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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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) |
Ezekial Dann Florek (born May 1, 1950) is an American actor and film director. He is most famous for playing New York City Police Captain Donald Cragen on the TV shows Law & Order and its spin-off Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He also played Dave Meyer on L.A. Law from 1988 to 1993.
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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 where he studied math and physics, but he didn't finish his degree. Instead, 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 included Sweet Liberty, Moon Over Parador, and Angel Heart. He also played Mr. Slate in the live-action movie The Flintstones.
On television, Florek had a role as Dave Meyer in the popular NBC drama L.A. Law, starting in 1988. He also appeared in the WB sitcom Smart Guy as the high school gym coach and in a few episodes of Roseanne.
Playing Captain Cragen in Law & Order
In 1990, Dann Florek began his most well-known role as Captain Don Cragen in the NBC police and legal drama Law & Order. This show followed police detectives and lawyers as they solved crimes and brought cases to court.
After a few years, the show's creators decided to make some changes to the cast. Florek's character was written out of the show, but he was still able to direct some episodes of Law & Order in 1994 and 1995.
Florek returned to play Captain Cragen in a 1995 episode called "Bad Faith," which he also directed. He also appeared in the 1998 TV movie Exiled: A Law & Order Movie.
In 1999, he came back to the role of Captain Cragen, but this time on a new show. It was a spin-off from Law & Order called Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. On this show, he was the captain of a special police unit that investigated sensitive crimes.
Florek's character left the show during its 15th season in 2014. However, he made guest appearances later, including in 2015 and in the 500th episode of SVU. In 2022, he also appeared as Cragen in the SVU spin-off Law & Order: Organized Crime, reuniting with his former detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni).
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, along with Karen, studied at Eastern Michigan University.
In 2008, Eastern Michigan University honored Dann Florek with two special degrees: an honorary Bachelor of Arts and an honorary Doctorate of Arts. He was also the main speaker at the university's graduation ceremony that year.
Selected Film and Television Roles
Dann Florek has appeared in many films and television shows throughout his career. Here are some of his notable roles:
Film Appearances
- 1986: Sweet Liberty as Jesse
- 1987: Angel Heart as Herman Winesap
- 1988: Moon over Parador as Toby
- 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 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
