Chicago PD is in an interesting place. The show has introduced a new foe in the form of Chief Deputy Charlie Reid, but the dynamic betwen the character and the IU has not boiled over into antagonism. It still appears as though things are cordial, to the extent that Reid asked Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) to be "friends" in the fall finale.
The use of the word "friends" was loaded, however. The character is seemingly angling to take advantage of the skeletons in the IU's closet, and his presence in the winter premiere promo photos confirms that he will play a large role in the rest of season 12.
Shawn Hatosy made his Law & Order debut in 1996
Here's the thing: you've seen the actor who plays Reid before. You've seen him in the same television universe as One Chicago, and you've seen him multiple times. Shawn Hatosy is a TV veteran, and he has appeared in numerous Dick Wolf productions dating back to the 1990s.
Hatosy made his Law & Order debut in the 1996 episode "Savior." It was one of the actor's first ever TV roles, and it would prove to be a fruitful one, as Dick Wolf Productions brought him back for Law & Order: Criminal Intent in 2009. The actor played a character named Larry Clay in the episode "Salome In Manhattan."
Don't remember watching Hatosy in either show? Then you might recall he had a supporting role in the 2011 Law & Order: LA episode "Hayden Tract." Law & Order: LA only lasted for one season, which means very few actors can lay claim to having appeared on it. Hastosy completed his tour of the Law & Order shows with an appearance on the SVU episode "Valentine's Day" in 2012.
Hatosy has appeared on every Law & Order spinoff
By this point, the One Chicago franchise had been launched, which exists in the same timeline as Law & Order. After an additional role in the flagship show courtesy of the 2023 episode "Heroes," the actor made the pivot to Chicago PD.
Shawn Hatosy is on the impressive list of actors who have appeared in Chicago PD and Law & Order. He's also on the list of actors who have appeared in every Law & Order spinoff at least once, which is a list that is much harder to crack.
He's continued to bring his A game for three decades on Dick Wolf Productions, so we're excited to see where his storyline goes on Chicago PD heading into 2025.