Law & Order star Camryn Manheim is leaving ahead of the next season.

According to Variety, she will make her final appearance as Lieutenant Kate Dixon in the season 23 finale on May 16.

Manheim’s character succeeded the infamous Anita Van Buren (played by S. Epatha Merkerson) when the flagship series was revived by NBC in 2021.

Before landing a main role, Manheim had appeared as a guest star in 1991, before returning as different characters in 1993 and 1994.

 

The show’s creator Dick Wolf said: “I thank Camryn for her three wonderful seasons helping us relaunch Law & Order. She is a class act, and I wish her nothing but the best for her next chapter.”

News of Manheim’s departure follows co-star Sam Waterston’s exit after more than 400 episodes on the show.

Waterston played District Attorney Jack McCoy for most of the show’s 23 seasons, and was one of several original cast members to return when the show was resurrected in 2021.

 

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Waterston previously praised his final episode — which was written by showrunner Rick Eid.

“I think I always knew there was a time stamp, a use-by date, on the return. I didn’t want to turn on the TV and not see myself on the show when it came back but, at the same time, I knew I didn’t want to be there again for the long term,” he said.

“And then before this season, it became apparent to both Law & Order and to me that this would be a really good time to leave. Then Rick Eid wrote this really graceful exit.”

The show has already lined up a replacement for the long-standing cast member, with Scandal and Oppenheimer star Tony Goldwyn set to join.