Whatever Happened to the Cast of ‘L.A. Law’?
When L.A. Law premiered on NBC on September 15, 1986, it was unlike anything viewers had seen before. Set inside the fast-paced Los Angeles law firm McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak, the series blended courtroom drama with personal drama based in the lives of its lawyers and staff. With sharp writing and an ensemble cast that balanced humor, romance and serious social issues, the show quickly became a hit. The show went on to win multiple Emmy Awards and ran until 1994, leaving behind a legacy as one of television’s most influential dramas.
The series also launched and reshaped the careers of many of its stars, some of whom went on to even bigger projects, while others chose quieter paths away from the spotlight. Here’s what happened to the main cast of L.A. Law:
Harry Hamlin (73)
Michael Kuzak
20th Century Fox Film Corp/Everett Collection; Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Hamlin left L.A. Law in 1991 but went on to steady success in television and film, from Veronica Mars to Mad Men. More recently, he’s appeared in Mayfair Witches and 80 for Brady. He has been married to actress Lisa Rinna since 1997 and the couple has two daughters. Hamlin also has an older son from a previous relationship. In addition to acting, he co-founded an energy company and serves on the board of the National Space Society.
Corbin Bernsen (71)
Arnie Becker
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival
Bernsen played the womanizing Becker for the show’s entire run. He later starred in the Major League films and became a fan favorite on Psych. He also directs and produces, keeping a busy schedule with both indie projects and mainstream TV. Married to actress Amanda Pays since 1988, they have four sons together. Bernsen is also famous for owning one of the largest snow globe collections in the world, containing around 8,000, according to his Facebook page.
Jill Eikenberry (78)
Ann Kelsey
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection; Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Eikenberry played compassionate Ann Kelsey while privately battling breast cancer early in the show’s run, later becoming a strong advocate for awareness. She and her husband Michael Tucker, who also starred in the show, have performed together in cabaret acts and stage productions. They divide their time between New York and a home in Umbria, Italy.
Michele Greene (63)
Abby Perkins
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection; Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images
Greene played Abby Perkins, a young lawyer balancing work and single motherhood. After leaving the series, she pursued music, releasing Spanish-language folk albums, and became a novelist under the name Michele Domínguez Greene. Her books include Chasing the Jaguar and Keep Sweet. Greene splits her time between California and Nicaragua while remaining active in creative and social causes.
Jimmy Smits (70)
Victor Sifuentes
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection; Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Smits became a breakout star as Victor Sifuentes, one of TV’s first major Latino lawyers. He went on to acclaimed roles in NYPD Blue, The West Wing, Dexter and Sons of Anarchy, as well as appearances in the Star Wars franchise. He continues to work steadily, including in Obi-Wan Kenobi and In the Heights. Smits has been with actress Wanda De Jesus since the 1980s and co-founded the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts.
Michael Tucker (80)
Stuart Markowitz
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection; Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images
Tucker charmed fans as Stuart Markowitz, Ann Kelsey’s on-screen (and off-screen) husband. After the series, he wrote several books, including the memoir Living in a Foreign Language about his and Eikenberry’s life in Italy. He also writes fiction and occasionally acts in smaller projects.
Susan Ruttan (76)
Roxanne Melman
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection; Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Ruttan played the loyal and outspoken secretary Roxanne throughout the show’s run. Afterward, she appeared in guest roles on ER, Seinfeld and Boston Legal, among others. She gradually stepped away from acting in the 2000s and has since lived more privately.
Susan Dey (72)
Grace Van Owen
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection
Dey played cool and composed Deputy D.A. Grace Van Owen, winning a Golden Globe in 1989. After leaving the show in 1992, she gradually retired, with her last acting credit in 2004. Married to producer Bernard Sofronski since 1988, Dey now lives a private life and has declined reunion appearances. She remains remembered as both a Partridge Family star and one of L.A. Law‘s most iconic faces.
Richard Dysart (86, d. 2015)
Leland McKenzie
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection
As senior partner Leland McKenzie, Dysart brought gravitas to the firm and won an Emmy in 1992. He retired not long after the show, returning for the 2002 reunion movie. Dysart passed away on April 5, 2015 at age 86 after a long illness.
Alan Rachins (82, d. 2024)
Douglas Brackman Jr.
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection
Rachins earned award nominations as uptight Douglas Brackman before moving into comedy as Larry on Dharma & Greg. He also lent his voice to animated series like The Spectacular Spider-Man and appeared in guest roles on shows such as Boston Legal and NCIS. He was married to actress Joanna Frank since 1978, the two had one son together. Rachins passed away on November 2, 2024 at age 82 of heart failure.
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