Dylan McDermott Is Returning To An Incredibly Popular Series

Dylan McDermott initially only signed on for the one season as the character, which he appeared in all nine episodes.

By Tristan Zelden | Published

This article is more than 2 years old

Dylan McDermott

Law & Order continues its status as a dominant procedural crime drama on network TV. The latest spin-off Organized Crime was a hit and is on its way to having a second season. The show had a more personal focus with its main character Elliot Stabler, played by Christopher Meloni, returning from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The other benefit it had was Dylan McDermott (American Horror Story) as the villain, Richard Wheatley. Now we have confirmation that the antagonist is returning, as reported by Deadline.

Dylan McDermott initially only signed on for the one season as the character, which he appeared in all nine episodes. Judging by how much fans loved him, motivation was received by NBC and executive producer Dick Wolf to negotiate a deal with the actor to return for the second outing for a total of eight episodes. In the report, it is possible that this deal makes it one of the biggest for a guest star appearance on a network series.

The character, Richard Wheatley, who Dylan McDermott plays, is a businessman with ties to the Mafia. By the finale, he is arrested for killing Allison Siko’s (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) Kathleen Stabler, the wife of the protagonist. As he awaits trial, his return could focus on the trial and the emotional toll on Elliot.

Organized Crime was created by the franchise creator Dick Wolf. Ilene Chaiken (The Handmaid’s Tale, Empire, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), Terry Miller (Burn Notice, Chicago P.D.), Fred Berner (Criminal Intent, Law & Order), Arthur W. Forney (Special Victims Unit, Chicago P.D., Chicago Med), and Peter Jankowski (Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, Special Victims Unit). Besides Dylan McDermott, the spin-off stars Danielle Moné Truitt (Rebel) as Ayanna Bell and Tamara Taylor (Bones) as Angela Wheatley.

Dylan McDermott as Richard Wheatley

Dick Wolf has created plenty of hit crime dramas, but none that have been like Law & Order. The franchise has hundreds of episodes across its branching series that date back to the 1990s. The show has been graced by huge names like Dylan McDermott, Vincent D’Onofrio (Daredevil), Eric Bogosian (Uncut Gems), and Julianne Nicholson (Mare of Easttown). It has become synonymous with an entryway into acting as one-off guest stars who were nobodies would end up having huge careers like Shannon Woodward (Westworld), Bradley Cooper (A Star Is Born), Zoe Saldana (Guardians of the Galaxy), Idris Elba (Luther), Kerry Washington (Django Unchained), and a plethora more. The right question to ask is, who has not been in a Law & Order episode?

Dylan McDermott is also known for being in the miniseries Hollywood, American Horror Story, and The Practice, with the first and third shows mentioned earned him an Emmy nomination. He recently starred in the short called Proof of Loss with his daughter Colette Rose McDermott. This November, the actor is set to star in King Richard with director Reinaldo Marcus Green (Joe Bell). The upcoming film will also star Will Smith (Bad Boys for Life), Jon Bernthal (Those Who Wish Me Dead), Susie Abromeit (Jessica Jones), and Aujanue Ellis (Lovecraft Country).