'On the 20th Century's Peter Gallagher Joins Cast of LAW & ORDER: SVU

Variety reports that Peter Gallagher, who next spring will star opposite Kristin Chenoweth in Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of On the Twentieth Century as Oscar Jaffe, has joined the cast of NBC's "Law & Order: SVU."

The actor will portray Deputy Chief William Dodds, described as "a charismatic but tough-as-nails boss who oversees all of the special victims units in the Big Apple. He demands respect and hard work from the commanders who answer to him - and is used to getting it."

Commented SVU showrunner Warren Leight, "I've wanted to write for and work with Peter Gallagher since ... forever. He's an actor's actor - deft with text and subtext; emotion and intellect. Like everyone else in our cast, he's also a great singer. We're all thrilled that this long into the show's run, actors of his quality want to do an arc on 'SVU.'"

Gallagher's other Broadway credits include "Hair" and "Guys and Dolls." On film he has appeared in "American Beauty," and "Center Stage. His TV credits include "The O.C."

Season 16 of "Law & Order: SVU" premieres at 9 p.m. Sept. 24 on NBC.

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