He wore the Rolex, he had the gambling habit, and he brought a certain soulful energy to the squad room that basically nobody else could match. When we talk about Jesse Law and Order fans usually mean one man: Jesse L. Martin. For nine years, he paced the New York pavement as Detective Ed Green. He wasn't just another suit in a revolving door of lead actors. He was the guy who bridged the gap between the old-school grit of Lennie Briscoe and the modern era of the procedural.
Honestly, it’s hard to overstate how much he mattered. Before he was chasing suspects through Hell’s Kitchen, Jesse was a Broadway powerhouse. He was Tom Collins in the original cast of Rent. You’d think a guy famous for singing about "Seasons of Love" might feel out of place in the sterile, "just the facts" world of Dick Wolf, but that was the magic. He brought a human texture to the badge.
The Bromance That Defined an Era
Let’s be real. The partnership between Ed Green and Lennie Briscoe (the legendary Jerry Orbach) is the gold standard for TV duos.
When Martin joined in 1999, the show was at a crossroads. He was young, he was slick, and he played Ed Green with a loose-cannon edge that felt fresh. People often forget that Ed was a vegetarian who loved high-stakes gambling. Those little details made him feel like a real New Yorker you’d actually run into at a diner at 3:00 AM.
The chemistry was instant.
Jesse L. Martin has talked before about how much he respected Orbach. They were both "theater rats." Off-camera, they were probably humming show tunes, but on-camera, they were the perfect contrast. Briscoe was the dry, wisecracking veteran; Green was the athletic, street-smart protege. When Orbach passed away and Briscoe left the show, a piece of the series died with him. But Jesse stayed. He became the veteran. He carried that legacy through partners like Joe Fontana and Nick Falco, and eventually, he was the one teaching Nina Cassidy and Cyrus Lupo the ropes.
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Why the Exit Still Stings
In 2008, after nearly 200 episodes, Jesse decided to hang up the holster.
Nine years is a lifetime in network television. He told Entertainment Weekly at the time that he felt like he’d gone to "actor boot camp" and was coming out a colonel. He wanted to get back on stage. He wanted to do things that didn't involve standing over a "dead body" in the freezing rain in Queens.
The way they wrote him out was... sort of messy?
Ed Green gets involved in a shooting. He’s cleared of wrongdoing, but the internal affairs investigation digs into his past—specifically his gambling. It felt heavy. Ed decides to leave the force because he doesn’t want to be "that guy" anymore. It wasn't a "blaze of glory" exit, which is actually what Jesse wanted. He told interviewers he didn't want Ed to die. He wanted the door left open.
And man, have we been waiting for him to walk back through it.
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The Mystery of the Law & Order Return
Since the revival of the main Law & Order series in 2022, every fan has the same question. Where is Ed Green?
We've seen Sam Waterston’s Jack McCoy (until his recent exit). We've seen Alana de la Garza. But Jesse L. Martin has been busy. He spent years playing Joe West on The Flash—basically the best TV dad in existence—and now he’s starring in The Irrational.
But here’s the thing. In 2024 and 2025, Jesse hasn't totally shut the door. He’s mentioned in interviews that he’d be "game" to return if the story made sense. There are so many "loose ends," as he put it. What happened to Ed? Is he a private investigator now? Is he still in the city?
The show feels a bit different these days. It’s faster, maybe a bit more clinical. Bringing back a character with the history and "soul" of Ed Green would be the ultimate gift to long-time viewers.
Real Talk: Why He Was Different
- The Look: He wasn't just "Detective #1." He had style. The leather jackets and the watches were iconic.
- The Depth: He wasn't afraid to show Ed’s flaws. The gambling storyline wasn't just a "one-off" episode; it was part of his DNA.
- The Transition: He is the only actor who successfully transitioned the show from the 90s gritty vibe into the 2000s slicker production without losing the show's heart.
What to Watch if You Miss Him
If you're spiraling on a Jesse Law and Order binge, you should definitely check out his newer work to see how he's evolved.
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- The Irrational (NBC/Peacock): He plays Alec Mercer, a behavioral science professor. It’s basically Law & Order but with more psychology and less "police procedural" stiffness. He gets to be emotional, which he’s said he loves.
- The Flash (CW/Netflix): If you want to see him be the moral compass of an entire universe, this is it. Plus, there’s a musical episode where he actually gets to sing. Finally.
- Rent (2005 Movie): If you only know him as a cop, you’re missing out. Watch him sing "I'll Cover You (Reprise)" and try not to cry. It’s impossible.
The legacy of Ed Green isn't just about the cases he solved. It’s about the fact that Jesse L. Martin made us care about the man behind the badge. He wasn't a caricature. He was a guy trying to do the right thing while battling his own demons.
If you want to keep up with a potential return, keep an eye on NBC’s casting announcements for Season 25 and beyond. While there’s nothing official yet, the "revival" era of TV loves a good homecoming. Ed Green walking back into the 27th Precinct would probably break the internet—or at least the corner of it that still appreciates a perfectly delivered Lennie Briscoe zinger and a smooth Jesse L. Martin response.
For now, the best way to honor the character is to revisit those classic Season 10 through Season 14 episodes. That's when the show was firing on all cylinders. You get the fashion, the New York grit, and the best partnership in the history of the franchise.
Next Steps for Fans:
Go back and watch the Season 18 episode "Burn Card." It’s Jesse’s final episode and it’s a masterclass in how to play a man who knows his time is up. It’s raw, it’s uncomfortable, and it reminds you exactly why nobody has ever quite filled those shoes. Afterward, check out his recent interviews on The Irrational press tour—he often drops nuggets about his time in the L&O trenches that give you a whole new perspective on those classic episodes.