Law & Order: SVU kills off original character after 35 years
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 27 trailer
Viewers of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit have expressed anger and upset following the offscreen death of Captain Donald Cragen in the season 27 premiere.
Captain Cragen, portrayed by Dann Florek, had been a fixture in the Law & Order franchise for 35 years, appearing in the original series, SVU, and another spinoff, Law & Order: Organized Crime.
Fans were particularly disappointed about not receiving a proper goodbye scene for the long-standing character.
The episode featured Olivia Benson paying tribute to Cragen, calling him the best boss she ever had, and included a reunion between Benson and Elliot Stabler.
Several other former stars, including George Huang, Brian Cassidy, and Amanda Rollins, also returned for the episode.