Ryan Eggold’s guest appearance inLaw & Orderwas the opposite of hisNew Amsterdamcharacter. Some ofLaw & Order’s best episodesinclude guest stars who play unexpected roles. The series is known for casting actors who are unknown except for their Broadway roles and having guests who usually play heroes play villains. Although Eggold’s character was not entirely a villain,he was a darker and more complicated character than Eggold had played inNew Amsterdam.
Eggold has had a few roles sinceNew Amsterdamwas cancelled, but he is still most closely associated with the medical drama, in which he played compassionate doctor and medical director Max Goodwin, who was a thorn in the side of the hospital board because of his determination to treat uninsured patients regardless of the cost. His guest spot as Vince Riley’s (Reid Scott) shady brother was memorable because it was so different from the role he played for five years.
Ryan Eggold’s Law & Order Matt Riley Was The Opposite Of New Amsterdam’s Max Goodwin
He Lied And Manipulated His Way Through The Episode In An Attempt To Get Out Of Trouble
Eggold played Matt, Detective Vince Riley’s troubled younger brother who couldn’t seem to stay away from illegal activities. He was introduced soon after his arrest on gun charges, setting up his character as someone who made excuses for bad behavior and was incapable of understanding the role he played in his problems.This selfish and dishonest character had nothing in common with Goodwin, who always went out of his way to help others and fought against what he saw as a corrupt healthcare system.
Ed Wheeler Was So Good, Law & Order Had Him Play Six Different Characters
The late character actor Ed Wheeler was so good at what he did that Law & Order featured him as six separate minor characters over the years.
The stark difference between the two characters was made clearer as the episode progressed, as Matt continually promised to help the police or the DA’s office in exchange for the charges against him being dropped, only to change his mind and declare he didn’t want to be a snitch. His behavior added tension to the episode, as it was obvious that he was manipulating the people around him, but they kept taking him at his word. Thus, in many ways,Matt was the kind of person who would take advantage of Goodwin if he encountered him and his desire to help everybody.
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Why Eggold Needed A Role Like Law & Order’s Matt Riley After New Amsterdam
After Playing The Same Role For Five Years, He Needed To Demonstrate He Could Do Other Things
Eggold played the same character inNew Amsterdamfor five years. Thus, he is strongly associated with the role, and the longer he continues to be known as the type of actor who plays one particular heroic trope, the harder it will be for him to get other types of work. Since those types of roles aren’t always available and may not be the only thing Eggold wants to play; joining theLaw & Orderseason 24 castas a quasi-villain was a smart move for him.
Appearing on NBC’s longest-running crime drama as a villain will allow Eggold to be successful at separating himself as an actor from the role he is most known for, which opens the door to many more opportunities for him in the future.
The character Eggold played inLaw & Orderdemonstrated his ability to be the villain as well the hero. This show is also one of the most high-profile series on broadcast television, so large audiences will see his guest appearance. Appearing on one of NBC’s longest-running crime dramas as a villain will allow Eggold to be successful at separating himself as an actor from the role he is most known for, which opens the door to many more opportunities for him in the future.
Law & Order
Cast
Law & Order is a procedural crime drama series that premiered in 1990, featuring New York City police detectives and prosecutors as they investigate and prosecute serious crimes. The show is known for its two-part approach, dividing between the crime-solving efforts of the detectives and the legal proceedings in court.
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam is a medical drama series based on Eric Manheimer’s book Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital. Ryan Eggold stars as Dr. Max Goodwin, the newly appointed medical director of the New Amsterdam Medical Center. Over the course of five seasons, he works tirelessly to bring change to the neglected facility so that it might better care for its patients.
