Ed Green
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| Law & Order character | |
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| Det. Ed Green | |
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| Time on show | 1999—2008 |
| Preceded by | Rey Curtis (junior partner) Joe Fontana (senior partner) |
| Succeeded by | Nick Falco (junior partner; temporary) Nina Cassidy (junior partner) Cyrus Lupo (senior partner) |
| First appearance | "Gunshow" |
| Last appearance | "Burn Card" |
| Portrayed by | Jesse L. Martin |
Edward "Ed" Green is a fictional character on the NBC crime drama Law & Order, created by Rene Balcer and portrayed by Jesse L. Martin.
[edit] Character Overview
Ed Green was introduced in Season 10 as senior detective Lennie Briscoe's (Jerry Orbach) new junior partner (L&O: "Gunshow"). Green's willingness to bend legal rules to arrest a suspect did little to endear him to his superiors, and he initially thought Briscoe was too old to investigate crimes effectively. Green and Briscoe had several heated disagreements about the latter's capabilities (L&O: "Marathon"). In later episodes, however, Green grew to trust, respect, and form a solid friendship with his partner, as well as tone down his unorthodox investigative methods. He and Briscoe often joked about the age difference between them, as well as Green's Rolex watches and Briscoe's marriages.
After working together for five years, Briscoe retired, and Green was more affected by his retirement than he expected. It took him a while to warm up to his next partner, Joe Fontana (Dennis Farina), whose style was very different from Briscoe's; however, Green eventually deflated some of the tension that formed between Fontana and their lieutenant, Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson) (L&O: "Paradigm").
Near the end of the Season 15, Green was shot in the line of duty, and hospitalized for several weeks (L&O: "Tombstone"). During his absence, he was replaced by Nick Falco (Michael Imperioli). This was done so Martin could take time off to film the movie version of Rent.
Green was promoted to senior detective after Fontana retired. In Season 17, he was partnered with Nina Cassady (Milena Govich), over the objections of Van Buren, who thought Cassady was too inexperienced to be a homicide detective. Although he came to tolerate her, Green seemed to have similar thoughts.
After Cassady was fired by Van Buren, Green was partnered with Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) in Season 18. Green's reaction to Lupo was somewhat reserved at first, especially since the first case they worked together was Lupo's brother's suicide; however, after a short period of time, Green seemed to become more comfortable with Lupo. Around mid-season, Green even took to affectionately dubbing Lupo as "Lupes".
Mid-way through Season 18, Green was involved in a shooting that led to his being indicted and tried, though all charges were subsequently dropped. Even though Van Buren assured him that he was welcome back on the force, Green - unhappy with having "broken every rule in the book" - decided to leave the precinct (L&O: "Burn Card"). Detective Kevin Bernard (Anthony Anderson) of Internal Affairs, who investigated Green, replaced him as Lupo's new partner.
[edit] Personality
Green represents the L&O franchise's return to the wild, "Dirty Harry" type of character once popularized by Mike Logan (Chris Noth). Among the few personal touches made to the character was his affinity for punk rock, particularly Elvis Costello, and gambling, making trips to Atlantic City often enough that Briscoe teased him about it. It was revealed that Green had stopped gambling but then had fallen back into it briefly after Briscoe's death (L&O: "Burn Card").
Green has occasionally mentioned that his family traveled around the world due to his father's work as an oil engineer, and that he had lived in the Middle East at some point. He has also mentioned that he grew up in a religious family. He revealed that his father has Alzheimer's disease (L&O: "Talking Points"). Also, he revealed that he at one time had experience with "screwing around with someone who's married."
In numerous episodes, female characters refer to him as attractive and respond accordingly. He sometimes receives calls from girlfriends or mentions "his girl". Apparently, he took a girl named Keisha Lockwood to the prom. He wears expensive Rolex watches, which Briscoe often refers to throughout their time together on the show.
Green is often a source of varied information in investigations. He speaks Spanish, some Russian—"Enough to pick up a date," (L&O: "Fallout")—and a little French (L&O: "Hitman"), and is up to date on popular culture, and appears to have a strong classical education. Frequently, he uses informal slang, addressing men as "bro" and referring to other men as "dudes." He often uses bad grammar when talking to suspects or people he does not respect.
[edit] Character Highlights
Racial issues have been connected to Green in some episodes. In "Suicide Box", he and Briscoe investigate the shooting of a cop; they trace it to Stevie Thomas, a black boy whose brother Eric's murder was dismissed and effectively covered up by the police because he was black. Green interrogates Stevie solo at one point, speaking to him both as a cop and as a black man. He is called to testify in court, and at the end of the episode is seen reminding Van Buren that, while Eric Thomas' death creates guilt for those responsible, Eric is still dead.
Another instance of racial issues connected to Green is the episode "Prejudice", where a black man is killed by a racist over a taxi. When Briscoe and Green search the suspect's apartment, Green attempts to arrest him. However, the suspect throws him off and says he'll comply for Briscoe ("Not for you; for him!").
In "Misbegotten", Green is reprimanded by Van Buren for getting personal while interviewing a suspect about the abortion of a fetus thought to have Down's syndrome. After Van Buren leaves, Green reveals to Lupo that he was once engaged to a girl who became pregnant; they ordered an amniotic test and "couldn't decide what to do". They eventually aborted the baby.
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