“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” killed off an original cast member during the season 27 premiere.

The Thursday, Sept. 25, episode featured a memorial service for Captain Donald Cragen (Dann Florek), who died offscreen before the events of the premiere.

“He was the best boss I ever had,” Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) told Dominick Carisi Jr. (Peter Scanavino). “Everything I know about being a captain, I learned from him.”

Florek made an appearance in the episode via old footage of Cragen making a speech at his retirement party.

“It’s been a long road. It hasn’t always been pleasant, and it certainly hasn’t always been easy,” Cragen said in the clip. “I lived for my job, I don’t think that surprises anybody, and I can’t imagine my life any other way.”

Florek was an original “SV

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