<Tr> <Th> Credited appearances </Th> <Td> 63 episodes (L&O) 4 episodes (SVU) 67 episodes (total) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Preceded by </Th> <Td> Jack McCoy (L&O) Elizabeth Donnelly (Bureau Chief ADA) (SVU) </Td> </Tr> <P> Michael "Mike" Cutter is a fictional character on the long - running NBC series Law & Order and its spinoff Law & Order: Special Victims Unit played by Linus Roache . The character debuted in the eighteenth season premiere of Law & Order, broadcast on January 2, 2008, and remained until its series finale "Rubber Room" on May 24, 2010 . The character returned to television in the thirteenth season premiere of Special Victims Unit, broadcast on September 21, 2011 . He has appeared in sixty - three episodes of L&O and four episodes of SVU . </P> <P> Within the continuity of Law & Order, Cutter is an Executive Assistant District Attorney, following the appointment of his predecessor Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) to the New York County District Attorney seat vacated by Arthur Branch (Fred Dalton Thompson). </P>

Who played mike cutter on law and order