Interview With Dan Lauria of Law and Order SVU

This is my seventh Law and Order that I’ve done. So whenever Dick Wolf calls, and it’s never an audition it’s would you do the show? I go because I know it’s going to be of the best quality. And it beats working. _Dan Lauria : Law and Order SVU

 

DAN LAURIADan Lauria : Law and Order SVU
Writer | Director | Actor | Former Football Coach
Credits: The Wonder Years | CSI | The Ghost Whisperer | ER | The Bronx Is Burning | From Earth to the Moon | Law and Order: SVU | The Spirit | Independence Day | Big Momma’s House 2
By: Kamilah Wallace/Premier Guide Media

 

PERSONAL FOULS (TV-14)

WHEN A WELL-RESPECTED BASKETBALL COACH (GUEST STAR DAN LAURIA) IS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE, DETECTIVES OLIVIA BENSON (MARISKA HARGITAY) AND ODAFIN TUTUOLA (ICE-T) ARE JOINED BY NEW DETECTIVE NICK AMARO (DANNY PINO) TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH ABOUT A STAR PLAYER’S (GUEST STAR MEHCAD BROOKS) PAST. SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY CARMELO ANTHONY AND CHRIS BOSH. As Coach Ray Masters (Lauria) is inducted to the Metro Basketball Hall of Fame by former students Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh, an ex-player accuses the coach of sexually abusing him as a child. Detective Nick Amaro (Pino) transfers into the SVU squad and is thrown on to the case. The detectives interview former players but no one admits to abuse, forcing Benson (Hargitay) and Fin (Ice-T) to dig deeper into Coach Ray’s most successful player, basketball star Prince Miller (Brooks) and his manager/cousin (guest star Heavy D.) Also starring: Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins) and Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen.).

What attracted you to this role?

Dan Lauria: This is my seventh Law and Order that I’ve done so whenever Dick Wolf calls and it’s never an audition it’s would you do the show? I go because I know it’s going to be of the best quality. And I know the people on the show like Dan Florek and that end, so it’s great to see old friends again. And the issue was so important, I just enjoyed doing it.

How much did you draw upon from your days as a football coach?

Dan Lauria: Well I played a lot of coaches. I just finished playing Lombardi on Broadway for nine months. So I really didn’t have to draw that much. I’m actually not much of a basketball player but we had Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh there on the set. They were kind of giving me some pointers. So it was actually kind of fun to meet those guys.

What is most gratifying to you as an actor and this show?

Dan Lauria: Well it beats working. We were child actors. I think this episode shows you what television can be. I mean it doesn’t have to be just entertainment or mindless reality shows. It’s a show about something, it makes people aware, it’s actually going to help children. I have a feeling once it’s aired a lot of young people are going to step forward and reveal the same kind of conflict in their own lives. So it’s an important episode. I am very lucky that I’ve been on shows that have a quality to it and it actually tries to help people.


How close is everyone on the set?

Dan Lauria: It’s a great – this my second time around and you couldn’t work with better people. They’re so nice.

 

Among all the A.D.A.s you had on the show if you were to work with anyone again, who would it be?

Dan Lauria: I’m sure I’m going to work with Dan Florek again. So we’ve known each other a long time. I can’t wait to do a play with him.

 

If you could cast anybody in the world, who would you want to have on the show?

Dan Lauria: Sophia Loren.


Do you feel that television today offers more interesting projects than movies?

Dan Lauria: Yes, especially about the cable pushing the envelope that’s where the real writers want to go now because the Hollywood system is whatever was hot last year, let’s do four more of them this year. There are still great films out there, some wonderful work but I think on television it gives you a chance to really develop characters and push that envelope a little bit more than film does.

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