Dann Florek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dann Florek
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Florek in November 2016 in New York City
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| Born |
Ezekial Dann Florek
May 1, 1950 Flat Rock, Michigan, U.S.
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| Other names | Dan Florek |
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| Years active | 1982–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Karen Florek
(m. 1980) |
Dann Florek (born May 1, 1950) is an American actor and director. He is famous for playing Captain Donald Cragen on the TV shows Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He also played Dave Meyer on the show L.A. Law.
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Early Life and Education
Dann Florek was born in Flat Rock, Michigan. His father, Leonard Florek, was a chiropractor. Dann went to Eastern Michigan University. There, he studied math and physics, but he did not finish his degree. Later, he moved to New York City to become an actor in theater.
Acting Career Highlights
In the 1980s, Dann Florek appeared in several movies. Some of these films include Sweet Liberty, Moon Over Parador, and Angel Heart. He also played Mr. Slate in the live-action movie The Flintstones.
Florek also had roles in popular TV shows. He played Dave Meyer on L.A. Law from 1988 to 1993. He was also a coach in the sitcom Smart Guy and appeared in a few episodes of Roseanne.
Starring in Law & Order
In 1990, Dann Florek began his role as Captain Don Cragen in the NBC police procedural show Law & Order. This show was about police work and legal cases.
After a few years, the show's ratings were not very high. So, in 1993, the network decided to make some changes. Florek's character, Captain Cragen, was written out of the show. However, Florek was able to direct some episodes of Law & Order in 1994 and 1995.
Returning as Captain Cragen
Florek returned to play Captain Cragen in a 1995 episode called "Bad Faith." He also directed this episode. He played Cragen again in the 1998 TV movie Exiled: A Law & Order Movie.
In 1999, Florek came back to the role of Captain Cragen for the spin-off series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In this show, Cragen became the captain of the Special Victims Unit. The writers created a backstory for his character. This story explained that Cragen had faced personal challenges, and taking command of the Special Victims Unit helped him overcome them.
Florek's character was written out of SVU during its 15th season. His last episode aired in January 2014. However, he returned for a guest appearance in May 2015. He also appeared in the 500th episode of SVU through a video chat with his former detective, Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay).
More recently, Florek reprised his role as Captain Cragen in the SVU spin-off Law & Order: Organized Crime. He reunited with his former detective, Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni), in April 2022. He also appeared in the second season finale of that show.
Personal Life
Dann Florek is married to Karen Florek, who is an artist. They live in Venice, Los Angeles. Dann's brother, Dave, is also an actor. Both Dann and Dave studied at Eastern Michigan University.
In 2008, Eastern Michigan University honored Florek. He received an honorary Bachelor of Arts degree and an honorary Doctorate of Arts degree. He was also the main speaker at the university's graduation ceremony.
Selected Film and Television Roles
Dann Florek has appeared in many films and TV shows throughout his career. Here are some of his notable roles:
Film Appearances
- 1986: Sweet Liberty as Jesse
- 1987: Angel Heart as Herman Winesap
- 1994: The Flintstones as Mr. Slate
- 1998: Hard Rain as Mr. Mehlor
- 2023: Crater as Older Dylan
Television Appearances
- 1988–1993: L.A. Law as Dave Meyer (22 episodes)
- 1990–2004: Law & Order as Captain Donald Cragen (69 episodes)
- 1997–1999: Smart Guy as Coach Gerber (6 episodes)
- 1998: Exiled: A Law & Order Movie as Captain Donald Cragen (TV movie)
- 1999–2021: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Donald Cragen|Captain Donald Cragen (332 episodes)
- 2022, 2024: Law & Order: Organized Crime as Captain Donald Cragen (4 episodes)
See also
In Spanish: Dann Florek para niños
