Dann Florek is an American actor and director, best known for his role as Captain Donald Cragen on the television series Law & Order and its spin-off, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He was born on May 1, 1950, in Flat Rock, Michigan, and has had a diverse career in film and television. In addition to his work on Law & Order, Florek has appeared in various other TV shows and films, including The Last Temptation of Christ and The X-Files. He has also directed several episodes of Law & Order and has been involved in theater productions throughout his career.