The Law & Order franchise is one of the longest running and influential TV franchises in history, and the SVU spin off may be the most popular of them all. An while the first image that probably appears in the mind of true Law & Order: SVU fans is that of Olivia Benson, make no mistake about it – Captain Cragen anchored that team, and Dann Florek gave a live to that Character that is transcendent. When the news broke that he would be leaving SVU, fans were screaming not again, referring to the unceremonious departure of other long-time characters.
Well, sense, Dann Florek will be embarking upon new endeavors, it is worth taking a look at some of the things that the majority of fans were completely oblivious to.
1. He Attended the Juilliard School in New York
When you picture Dann Florek, Juilliard is not the first image that pops into your mind; however, when you study how well Dann practices his craft, and the energy and life he brings to his character, you have to appreciate his level of expertise. His commitment to excellence may very well be a result of his stint at Juilliard, and if so, he has definitely put his training to efficient and effective use.
2. Acting Was Not His First Choice Entering College
You might be surprised to find that Dann chose to major in physics and math when initially entered college, which is a far cry away from the arts. How does a person go from demanding so much from the left side of his brain, to consistently exploited the rich creativity emanating from the right side? Maybe it was the scholarship he received to attend the school of drama that inspired him to make the change.
3. He Has Paid His Dues
While his role as Captain Cragen is probably going to type cast him as the police captain, Florek has definitely show a great deal of diversity as he paid his dues moving up the ranks in Hollywood and New York. He has play on shows such as Angel Heart, Sweet Liberty and Moon over Parador, just to name a few. He has performed in front of the camera and on stage as a member of the acting community at Juilliard.
4. He Actually Directed Some Law & Order Episodes
Florek’s breakout role came as Captain Donald Cragen in 1990 on the Law & Order series, where he stayed for three seasons. Upon leaving the series, he actually stay behind to direct a number of subsequent episodes. It is not clear of whether he was aware that his character would return in a spinoff or not, but he was definitely prepared for it.
5. A Misunderstanding Led to the Unusual Spelling of His First Name
For the longest time, Florek went by Danny, and the one day he looked at his secretary and said that it was probably time to drop the “y.” Well, she took him literally, dropping the “y,” but leaving both “Ns,” and the unusual spelling of his fist name simply stuck. It has definitely served to distinguish him in the way of his first name alone.
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