By Ron Wynn
NASHVILLE, TN — With his long-running comedy “Black-ish” set to end after this season, Anthony Anderson is returning to the dramatic sphere. He’ll reprise his role as Detective Kevin Bernard in “Law & Order,” which returns to the airwaves Feb. 24 after an absence of nearly 12 years. Anderson previously played Bernard for seasons 18-20 of the show. Despite it’s long time away from the air, NBC is calling the revamped version “Law & Order’s” 21st season.
Casting has been completed for the police portion of the show. It was announced last week that Camryn Manheim had joined the series. The Emmy winner will play NYPD Lt. Kate Dixon, head of the homicide detective squad that typically anchors the first half of an L&O episode. Jeffrey Donovan will play the other lead detective in the revival. Hugh Dancy will play an assistant district attorney.
Manheim fills the lieutenant’s role that was played by S. Epatha Merkerson for most of the original series’ run. She is now a regular on “Chicago Med,” which like the “Law & Order” franchise is produced by Dick Wolf.
The role won’t be Manheim’s first time in the “Law & Order”-verse. She guest starred in three episodes in the early 1990s.
Manheim won an Emmy in 1998 for her work on ABC’s “The Practice” and has been nominated two other times. Her recent TV credits include “Big Shot” on Disney+, ABC’s “Stumptown” and Syfy’s “The Magicians.” NBC gave “Law & Order” a straight to series order in September. Universal TV and Wolf Entertainment produce the show, with Wolf, showrunner Rick Eid, Arthur Forney and Peter Jankowski executive producing.
