<P> Scott Bakula guest starred in the episode "Vanity's Bonfire" as a lawyer who's being considered for the U.S. Supreme Court and is accused of fathering a child outside of marriage . "People might make the comparisons to John Edwards," Warren Leight said, referring to the onetime Democratic hopeful who admitted to having a child with his mistress . Elliott Gould and Charles Grodin guest starred in the episode "Lessons Learned", which is inspired by the Penn State child sex abuse scandal and Jerry Sandusky . On November 20, 2012, showrunner / EP Warren Leight tweeted that along with Gould and Grodin; Buck Henry, Frank Wood, Robert Sella, Anthony Rapp, and Elizabeth Marvel would also be guest starring in "Lessons Learned". </P> <P> Patricia Arquette and Anne Meara guest starred as daughter and mother in the SVU episode "Dreams Deferred". The episode revolved around an armed and dangerous man who goes on a killing spree with Arquette's Jeannie - a prostitute with whom he has a long - standing relationship - representing the last person he calls . When Jeannie goes missing, the SVU is tasked with convincing their NYPD cohorts that her life is worth saving . Meara played Jeannie's mother, Irene, who worries for her daughter's health and safety . The duo joined previously announced guest star Jason Gedrick in the episode . Denis O'Hare guest starred in "Presumed Guilty" as Father Shea, a priest who is pulled from his car and brutally beaten . O'Hare played Father Shea in the Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode "Last Rites" under showrunner / executive producer Warren Leight in 2008 . This marks O'Hare's second stint on SVU, following an appearance in 2000 . He guest - starred on the original Law & Order four times, most recently in 2003 also playing a priest, Father Hogan . Erik LaRay Harvey portrayed Sam Randall, Detective Tutuola's ex-wife's brother in the episode . Despite Sam's former criminal record and various stints behind bars, Fin doesn't think Sam is their man and asks his SVU partners for help getting to the bottom of the case . Theo Rossi also guest stars in the episode as Enrique Rodriguez, a working - class Catholic who is determined to seek justice for his sister when he finds that she was part of a church cover - up . </P> <P> Jane Kaczmarek guest starred in the episode "Beautiful Frame", as Suffolk County District Attorney Pamela James, who lands the same murder case as ADA Barba (Raúl Esparza). However, while James arrests an SVU rape victim for the crime, Barba and the SVU team like a different suspect for the murder . The trials start simultaneously and both prosecutors must fight for a conviction before the other can destroy their case . In "Beautiful Frame", Yvonne Zima portrayed a rape victim in an SVU case who is arrested for the murder of her ex-boyfriend . Suffolk County DA Pam James (Kaczmarek) lands the case and swiftly brings charges against the young woman . Detective Benson questions the circumstances of the arrest and gathers enough evidence for ADA Barba to levy charges in Manhattan against another suspect . The two ambitious District Attorneys square off in separate trials for the same murder, hoping to get a conviction before the other derails their case . Nia Vardalos appeared in an episode titled, "Criminal Hatred," (airing January 30, 2013), Vardalos portrayed Counselor Minonna Efron, whose client is on trial for assault and murder . Vardalos' character is described as "disorganized," which makes ADA Barba (Raúl Esparza) think he's got an easy win, but the character winds up thrwarting him at every turn . Victoria Rowell also guest stars and Fred Norris makes a cameo appearance . </P> <P> Marcia Gay Harden returned as FBI Agent Dana Lewis in "Secrets Exhumed," (aired February 6, 2013). Agent Lewis partners with the SVU when she suspects a rape - murder case is connected to several cases across the country . This marked Harden's fourth episode on SVU . Harold Perrineau guest starred in the same episode as career criminal Brian Traymor, Jay Karnes also guest stars . The band Jane's Addiction's Dave Navarro guest starred in the episode "Funny Valentine" as a sound engineer (instead of a musician), named Ferrari who is a part of the entourage for one of hip - hop's rising stars . Ferrari witnesses a crime, but refuses to rat out his friend . Navarro hinted at his appearance on Twitter prior before TV Guide announced it, "On my way to NYC to hang out with Detective Benson for a day," he tweeted about star Mariska Hargitay . Jeffrey Tambor guest starred in "Funny Valentine" as well, in a role that's a change of pace for the actor . Tambor has been cast as Ben Cohen, an attorney hired to defend a popular hip - hop artist after his arrest by the SVU . While Tambor's TV characters are often quite bizarre, Cohen is described as being no - nonsense and perhaps a bit overconfident in the popularity of his star client in court . </P>

Law and order svu criminal hatred cast list