Premiering in 1999 on NBC, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit was billed as the grittier, more "ripped from modern headlines" companion show to Law and Order, and man has it delivered.
With a beloved cast of recurring characters and new mysteries to solve each week, the show's remained a staple on TV for almost 20 years, so much so that some actors even showed up on there before they were big! In particular, these 15 appearances either caught us off guard at the time, or when we look back on them now.
1) Before she became a movie star (along with her sister), Kate Mara appeared in the show's second season.
2) Bradley Cooper showed up before he was big in Hollywood.
3) Will and Grace star Eric McCormack guest-starred as a murder suspect. Somehow we're not surprised.
4) Sabrina herself, Melissa Joan Hart, appeared as a teacher suspected of sexually assaulting her students.
5) Whoopi Goldberg played a businesswoman who falsely reported child abuse.
6) Bob freaking Saget himself played a murder suspect in season 8!
7) Academy Award winner J.K. Simmons had a recurring role in the first two seasons!
The cameos just get crazier from here folks...
8) Norman Reedus appeared as a rock star on the show, before he was a rock star in our hearts.
9) It wasn't until 2011, but John Stamos had an appearance on the show!
10) Before she was guarding the galaxy, Zoe Saldana appeared on the show in 2004.
11) Elizabeth Banks was the prime suspect in a murder investigation.
12) Hayden Panettiere was actually two different characters between 2001 and 2005!
13) Amanda Seyfried played a sexual assault survivor in 2004.
14) Only on SVU could Carol Burnett be accused of killing her husband.
15) And of course, we can't forget that Jeremy Irons appeared on the show twice.
Even though he has been a fixture in Hollywood since the late 80s, Eddie Murphy hasn't really done much in the last handful of years. Starting out on Saturday Night Live, we couldn't get enough of this comedian's humor. From Beverly Hills Cop in 1984 to The Nutty Professor in 1996 and Dr. Doolittle in 1998, there are some definitely hits that came out in the 80s and 90s thanks to this hilarious actor. But where has he been? Let's find out. He made a bunch of flopsMurphy's on screen career has always been a bit of a roller coaster.
Like, remember when everyone in the 90s totally spoke as if they just like, stepped out of Cali? It was seriously grody, right?Well thankfully we have moved on from this time in our lives, but if you ever wanted to take a spin down memory lane, there is no better time capsule of eye-rolling goodness than 90s low-budget flick Valley Girl. Check out these facts that are like, zlint to the max!A Rose By Any Other NameFilm School RejectsThe cult classic was a definite remake of the famous play Romeo and Juliet. Makes you wonder about the ending
The former child star, Jon Paul Steuer, who made a successful career for himself after leaving the entertainment industry has died. He was 33-years-old at the time of his passing. Steuer (also known as Jonny P. Jewels) was only three when he first asked his mother about acting. After modeling for several months, Steuer actually leapt onto a stage when a role became open, and a talent agent decided to sign the spunky little kid. Alchetron"I had never really gotten into acting for the stardom or the fame or the attention," he would later say. "I did it because