After spending nearly nine years on the series, total hottie Jessie L. Martin will be leaving Law & Order later this season. No word yet on how his character will make his exit.
Martin will be replaced by K-Ville star Anthony Anderson, who pulled some shifts on L&O’s sister series, SVU, when Mariska Hargitay was on maternity leave.
It appears Martin’s leaving the series to focus his energies on his film career — he’s signed on to play the starring role in the Marvin Gaye biopic, Sexual Healing, set to begin production in the spring.
oh man… wouldn’t it be way cooler if he was replaced by don cheadle or mos def? then i might actually watch orig L&O instead of SVU and CI. (yes i am a total law and order whore and i’m not afraid to admit it!)
I have never seen him on the show, but by looking at the picture I can completely see him playing Marvin Gaye.
Oh, so good to hear that. Seems I have seen he at an interracial dating club mixedfriends dotcom or somewhere just like that. Not sure whether it is true or not.
He’s so yummy! I’m gonna miss him on L&O but I can’t wait to see him on the big screen again!
I think it speaks volumes about the thought process of Wolf Films that they’re replacing a black actor with facial hair with another black actor with facial hair.
And I’m sure Cathy, above, was at that dating club to find multiple partners to fill every hole while an audience watched and cheered.
Stupid comment TiVo. Maybe you need to review the diverse and talented list of actors who have played the role of lead detective and junior partner on L & O, ranging from Mr. Big himself (Chris Noth) to Dennis Farina to Jerry Orbach to Jesse Martin to Benjamin Bratt. And the attorney types have been just as interesting, diverse, and talented.
And they’ve made such fantastic choices over the past few years! *cough cough* Trial By Jury *cough cough* Conviction *cough cough*
They should have made a strong departure from Jesse Martin, he’s not some snap-in, snap-out actor.