Two-time Emmy winner Bebe Neuwirth is joining the cast of NBC’s fourth “Law & Order” show.
Neuwirth, who also has a pair of Tony Awards to her credit, will play an assistant district attorney named Tracy Kibre in “Law & Order: Trial by Jury,” which is scheduled to debut at midseason. She joins Jerry Orbach, continuing his long-running “Law & Order” role as Detective Lennie Briscoe, on the show.
Fred Thompson, who plays D.A. Arthur Branch on “Law & Order,” will also be a regular in the new series.
“Bebe is one of today’s only true stars of stage, screen and television,” “L&O” creator Dick Wolf says. “I have no doubt that her presence in an ensemble that already includes Jerry and Fred will help to seamlessly usher in the new series.”
Neuwirth previously worked with Wolf on the short-lived 2000 series “Deadline” (which, oddly enough, the NBC release announcing her casting doesn’t mention). She also guest-starred in an early episode of “Law & Order: SVU.”
Her role as buttoned-down psychiatrist Lilith Sternin-Crane on “Cheers” earned Neuwirth Emmys for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy in 1990 and ’91. She reprised the role numerous times on “Frasier,” earning a guest-actress Emmy nomination in 1995.
Neuwirth’s movie credits include “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” “Tadpole,” “Summer of Sam” and “say anything … .” Her two Tony Awards came for “Sweet Charity” in 1986 and “Chicago” in 1997.
Credit: Zap2it.com