdered with her foot cut off, and it turns out that she was the victim of a foot fetishist. The murderer turns out to be the son of Mrs. Krug, an abusive mother who beat him and caused him brain injury. If Eleanor Waldorf was as abusive to Blair as Mrs. Krug was to her son, we would have a LOT of problems.
Nelly Yuki as Chun Hao
“Outsider.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf and Paul Grellong, directed by Arthur W. Forney, 2007.
Nelly Yuki (Yin Chang) is the super smart, overachiever Constance student that Blair wants to take down in order to beat her out to get into Yale, and also becomes one of her minions for a while. Nelly Yuki leaves the show only to come back later and play a big role in Blair’s business opportunities. Yin Chang also plays the character, Chun Hao, the younger sister of a rape victim, in the episode “Outsider.”
Jessica Leitenberg as Maureen Eland
“Bully.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf and Ken Storer, directed by Helen Shaver, 2011.
Jessica Leitenberg (Alica Callahan) is one of Blair’s minions. She also has a cameo in the SVU episode “Bully” where she speaks to the detectives about one of their witnesses in a rape and murder investigation.
Hazel Williams as Detective Reese Taymor
“Forgiving Rollings.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf and Ken Storer, directed by Helen Shaver, 2011.
Hazel Williams (Dreama Walker) was one of Blair’s minions at Constance. However, in SVU episode “Forgiving Rollins,” she plays the role of a detective from Atlanta, Reese Taymor, who is raped in her hotel room during a conference in NYC. Turns out, the perp, an Atlanta police sergeant, also raped Detective Rollins when she was working down in Atlanta, and their testimonies force the perp into a plea deal that puts him on the sex offender registry. Thanks, Hazel, for helping Detective Rollins get the closure she needed from these demons.
Cyrus Rose as Professor Roy Batters
“Snatched.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf and Mick Betancourt, directed by David Platt, 2009.
Wallace Shawn plays the beloved and totally adorable entertainment lawyer Cyrus Rose, Eleanor Waldorf’s husband and Blair’s stepfather. Although Wallace Shawn mostly sticks to voice acting for cartoon characters, he also has appeared in front of the camera for the SVU character Professor Roy Batters in the episode “Snatched.” Professor Roy Batters is an expert safe-cracker that helps lead the detectives to the perp of a kidnapping. Go Cyrus!
Raina Thorpe as Vegas
“Class.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf and Paul Grellong, directed by Aaron Lipstadt, 2006.
Raina Thorpe (Tika Sumpter) has a family history that’s articulately intertwined with Chuck Bass’s family. She’s a successful business woman, devoted daughter, and a lover to both Chuck and Nate. In SVU, Tika Sumpter also stars as a prostitute named Vegas in the episode “Class.” “Class” is about a college student who was murdered but had a lot of unexplained money on her.
William van der Bilt as Charlie Moss
“Loophole.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf and Jonathan Greene, directed by David Platt, 2007.
William van der Bilt (James Naughton), or “Grandfather,” as Nate refers to him, is the domineering head of the van der Bilt family who Nate constantly battles in order to get out of his shadow. He stars in two episodes as Attorney Charlie Moss in SVU episodes “Loophole” and “Recall.”
Tripp van der Bilt as Steve Harris and Jan Eyck
“Personal Fouls.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf and Brian Goluboff, directed by Jim McKay, 2011.
Tripp van der Bilt (Aaron Tveit) — adulterer, politician, and family man — made quite a reputation for himself when he started having an affair shortly after being elected to office and then left his mistress for dead. In SVU, Aaron Tveit plays Stevie in “Personal Fouls,” where he accuses a famous basketball coach of molesting him when he was a child. He was also in the episode “Beef” as Jan Eyck, the boyfriend of a murder victim, and also a suspect at the beginning of the episode.
Russell Thorpe as Dave Seaver
“Bombshell.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf and Daniel Truly, directed by Patrick Creadon, 2011.
Russell Thorpe (Michael Boatman) tried to take Chuck’s company from him over a tragic event that happened with Chuck’s late father, Bart Bass. Russell is not one of the Gossip Girl characters that we sympathize with. Boatman plays a recurring role in SVU as Dave Seaver, a defense attorney. Boatman is great at playing the guy who won’t back down.
Alessandra Steele as Kim Burgess and Annie Meyers
“Delinquent.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf and Dawn DeNoon,
Alessandra Steele (Marina Squerciati) is the agent of writer Noah Shapiro, and later Dan Humphrey. In SVU episode “Delinquent,” Squerciati plays Annie Meyers, a woman who finds a sociopathic teen passed out naked in her bed. Also, Squerciati plays her Chicago P.D. character Kim Burgess in the Chicago P.D./Law and Order SVU crossover episode “Daydream Believer.”
Aaron Rose as Wayne Mortens
“Rockabye.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf and Patrick Harbinson, directed by Peter Leto, 2005.
