Famous guest stars on 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' -

With over 20 seasons of ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,' you should be accustomed to the surprising plot twists and the epic celebrity cameos. Not only does the plot keep you on the edge of your seat, but so do the unexpected A-listers! Whether they're guest starring as the villain or as one of the special victims, a celebrity guest star will always grasp your attention. And if you've ever watched the reruns, then you've probably caught a glimpse into your favorite actors' early days on the small screen, as many landed their first roles in the series.

Want to discover the famous guest stars on ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’? Then click through the following gallery.

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Sharon Stone -

Stone made her appearance as Jo Marlowe, the new Bureau Chief, over four consecutive episodes during season 11.

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Alec Baldwin -

For Mariska Hargitay's directorial debut in season 15, Baldwin played a controversial newspaper columnist with powerful influence over New York City authorities.

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Bradley Cooper -

Before Bradley Cooper became a Hollywood A-lister, his first notable role was playing charming lawyer Jason Whitaker in the season six episode 'Night.'

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Robin Williams (1951-2014) -

Williams appeared on 'SVU's' 200th episode during season nine. He played an anti-authoritarian activist who abducts Olivia Benson to challenge authority.

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Hilary Duff -

Far from Lizzie McGuire, Duff appeared in season 10 as a young and seemingly irresponsible mother. When her daughter dies of measles after being exposed to an unvaccinated child, the sick child's family becomes a target for revenge.

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Amanda Seyfried -

Seyfried made an appearance in the season six episode 'Outcry,' where she played a victim of sexual abuse.

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Snoop Dogg -

In season 20, Snoop Dogg plays a recording artist who gets wrapped up in a predicament involving a rival rapper and an assault case.

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T.R. Knight -

Knight starred in the season 13 episode 'Double Strands,' where he played both Gabriel Thomas and Brian Smith, identical twins accused of sexual assault.

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Sarah Paulson -

Paulson's very first acting role was on the original 'Law & Order' in 1994, and she returned during season 11, in the 'SVU' episode 'Shadow.'

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Chloë Sevigny -

In season 13's 'Valentine's Day,' Sevigny portrays a woman claiming to have been attacked and kidnapped while video chatting with her husband. But when details of an affair arise, she no longer appears so innocent.

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Rose McGowan -

McGowan starred in a wild season 12 episode, where she played a woman accused of attempted murder along with her ex-boyfriend.

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John Stamos -

In the season 12 episode 'Bang,' Stamos played lawyer Ken Turner, a master manipulator who had fathered at least 20 children. What a fitting title for that episode!

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Matthew Modine -

Modine guest starred in the season 19 episode 'Rage.' He portrayed a serial killer and serial kidnapper of young girls in New York.

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Terrence Howard -

In the season 12 episode 'Reparations,' Howard plays an assistant district attorney who flies from LA to defend his cousin accused of sexual assault.

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Carol Burnett -

Even some of Hollywood's legends, like Carol Burnett, have 'SVU' on their resumes. During season 10, Burnett played Birdie Sulloway, a serial killer who married and killed several men.

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Jeremy Irons -

Irons has made two guest appearances on 'SVU,' both times on season 12. He played Dr. Captain Jackson, a psychiatrist who focuses on treating s e x addicts.

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Elizabeth Mitchell -

Mitchell appeared twice on 'SVU,' once in season four and again in season 12. She has portrayed both murderer and victim.

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Milo Ventimiglia -

Ventimiglia took a break from his bad boy image on 'Gilmore Girls,' playing Lee Healy in season five's 'Escape.'

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Cicely Tyson (1924-2021) -

The award-winning actress guest starred on 'SVU' in the episode 'Hell' as Ondine Burdett. The episode aired during season 10 in 2017.

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Jennifer Love Hewitt -

Some 'SVU' episodes are more disturbing than others. In the season 12 episode 'Behave,' Jennifer Love Hewitt plays a woman who's been abused for the fourth time in 15 years by the same man.

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Cynthia Nixon -

Years after 'SATC' wrapped, Nixon appeared on the show's season nine opening episode, 'Alternate.' Playing a mom falsely accused of abusing her daughter, Nixon won an Emmy for her performance.

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Mischa Barton -

Barton left 'The O.C.' and played a pregnant former prostitute named Gladys Dalton in the season 11 episode 'Savior.'

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Kyle MacLachlan -

MacLachlan appeared on 'SVU' twice, once on season six as Dr. Brett Morton, and again during season 13 as Andrew Raines.

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Serena Williams -

One of William's first acting roles was on 'SVU.' She played an unwitting internet porn victim in the season five episode 'Brotherhood.'

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Billy Campbell -

Billy Campbell starred in the season six episode 'Doubt,' where he played a graduate art professor accused of sexual assault.

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Angela Lansbury (1925-2022) -

Lansbury appeared in the season six episode, 'Night' alongside Bradley Cooper. She played a wealthy and politically-driven mother of a suspected serial rapist, who paid Cooper for his silence.

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Zoe Saldaña -

Saldaña played Gabriela Vega, the daughter of a convicted murderer, in the season five episode 'Criminal.'

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Norman Reedus -

Before starring in the hit show 'The Walking Dead,' Reedus popped up in the season seven episode 'Influence.'

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Kathy Griffin -

In season 11, Griffin played the leader of a lesbian rights group who accuses the 'SVU' team of neglecting crimes against the lesbian community, before her own sexuality is outed.

Sources: (Esquire) (NBC)

See also: Remembering the best of the 'Friends' guest stars

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