3 Biggest Marvel Stars You Totally Forgot Starred in Law & Order: SVU

For nearly 24 years, it has been filled with performances by both established stars and those whose stellar careers are just beginning.

But the Special Victims Unit series should be of particular interest to Marvel fans because it allowed the actors who played the MCU's most beloved characters to achieve universal recognition. So, dear Marvel fans, behold the three stars who starred in Law & Order (that we completely forgot about)!

Zoe Saldaña

First in line is the actress who played "the most dangerous woman in the galaxy" and elite assassin, Gamora. Yes, we are talking about the magnificent Zoe Saldaña.

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Now a world-renowned actress who has starred in many popular franchises, Saldana began her career on Law & Order. In 1999, she appeared in two episodes of the original series as Belinca, which was a turning point in her journey to becoming a popular actress. However, in the 2004 SVU season 5 episode "Criminal," Saldana portrayed a much larger role that revealed her as a talented actress.

Sebastian Stan

Another MCU star made famous by the Dick Wolf franchise is Sebastian Stan. Yes, Stan, who played Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier, began his career on the original Law & Order!

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The actor appeared in the season 13 episode "Sheltered" in 2003. Then the 20-year-old aspiring actor played Justin Lafferty, a traumatized teenager who went on a shooting spree against the employers of his "adoptive" father. Unfortunately, the episode put too little emphasis on Justin's mental state. But what took this episode of the series to a whole new level was the superb acting by the current Marvel star.

Bradley Cooper

All right, Bradley Cooper's fame transcends any franchise. Nevertheless, Marvel fans especially love the flamboyant heartthrob's skills as the voice of Rocket Raccoon (we'd rather not call him a raccoon, though, lest we upset the poor guy!), a key member of the Guardians of the Galaxy team.

In 2005, the actor appeared in two crossover episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Trial by Jury, "Night" and "Day", respectively. Cooper played Jason Whitaker, a cocky and not-always-honest lawyer who defends rich man Henry Duvall, who is accused of serial rape and murder. Notably, Duvall was played by another Marvel star, Alfred Molina, known for his role as Dr. Otto Octavius.