When the announcement dropped that the School of Dramatic Arts’ new home on campus would be named for Dick Wolf, alumni and faculty of the School reached out to share their connections to the Emmy-winning creator/producer.
In addition to serving as creator and executive producer of all the Law & Order-branded series, Wolf is a GRAMMY Award winner and a New York Times best-selling author. Other Wolf Entertainment series include Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, FBI, FBI Most Wanted and FBI International. Wolf’s newest series is Amazon Prime’s On Call, starring SDA alumna Troian Bellisario (BFA ’09).
Here are some of the tributes:
Professor Kate Burton, SDA Faculty
“I grew up as an actress working every decade for Dick Wolf in many of his kingdom of shows: a wayward nun and a district attorney on three episodes in the Law & Order mothership, the wife of a disgraced businessman in Criminal Intent, a bullying boss in SVU and, most recently, a deputy secretary of state in FBI! I am now a Professor of the Practice teaching Screen Acting at USC and our drama building is being named for the great Dick Wolf, a champion for actors! Bravo!”
Tate Donovan (BFA ’85)
“In a way, Dick Wolf has done more for theatre in N.Y. than anyone. I’ve done two episodes of his shows and it was always a delight because I’d be reunited with my theatre friends. So many writers, directors and actors made their insurance, kept their apartments, were able to survive doing off-Broadway shows because of the jobs on Dick’s shows. He’s an unsung hero of the theatre and it’s perfect USC has given this honor.”
Nona Parker Johnson (MFA Acting ’20)
“The time I spent with Law & Order: Organized Crime helmed by Dick Wolf changed everything for me. A truly fruitful and irreplaceable experience I’d only ever daydreamed about! The enthusiasm, work ethic and specificity of craft the team worked with left me with valuable, applicable tools to carry with me throughout my career going forward.”
Professor Paul Urcioli, SDA Faculty
“When I was just starting out in NYC, my first memories of taking part in the industry were largely connected to his shows. I wasn’t unique. Just about every one of my peers, fresh from drama schools all over the country, found their starts on his family of Law & Orders. One Christmas I even got a letter from Dick Wolf thanking me for being a part of ‘the best repertory company ever assembled.’”
Professor Esther K. Chae, SDA Faculty
“Back in the day we used to joke that if it weren’t for Law and Order shooting in NYC, we wouldn’t have our SAG cards. And at the time, this certainly rang truer for POC students with narrower entry ways into the TV industry. After countless auditions at Dick Wolf casting offices in both NYC and L.A. (ranging from con artist, white collar professional, sex worker, parent, etc.) it was a relief to finally book a role playing Public Defender Kim, in Law and Order: Criminal Intent.”
J. August Richards (BFA ’95)
“Early in my career, I had the honor and privilege of being a series regular on a Dick Wolf show and I was blown away by how hands-on he is. Truly grateful to him for the opportunity of a lifetime!”