- Dann Florek
-
Dann Florek 
Florek at Eastern Michigan UniversityBorn Ezekial Dann Florek
May 1, 1950
Flat Rock, Michigan, United StatesOther names Dann Florek Years active 1983 – present Spouse Karen Florek (?–present) Ezekial Dann Florek (born May 1, 1950), professional name Dann Florek, is an American actor and director.
Contents
Early life
Florek was born in Flat Rock, Michigan. He attended Eastern Michigan University, but never graduated. He moved to New York City to pursue an acting career in the theatre.
Career
Florek worked his way into supporting roles in such diverse '80's films as Sweet Liberty, Moon Over Parador and Angel Heart.
Law & Order
After a brief stint as the boring husband of Susan Ruttan on NBC's hit drama L.A. Law, Florek co-starred in the NBC police procedural and legal drama television series Law & Order as Capt. Don Cragen. The first few years of Law & Order had mediocre ratings and finally after the close of the 1992-1993 season, NBC told creator/executive producer Dick Wolf that they would cancel the show, unless he added a few women to the all-male cast. Wolf reluctantly complied and fired Florek as well as Richard Brooks (who played Paul Robinette), replacing them with S. Epatha Merkerson and Jill Hennessy, respectively. However, Florek was allowed to direct a few Law & Order episodes in 1994 and 1995.
Florek reprised the role of Cragen in the 1995 episode "Bad Faith" (which he also directed), and in the 1998 TV-movie Exiled, centered on former L&O star Chris Noth's character, Mike Logan. In 1999 he returned to the Cragen role, only this time on the Law & Order spin-off series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as the unit captain, a part he plays to this day.
Florek also had a recurring role in the WB sitcom Smart Guy as the high school gym coach. He also appeared in several episodes of Roseanne.
Personal life
Florek's wife, Karen, works as an artist. His brother, Dave, is also an actor. All three trained in the Daniel L. Quirk Jr. drama school at Eastern Michigan University. On December 13, 2008 Dann received an honorary Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Michigan University from President Susan Martin and the EMU board of registrants. During the Winter 2008 Eastern Michigan Graduation Commencement on December 14, 2008 he received an honorary Doctorate of Arts from Eastern Michigan University from EMU president Susan Martin; Florek was the head speaker at this event as well.
Filmography
Year Film Role Notes 1983 Eddie Macon's Run Men in bar 1986 Sweet Liberty 1987 Angel Heart Herman Winesap Five Corners Policeman 1988 Sunset Marty Goldberg Moon Over Parador Toby 1989 An Innocent Man Prosecuting Attorney Uncredited 1991 Flight of the Intruder Lt. Comdr. Mad Jack/Doc 1994 The Flintstones Mr. Slate Getting Even with Dad Wayne 1998 Hard Rain Mr. Mehlor 2000 Beautiful Joe Happy 2002 Law & Order: The Beginning Himself Direct-to-video
aka The Creation of 'Law & Order' with Dick Wolf2003 Focus Room William SVU Beginning Himself Direct-to-video 2004 Law & Order: The First 3 Years Himself Direct-to-video Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Police Sketch: Dann Florek Himself Direct-to-video 2005 Jerry Orbach Tribute Himself Direct-to-video 2006 Copy That Dann 2007 TV Land Confidential Himself - interviewee Episode: "Locations"
aka TV Land Confidential: The Untold Stories2010 Santorini Blue Trent Parker Post-production Television
Year Film Role Notes 1982 The Country Girl Larry TV film 1985 Hill Street Blues Episode: "Intestinal Fortitude" Braker Hayes TV film 1986 The Equalizer Lieutenant Episode: "Breakpoint" Alex: The Life of a Child Dr. Tom Dolan TV film 1988-93 L.A. Law David Meyer / Dave Meyer 22 episodes 1987 CBS Summer Playhouse Winthrop Episode: "Doctors Wilde" Hunter John Edleton Episode: "Night on Bald Mountain" 1988 Matlock Ken Pritchard Episode: "The Hucksters" 21 Jump Street Jim Crawford Episode: "Brother Hanson & the Miracle of Renner's Pond" The Trial of Bernhard Goetz Judge Crane TV film CBS Schoolbreak Special Stan Pallon Episode: "Gambler" 1989 The Edge Strip-Joint Operator TV film Free Spirit Bill / Mr. Flynn Episode: "The Bosses Are Coming" Major Dad Buzz Episode: "Rescue Mission" 1990 Grand Robert Episode: "The Healing" Roseanne Principal Hiller Episode: "Bird Is the Word" 1990–93 Law & Order Captain Donald Cragen 66 episodes 1994 Hardball Ernest 'Happy' Talbot Unknown episodes Wings Bob Episode: "Insanity Claus" 1995 Ellen Mr. Woodruff Episode: "$5,000" The John Larroquette Show Lennox Episode: "Love on the Line" 1996 Champs Ernie Episode: "It's Must Have Been Gridlock" 1997 A Nightmare Come True Det. Ron Shaye TV film
aka A Dream of MurderRoseanne Doctor/Dr. Rudmen Episode: "A Second Chance" (as Doctor)
Episode: "The Miracle" (as Dr. Rudmen)Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Bob Gordon Episode: "Cat Showdown" Total Security Morris Silver Episode: "Dental Men Prefer Blondes" NYPD Blue Gary Hogan Episode: "Sheedy Dealings" 1998 The Pentagon Wars Maj. Gen. Bob Braden TV film The Pretender Don Larson Episode: "Crash" From the Earth to the Moon Robert Seamans HBO Miniseries
Episode: "Apollo One"
Episode: "Spider"The Practice Father Michael Ryan Episode: "Duty Bound" Little Girl Fly Away Chief Gelbart TV film
aka The PoetThe Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer Abraham Lincoln Episode: "School DaZe"
Episode: "Kidnapped"
Episode: "A.O.L.: Abe on Line"
Episode: "Saving Mr. Lincoln"Exiled: A Law & Order Movie Captain Donald Cragen TV film 1997-99 Smart Guy Coach Gerber Episode: "Below the Rim"
Episode: "Most Hated Man on Campus"
Episode: "T.A. or Not T.A."
Episode: "List_of_Smart_Guy_episodes#Season_3:_1998-99Break Up Not to Make Up"
Episode: "Can't Buy Me Love"
Episode: "The Graduate?"1999–present Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Captain Donald Cragen Supporting character Producer
Year Film Role Notes 2010 Santorini Blue Associate Producer Post-production Director
Year Film Role Notes 1993-95 Law & Order Television Director Episode: "The Pursuit of Happiness"
Episode: "Big Bang"
Episode: "Bad Faith"References
Eastern Michigan University 2008 Winter Commencement. Lead Speaker Dann Florek. December 14, 2008.
Eastern Michigan University 2008 Winter Commencement. Speaker: EMU President Susan Martin. December 14, 2008.
External links
Categories:- 1950 births
- Living people
- People from Flat Rock, Michigan
- American television actors
- Eastern Michigan University alumni
- Actors from Michigan
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