7 Former ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Stars We Want to See Return in Season 20

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Law and Order - Danny Pino
Michael Parmelee/NBC

Detective Nick Amaro

Amaro was played by Danny Pino in Seasons 13-16. His character moved to Los Angeles to be close to his family after suffering injuries on the job.

Law and Order - Dann Florek as Capt. Donald Cragen
Will Hart/NBC

Capt. Donald Cragen

Dan Florek played the longtime Captain from Seasons 1-16. In the series, after his character retires, Benson begins to lead the team.

Law and Order - Tamara Tunie
Justin Stephens/NC

Dr. Melinda Warner

The medical examiner was played by Tamara Tunie in Seasons 2-19. She’s a recurring cast member, and we hope to see her back more fully in Season 20.

Law and Order - Richard Belzer as Det. John Munch
Justin Stephens/NBC

Det. John Munch

Richard Belzer regularly played the character for 15 seasons of the procedural drama, after initiating and playing the role for the entire series run of Homicide: Life on the Street from 1993-99. Munch was Fin’s partner until he retired.

Law and Order - BD Wong
Paul Drinkwater/NBC

Dr. George Huang

B.D. Wong played SVU’s resident forensic psychiatrist and criminal profiler from Seasons 2-17. Fans loved his expert analysis until he retired.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - Season 19
Michael Parmelee/NBC

ADA Rafael Barba

Barba — played by Raúl Esparza in Seasons 14-19 — just left the show, but fans would love to see him return for a special case and possibly break bread with his replacement, ADA Peter Stone (Philip Winchester).

On Location For
Bobby Bank/WireImage

Detective Elliot Stabler

Played by the one and only Christopher Meloni. He was on the series for 272 episodes but left the show abruptly at the end of Season 12.

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Law & Order: SVU has gone where few other shows have gone before: Season 20.

The success of the procedural drama is, no doubt, based on the strength of the cast, both former and current. Mariska Hargitay, who has been with the show since its premiere, leads her no-BS squad as Lt. Olivia Benson with along with longtime partner and friend (and now sergeant) Fin Tutuola (Ice-T).

Of course, after almost two decades on the air, the cast has seen its fair share of shakeups. Most recently, in Season 19, ADA Rafael Barba (Raúl Esparza) departed the series, but we also saw the return of Alex Cabot (Stephanie March), which means more surprises could be coming in the future.

Click through the gallery above to see other former SVU characters we’d love to see make a comeback.

Law & Order: SVU, Thursdays, 10/9c, NBC