Purple Heart

"Purple Heart"
←	L&O, Episode 5.21	→
Production number: 69421 First aired: 4 May 1995
	{{{nNthProducedInSeries}}}th of 456 produced in L&O
←	{{{nNthReleasedInSeries}}}th of 456 released in L&O	→
	{{{nNthReleasedInAll}}}th of 1271 released in all
Written By William N. Fordes & Morgan Gendel Directed By Arthur W. Forney

Plot

The investigation of a cabbie's murder involves a loan shark, a check, a missing plumber and the victim's wife.

Cast

Main cast

• Jerry Orbach as Detective Lennie Briscoe
• Chris Noth as Detective Mike Logan
• S. Epatha Merkerson as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
• Sam Waterston as Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy
• Jill Hennessy as A.D.A. Claire Kincaid
• Steven Hill as D.A. Adam Schiff

Recurring cast

• Donald Corren as Medill
• Dominic Chianese as Judge Paul Kaylin

Guest cast

• Michael Beach as Mr. Elliot
• Mike Starr as Steven Breck
• Frank Pellegrino as Mr. Contini
• Lisa Gay Hamilton as Denise Johnson
• Gina Torres as Charlene
• Ed Wheeler as Duane Johnson
• Gabriel Casseus as Dewey Lattimer
• Vince Pacimeo as Savino
• Richard Spore as Ronald Peavey
• Ronald Wyche as Barry Kirvin
• Richard Caine as Sanders
• Stu Riley as Bryant
• James Colby as Kiley
• Deborah Lee Johnson as Patsy
• Angel David as Freddie
• Lynn Hawley as Sandy
• John Coughlin as Tommy
• John Kudan as Crime Scene Unit Technician Gorfand
• Herbert Beigel as Gates
• Stewart Russell as Medical Examiner Bagley
• Aida Linares as Colombar

References

• Daniel Johnson (victim)
• John F. Kennedy
• Kuwait
• Operation Desert Storm
• Lee Harvey Oswald
• Jack Ruby

Background information and notes

• This episode is based on the Anthony Riggs case. ({Wikipedia|Anthony Riggs}}

Episode scene cards

1	2	3
Apartment Of Denise Johnson 153 Lenox Avenue Tuesday, March 21	Forensics Laboratory Tuesday, March 21	Apartment Of Charlie Kovac 527A W. 24th Street Thursday, March 23

4	5	6
M.J. Imports 10th Avenue Monday, March 27	Stoneridge Savings & Loan 15 Third Avenue Wednesday, March 29	New York City Dept. of Transportation 170 Worth Street Monday, April 3

7	8	9
Supreme Court Trial Part 25 Monday, April 24	Rikers Island Correctional Facility Friday, April 28	Supreme Court Trial Part 25 Wednesday, May 11

Previous episode: "Bad Faith"

"Purple Heart" Law & Order Season 5

Next episode: "Switch"