Law And Order: SVU Pays Tribute to Late Detective John Munch

The episode featured a heartfelt nod to the beloved character, but left fans wishing Ice-T's Fin was there too.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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In the winter premiere of Law & Order: SVU Season 27, the show paid tribute to the late Detective John Munch, played by the late actor Richard Belzer, with a sweet callback moment. The three female detectives - Benson, Rollins, and Curry - were playing a game of UNO when Benson shared a story about Munch jinxing the squad back in 2003. While the moment was a lovely surprise for longtime fans, many wished that Ice-T's character Fin had been present to contribute to the reminiscing about his former partner.

Why it matters

John Munch was a beloved character who appeared across the entire Law & Order franchise, and his departure was deeply felt by fans. The tribute in this episode allowed the show to honor his memory, while also highlighting the close-knit dynamic of the SVU squad. However, the absence of Fin, Munch's longtime partner, was noticeable and left some viewers wishing they could have seen the two detectives' signature banter.

The details

The tribute moment came early in the episode, before the main investigation got underway. The three female detectives - Olivia Benson, Amanda Rollins, and Vanessa Curry - were passing the time with a game of UNO in Benson's office. When Curry made an offhand comment about having a 'silent night,' Rollins warned that she had just 'jinxed' them. Benson then shared a story about how back in 2003, the squad had almost made it through an entire shift without incident, until Munch 'had to open his mouth and prove to all of us that there was no such thing as a jinx.' An officer then immediately arrived to inform them of a new case, proving Rollins' point.

  • The tribute moment took place in the winter premiere of Law & Order: SVU Season 27, which aired in 2026.

The players

John Munch

A beloved detective who appeared across the entire Law & Order franchise, including over 250 episodes of SVU, before the character was retired following the death of actor Richard Belzer.

Olivia Benson

The longtime lead detective on Law & Order: SVU, played by Mariska Hargitay.

Amanda Rollins

A detective on the SVU squad, played by Kelli Giddish.

Vanessa Curry

A new captain on the SVU squad, introduced in Season 27.

Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola

A longtime detective on the SVU squad, played by Ice-T, who was absent from this particular episode.

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What they’re saying

“You'll see. So, in '03, we almost made it through an entire shift without a peep. And then John Munch had to open his mouth and prove to all of us that there was no such thing as a jinx. A call came in ten seconds later.”

— Olivia Benson, Detective (Law & Order: SVU)

The takeaway

This tribute to the late Detective John Munch was a heartwarming moment for longtime fans of Law & Order: SVU, highlighting the close-knit dynamic of the squad and the indelible mark Munch left on the show. However, the absence of Fin, Munch's longtime partner, was noticeable and left some viewers wishing they could have seen the two detectives' signature banter one more time.