It’s no secret that Law & Order is a rite of passage in Hollywood. The series premiered in 1990 and ran for 24 seasons, becoming the second-longest-running live-action scripted American primetime series. Its spin-off, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, holds the title as the longest-running series and is still currently on the air.
The iconic crime procedural has launched countless careers from A-list stars to up-and-coming talent. So, when Keke Palmer, who also made a guest appearance in the series, took the stage at the 2025 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards and asked the audience to raise a glass if they had ever guest-starred on the show, it was no surprise that nearly the entire room took a sip.
The moment came during a special segment introduced by Law & Order: SVU star and producer Mariska Hargitay, who paid tribute to the countless actors who have graced the Law & Order universe.
“In the Law & Order universe, the dedicated actors who bring these stories to life are members of an elite squad known as the guest stars,” Hargitay said. “These are their stories.” A montage followed, showcasing clips of past guest stars, many of whom have gone on to become household names.
LOL Keke Palmer and Colman Domingo asked every celeb to take a drink if they ever appeared on Law & Order, and practically the entire SAG audience had to take a sip lol pic.twitter.com/lAmQ94paj3
— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) February 24, 2025
Then came Palmer’s playful challenge. Taking the stage alongside Sing Sing star Colman Domingo, Palmer couldn’t resist pointing out the number of actors in attendance who had made their mark on the crime drama.
“All right, who’s been a guest star on Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, or Law & Order: Criminal Intent? Take a drink now!” Palmer called out, scanning the crowd.
“I’m looking at you, Zoe,” she teased, referring to Guardians of the Galaxy star Zoe Saldaña, who guest-starred in SVU Season 4. She then turned her sights on the cast of The Bear, “Wasn’t you the one that killed your mom in that one episode? Loved the performance!”
Domingo, who had his own guest spot in the franchise, wasted no time joining in. Raising his glass, he declared, “Don’t mind if I do. To the guest stars.”
From Viola Davis and Kerry Washington to Ludacris and Mahershala Ali, Law & Order has long been a proving ground for rising talent.
