Maura Tierney joins Law & Order cast ahead of season 24

Law & Order, like most long-running shows, has had to contend with cast departures. The procedural drama lost Sam Waterston and Camryn Manheim in season 23, both of whom played beloved roles. Fortunately, Law & Order will be replacing the latter with another beloved TV veteran: Maura Tierney.

Deadline reports that Tierney will be a series regular during Law & Order's upcoming season. The details on her character have not yet been divulged, but it has been confirmed that she will play a lieutenant. This will mark the second time that Tierney has appeared in the Law & Order franchise.

Maura Tierney will play a new Law & Order lieutenant

The actress previously appeared in the 1991 episode "Aria." She played a character named Patti Blaine, which, in true Law & Order fashion, will have no bearing on the character she plays in the upcoming season.

In addition to being a Law & Order alum, Maura Tierney has an impressive resume of TV credits to her name. She was a main cast member on the cult sitcom NewsRadio from 1995 to 1999, then pivoted to an even bigger hit with the medical drama ER. Tierney played Abby Lockhart from 1999 to 2009, which remains her most iconic character to date.

Maura Tierney has a legendary TV resume

In more recent years, Tierney has continued to make a splash on the small screen. She had guest stints on Rescue Me (2009-11), The Whole Truth (2010-11), and The Good Wife (2012-13). She also starred in the Showtime series The Affair (2014-19), which earned her widespread critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.

More recently, Maura Tierney appeared in the blockbuster Twisters opposite Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones. The film is a sequel to Twister (1996), and has already proven to be one of the biggest hits of the year.