The Marvel series Daredevil: Born Again has brought back fan-favorite Vincent D’Onofrio as the powerful villain Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin. But many viewers might recognize the actor from a famous crime show on NBC. Before he ruled Hell’s Kitchen, D’Onofrio spent ten years solving cases on a Law & Order spin-off. His past work as a detective is now getting fresh attention as new episodes of Daredevil: Born Again continue to air on Disney+.
Vincent D’Onofrio’s Role as Detective Robert Goren in Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Vincent D’Onofrio played Detective Robert Goren on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. He appeared in 141 episodes over the show’s ten-season run. His character was a first-grade investigator in the New York Police Department’s major case squad. Fans of the show know him by the nickname Bobby.
Unlike other detectives on TV, Goren used psychology and his deep understanding of criminal behavior to find suspects. He did not always rely on physical evidence. Instead, he would get into the minds of criminals to get confessions. This made his character unique and popular with viewers.
D’Onofrio spoke with GQ about joining the series. He said that Dick Wolf asked him if he wanted to try television work. At that time, he had only done a few small guest roles. He was not sure about being a lead actor on a TV show. But after reading a script written by Rene Balcer, he changed his mind. The writing was so strong that it convinced him to sign on.
The Tough Working Conditions on the Law & Order Set
Working on Law & Order: Criminal Intent was not easy for Vincent D’Onofrio. He shared that the filming schedule was very hard. He and his co-star Kate Erbe worked very long hours. They averaged about 17 hours a day of work. This happened every day for 10 months out of the year.
D’Onofrio admitted that he did not enjoy those long days. He said it was exhausting. He is glad that those kinds of working conditions are no longer allowed for actors today. Even though the schedule was tough, he credits the show for helping him grow as an actor.
He said that when he left that show, he was ten times better as an actor than before he started. There was so much dialogue to learn all the time. He had to make many quick transitions within a single scene. He does not think he would have improved as much without that experience.
Other Daredevil: Born Again Stars Who Appeared in Law & Order
Vincent D’Onofrio is not the only Daredevil: Born Again star with a past in the Law & Order franchise. Two other main actors from the Marvel series also made appearances in the long-running crime drama.
Jon Bernthal, who plays Frank Castle also known as The Punisher, appeared in two different Law & Order shows. He first appeared in Law & Order: Criminal Intent in 2002. He played a character named Lane Ruddock in the episode called “Malignant”. Then in 2005, he showed up in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He played Sherm Hempell in the episode “Goliath.” His character was an investigative journalist who found out about the dangerous effects of a drug given to war veterans.
Deborah Ann Woll, who plays Karen Page in Daredevil: Born Again, also made a guest appearance. She appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2009. She played Lily Milton in Season 11, Episode 3. At that time, she was a medical student involved in a difficult case. This role came early in her career, before she became famous for playing Karen Page.
The Connection Between Law & Order and Daredevil: Born Again
The link between the two shows goes beyond just the actors. The third episode of Daredevil: Born Again has a very similar feel to a Law & Order episode. Episode three, titled “The Hollow of His Hand,” takes place mostly in a courtroom.
In this episode, Matt Murdock (played by Charlie Cox) defends a client named Hector Ayala. The courtroom is full of corrupt police officers. The jury already thinks the man is guilty. Murdock has not yet put on his Daredevil costume in the show at this point. The episode focuses on his skills as a lawyer rather than a superhero. This choice worked very well for the series and showed the acting talent of Charlie Cox.
A reviewer pointed out that this episode could easily have been an episode of Law & Order. The writing was sharp, and the pacing was strong. It gave viewers a chance to see Matt Murdock as a regular person fighting for justice within the legal system.
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What Vincent D’Onofrio Has Said About His Time on Both Shows
Vincent D’Onofrio has talked openly about how his time on Law & Order helped him get ready for Daredevil: Born Again. The skills he learned on the crime show made him better at playing Kingpin. The role of Wilson Fisk needs a lot of emotional depth and control. The detective role trained him to handle heavy dialogue and intense scenes.
Fans of Daredevil: Born Again can watch the show every week on Disney+. Episode 6 of the series came out recently. Viewers who want to see D’Onofrio’s earlier work can find Law & Order: Criminal Intent on streaming platforms like Peacock.
The success of Daredevil: Born Again has brought new attention to D’Onofrio’s past roles. Many younger viewers are discovering his work as Detective Goren for the first time. The actor’s journey from solving crimes on NBC to fighting superheroes on Disney+ shows his range and talent.
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