| Sgt. Max Greevey | |
|---|---|
| Law & Order character | |
| First appearance | "Prescription for Death" |
| Last appearance | "Confession" |
| Portrayed by | George Dzundza |
| Time on show | 1990–1991 |
| Succeeded by | Phil Cerreta |
| Partner | Donald Cragen Mike Logan |
Sgt. Max Greevey is a fictional character played by George Dzundza on NBC's long running police procedural and legal drama television series Law & Order. He was featured on the show throughout its first season, 1990 to 1991.
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Greevey was a homicide detective working in Manhattan's 27th Detective Squad. He began his career in the 1960s, partnered with Don Cragen (Dann Florek).[1] Though still a detective in the pilot, by the time of the series he was promoted to sergeant and partnered with Mike Logan (Chris Noth), with Cragen as their captain. Greevey was very close to Logan, even while having authority over him, providing his young partner with advice and someone to confide in.
Greevey was happily married to his wife Marie, with whom he had three children. His life as a devoted family man, as well as his conservative Catholic faith, often led him to look down upon people, even murder victims, whose lifestyles he disapproved of. For example, his opposition to abortion made him uncomfortable investigating the bombing of a family planning clinic and caused some friction with pro-choice Logan.[2]
Greevey also harbored an open distrust of doctors, stemming from an incident in which he was attacked by a suspect who hit him in the head. He began slurring his speech and sought advice from a doctor, who pronounced that he had an inoperable brain tumor. Greevey sought a second opinion, and learned that it was a subdural hematoma, and the following month was completely healthy.[3]
After only one season on the show, George Dzundza left the cast of Law & Order, making his last full appearance in The Blue Wall. His character's departure was addressed in the opening of the second season premiere, wherein Greevey—who was played by an uncredited stunt double in this episode—was shot outside his own home the night before he was set to testify before a grand jury. Greevey was replaced by Sgt. Phil Cerreta (Paul Sorvino).[4]
Greevey is the first detective within the Law & Order franchise to have been killed in the line of duty.
Greevey is mentioned in a 2001 episode of the spinoff series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.[5] Prior to his death, Greevey had worked on a case involving the murder of a college student named Jennifer Talmadge, and the disappearance of her infant son, Stephen. He took the case very seriously, working on it on his off time. After Greevey's death, Cragen took the case over and kept in touch with her parents.
In the episode, Cragen, by now the head of the titular sex crimes unit, finds Stephen Talmadge while investigating a corrupt adoption agency. Cragen and his detectives later determine that the wife of Stephen's biological father killed Jennifer Talmadge and gave Stephen to the adoption agency. In the end, Stephen's biological father wins custody of him.
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