Given the storylines on Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, and more, this post contains mentions of sexual assault.
1. First, Sarah Hyland appeared in two episodes of Law & Order: SVU in 2001 and 2009, playing two different characters. Her appearance in Season 10 is still regarded as one of the best guest-starring roles in the series.
![young sarah in 2001 and in 2009 in the show](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/b880c0667d58/sub-buzz-4443-1698945820-2.jpg?downsize=700%3A%2A&output-quality=auto&output-format=auto)
2. Before starring on Modern Family, Ty Burrell played two characters on Law & Order in 2000 and 2003. In the 2003 episode, he played Sebastian Stan's dad.
![him in 2000 and 2003](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/b617d8dc588c/sub-buzz-1050-1698945803-1.jpg)
3. Pedro Pascal appeared in two episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent as different characters in 2006 and 2009 respectively. He's also played roles on Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU.
![his character in 2006 and 2009](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/d548e9b84120/sub-buzz-1392-1698945785-14.jpg)
4. Before landing her starring role as Det. Rollins on Law & Order: SVU, Kelli Giddish appeared in an episode in Season 8 as a character named Kara Bawson.
![closeup of her in 2007 and 2011](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/862e1bee209d/sub-buzz-1069-1698945939-4.jpg)
5. Also, prior to starring as Det. Carisi on Law & Order: SVU, Peter Scanavino guest-starred in a Season 14 episode as a character named Johnny Dubcek.
![closeup of his character in 2013 and 2014](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/862e1bee209d/sub-buzz-1073-1698946022-4.jpg)
6. Before starring on Grey's Anatomy, Ellen Pompeo appeared in episodes of Law & Order in 1996 and 2000 as two different characters. Her work as Jenna Weber in a Season 6 episode was also one of her first acting credits.
![her in 1996 and 2000](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/ec6228329d98/sub-buzz-1368-1698946049-1.jpg)
7. Chandra Wilson guest-starred in two episodes of Law & Order: SVU as two different characters. She played a nurse in a 2002 episode and then as Rachel Sorannis, an FBI agent, in a 2005 episode that aired a few months after Grey's Anatomy Season 1 premiered.
![her character in 2002 and 2005](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/112fc33eab7d/sub-buzz-2445-1698946080-1.jpg)
8. Prior to landing their breakout role on Grey's Anatomy, Sara Ramirez popped up as two different characters on Law & Order: SVU in 2000 and 2002, respectively.
![their character in 2000 and 2002](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/4bbe3a41bfcc/sub-buzz-1037-1698946115-1.jpg)
9. Before starring on Shameless and The Bear, Jeremy Allen White had roles as two different characters on Law & Order in 2007 and 2008.
![younger him on the show in 2007 and 2008](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/d548e9b84120/sub-buzz-1413-1698946141-3.jpg)
10. Kelly Bishop has guest-starred on three episodes of Law & Order: SVU playing two different characters. She first appeared as a registrar in Season 1 and then returned to play Julia Zimmer in two episodes in Season 10.
![her in 2001 and 2008](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/862e1bee209d/sub-buzz-1085-1698946222-1.jpg)
11. Long before she starred as Gerri on Succession, J. Smith-Cameron appeared in four episodes of Law & Order between 1992 and 2009 as four different characters. She's also guest-starred on Criminal Intent and SVU, too.
![4 screenshot closeups of her in the show](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/e0e9791b578e/sub-buzz-1115-1698946373-1.jpg)
12. Hayden Panettiere has guest-starred twice on Law & Order: SVU as two different characters. She first appeared in a 2001 episode when she was only 12 years old, and then returned in 2005 for another episode.
![her as a young kid and then as a teen](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/b617d8dc588c/sub-buzz-1084-1698946397-1.jpg)
13. Long before Stranger Things, David Harbour appeared in episodes of Law & Order in 1999 and 2008 as two different characters. His first appearance marked one of his earliest acting credits.
![closeup of his character on the show](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/b880c0667d58/sub-buzz-4473-1698946431-1.jpg)
14. Before starring on The Vampire Diaries, Paul Wesley appeared as two different characters in Law & Order: SVU in 2000 and 2005, respectively.
![closeup of his character on a baseball field](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/c4baddd2c35c/sub-buzz-1108-1698946456-1.jpg)
15. Ann Dowd has guest-starred as three different characters on Law & Order: SVU between 2001 and 2009. She's also played four different characters on Law & Order, too.
![closeup of her character in distress](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/9b671712c891/sub-buzz-1405-1698946534-7.jpg)
16. Before returning to the show as serial killer William Lewis in Season 15 of Law & Order: SVU, Pablo Schreiber previously appeared as a totally different character in Season 8 in 2007.
![closeup of his two characters](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/9b671712c891/sub-buzz-1408-1698946578-2.jpg)
17. Paget Brewster has guest-starred as two characters on Law & Order: SVU during the time she was also starring on Criminal Minds. She appeared in a 2007 episode and then returned for two episodes playing Bureau Chief Paula Foster in 2012.
![closeup of her character](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/862e1bee209d/sub-buzz-1111-1698946608-7.jpg)
18. Allison Janney appeared as two different characters on Law & Order in 1992 and 1994, five years before landing her notable role on The West Wing.
![closeup of her character in an office](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/c2202d19c1e3/sub-buzz-1410-1698946633-2.jpg)
19. Bradley Whitford has guest-starred twice on Law & Order: SVU, playing two different characters. He first appeared in a 2015 episode before his recent guest appearance in 2023.
![closeup of his character talking to someone](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/d548e9b84120/sub-buzz-1442-1698946667-2.jpg)
20. Broadway star Aaron Tveit has guest-starred in two episodes of Law & Order: SVU as two different characters in 2010 and 2011, respectively. He was also guest-starring on Gossip Girl around the same time.
![closeup of his character](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/9b671712c891/sub-buzz-1438-1698946693-5.jpg)
21. While starring as Omar Little in The Wire, Michael K. Williams also appeared in Law & Order: SVU as two different characters. He first popped up in a Season 5 episode, and then he returned in Season 8. Michael also played three different characters in Law & Order.
![closeup of his character](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/c2202d19c1e3/sub-buzz-1428-1698946757-1.jpg)
22. Before landing her breakout role on GLOW, Betty Gilpin appeared on Law & Order: Criminal Intent as two different characters. She first popped up in a Season 6 episode in 2006, and then in Season 8 in 2009. Betty has also guest-starred on Law & Order and SVU.
![closeup of her character talking to someone](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/d91e012164c8/sub-buzz-1125-1698946790-12.jpg)
23. And finally, Friday Night Lights and Mike Flanagan Universe star Zach Gilford has guest-starred on Law & Order: SVU as two different characters. He first appeared in a 2005 episode and then popped up again in a 2019 episode.
![closeup of his character](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-11/2/17/asset/112fc33eab7d/sub-buzz-2480-1698946819-1.jpg)
There are obviously a ton more actors who have appeared as multiple characters in one (or even more) Law & Order universe shows; which other ones do you love? Tell us in the comments below!
Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU are currently streaming on Peacock
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE, which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here.