Aaron Rose (John Patrick Amedori) was an artist from Rufus Humphrey’s gallery who found his muse in many beautiful girls. Serena could never quite figure out if he was going to be a faithful boyfriend or not, and their relationship lasted only a brief few episodes. In the SVU episode “Rockabye”, John Patrick Amedori also stars as a character in a pretty rocky relationship. He plays Wayne Mortens, the boyfriend of a 16-year-old pregnant girl who is found far from home beaten in a motel room. However, they had gone to New York City to get an abortion so her overbearing father wouldn’t find out she was pregnant, and the beating was done by the pregnant girl and Mortens in order to force a miscarriage. Yeah, we’d say that John Patrick Amedori doesn’t always play the best boyfriends.
Olivia Burke as Ashlee Walker
“Selfish.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf and Mick Betancourt, directed by David Platt, 2009.
I’m pretty sure that Hilary Duff was trying to play herself as Olivia Burke: famous actress, pressured into doing things she doesn’t want to do, but just wants to live a normal life by dating Dan Humphrey and having threesomes in college (or maybe not). While Hilary Duff’s name definitely isn’t known for her single role in SVU, she does guest star as Ashlee Walker in the episode “Selfish.” Ashlee Walker is a party girl, who hands her baby over to a babysitter for a weekend, and then the baby and the babysitter disappear. She’s then suspected of killing the child. Hilary Duff gives a memorable performance (wink wink) in both Gossip Girl and SVU.
Laura Harring as Joan Quentin
“Perfect.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf, Robert F. Campbell, and Jonathan Green, directed by Rick Wallace, 2003.
Elizabeth Fisher (Laura Harring) broke Chuck Bass’s heart (and our hearts!) into pieces when it turned out she was not who she said she was. Laura Harring also plays Attorney Joan Quentin in SVU episode “Perfect,” where she is taken under the spell of a doctor who thinks he’s going to change the world with his eugenics. Laura Harring is great at playing misguided women.
Jane Trapp as Maggie Murphy
“Rhodium Nights,” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf, Warren Leight, and Julie Martin, directed by Nortberto Barba, 2012.
Jane Trapp (Meg McCrossen) can be seen behind Jenny Humphrey as one of her minions for the short rule Jenny had as Queen B. McCrossen also plays victim Maggie Murphy in the powerful SVU episode “Rhodium Nights,” which kicks off the episodes featuring the dramatic plot line of Captain Donald Cragen getting set up for murder!
Allison Humphrey as Ronnie Marshall
“Dolls.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf and Amanda Green, directed by Darnell Martin, 2002.
Allison Humphrey (Susan Misner) was not in Gossip Girl much, but she played a crucial role as the mother of Dan and Jenny, and also caused them heartbreak over her inevitable divorce from Rufus. In SVU, Susan Misner plays Ronnie Marshall, a drug-addicted mother whose daughter is kidnapped and killed by a child predator, in the episode “Dolls.” Susan Misner is always playing mothers who deeply let their children down.
Holland Kemble as Sondra Vaughn
“Gambler’s Fallacy,” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written Dick Wolf, Julie Martin, Warren Leight, and Kevin Fox, directed by Alex Chapple, 2014.
It’s hard to explain the anger one felt towards Holland Kemble (Sherri Saum) when she lied and said she had an affair with Rufus Humphrey! The actress of this Humphrey-van der Woodsen neighbor and false accuser also played Sondra Vaughn, the manager of a casino where Rollins gets in way over her head in the SVU episode “Gambler’s Fallacy.” She’s not playing the good girl in either of these shows!
Noah Shapiro as Orville Underwood
“Possessed.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf and Brian Fagan, directed by Constantine Makris, 2011.
David Patrick Kelly plays Noah Shapiro, Dan’s writing mentor who helps him out quite a few times. However, in SVU, Kelly plays the disgusting Orville Underwood in the episode “Possessed,” where Orville is a gross pedophile and rampant child pornography producer. We definitely like Noah Shapiro better!
Epperly as Anna / Natalie Bleers
“Wildlife.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf and Mick Betancourt, directed by Peter Leto, 2008.
Epperly (Caitlin Fitzgerald) was Blair Waldorf’s boss at W before she ended up quitting to go travel with an old flame. In SVU episode “Wildlife,” Fitzgerald plays the twins Anna and Natalie Bleers, two sisters who traveled to New York City with the hopes of making it big. However, one of them ends up tied up with an animal smuggling ring and is murdered while the other is desperate to help her out. They are definitely not as glamorous as Epperly is.
Young Lily Rhodes as Jamie Hoskins
“Influence,” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, written by Dick Wolf and Ian Biederman, directed by Norberto Barba, 2006.
Brittany Snow portrays Lily Rhodes in flashbacks. Although she’s another big name actress who is not getting her fame for being on SVU, she did star in “Influence” as Jamie Hoskins, a teenager who is inspired to go off her bipolar medication because of a beloved rock star’s insistence on them ruining people’s lives. What’s with Brittany Snow and the obsession with rock stars?
Next time you’re binge-watching SVU, keep an eye out for some of your favorite Gossip Girl actors making a guest appearance! It might surprise you how these actors can play more sinister or serious parts. Tweet us at @HerCampusDrexel letting us know whether you liked an actor’s Gossip Girl or SVU character the most!
Source: IMDB.com