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New York Post
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Stephen A. Smith's shocking fate on ‘Law & Order' revealed
He's ready for his close up. ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith continued his acting career with an appearance on the Thursday episode of 'Law & Order' – as a murder victim. 'It was crazy to say the least,' Smith told The Post in a May 6 interview, ahead of the episode airing. Advertisement 'I mean, from the standpoint of knowing who [sports agents] are and how they can be as professionals, I get that because I've been in sports journalism for over 30 years, so in that regard, that's fine. But it's still a challenge when you have to go in front of the cameras on a set and act the role and step out of character and be something that you're not.' 8 Dushaun Thompson as Jackson Dean, Stephen A. Smith as Ted Hunter. Virginia Sherwood/NBC 8 Stephen A. Smith as Ted Hunter, Dushaun Thompson as Jackson Dean in 'Law & Order.' Virginia Sherwood/NBC Advertisement The episode is called 'Tough Love,' and it sees Smith play Ted Hunter, an outspoken sports agent who was stabbed to death while he was out jogging in Central Park, leaving numerous suspects. In the episode, Ted advises his NBA client (played by Dushaun Thompson) to 'make changes, bro,' and fire members of his entourage, in order to save money. Ted then criticizes his client and tells him to 'get real' because he's not LeBron James, he's a 'rotation player.' 'You damn sure aint large enough to be having some entourage!' Ted slams his client. Advertisement 8 Reid Scott as Detective Vincent Riley, Mehcad Brooks as Detective Jalen Shaw, standing over the body of Ted Hunter (Stephen A. Smith). Virginia Sherwood/NBC 8 Reid Scott as Detective Vincent Riley, Mehcad Brooks as Detective Jalen Shaw on 'Law & Order.' Virginia Sherwood/NBC 8 Stephen A. Smith playing a murdered man on 'Law & Order.' NBC As the police stood over his dead body in Central Park, Detective Jalen Shaw (Mehcad Brooks) found Ted's ID in his pocket and noted, 'he was about to turn 52 on Thursday.' Advertisement 'I hope he made the most of it,' Detective Vincent Riley (Reid Scott) quipped. It turns out the murderer was his son, Josh (Arthur McAlpine III), who Ted had abused. The NBA analyst and TV personality has made forays into acting before, as he also had a role on 'General Hospital' since 2016, playing Brick, the Corinthos family's surveillance and tech expert. Smith explained that he was approached by Pam Wechsler, a writer for 'Law & Order,' about the guest star role on the show — just as he was for his role on 'General Hospital.' 'We were both in LA, said she was a fan and that many of her colleagues were fans and they wanted to know if I would be interested in appearing on 'Law & Order,'' Smith recalled of his conversation with Wechsler. 'And I said, 'The 'Law & Order'? Are you kidding me? Prime time? Are you kidding me? Absolutely!' So, I jumped at it and that's how it happened. I was ecstatic.' 8 Reid Scott as Detective Vincent Riley, Mehcad Brooks as Detective Jalen Shaw, Maura Tierney as Lieutenant Jessica Brady on 'Law & Order.' Virginia Sherwood/NBC 8 Dushaun Thompson as Jackson Dean, Stephen A. Smith as Ted Hunter in 'LAw & Order.' Virginia Sherwood/NBC Smith credited 'General Hospital' star Maurice Bernard, who's played Sonny Corinthos on the soap since 1993, along with producer Frank Valentini, for taking him under their wing in Hollywood. Advertisement He also attributed longtime 'General Hospital' stars, Laura Wright, who plays Carly Corinthos, and Steve Burton, who plays Jason Morgan, for 'teaching me about the profession.' 'I remember when Maurice Bernard told me one time [on set], 'This is who I need you to be at this moment.' And when I went and taped the scene for 'Law & Order,' I was like, 'This is who I need to be in this moment right here. This is what it calls for,'' Smith told The Post. He added, 'And I knew it instinctually because of the things that they taught me over the years, and I'm incredibly grateful to them, and they're all my friends and we communicate all the time.' 8 Stephen A. Smith attends a playoff basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors at Arena on May 08, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images Advertisement Smith signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension with ESPN in March, according to The Athletic. So, he won't pivot to acting any time soon. 'It would have to be the right opportunity, of course,' Smith said of future acting roles. 'I mean, I have a day job that pays me pretty well, so I don't really need the work.' He added, 'If I'm gonna do it, it has to be the kind of [role] that I want. I want to be in the movies. I want to be on primetime television. I want to be on epic shows like 'Law & Order,' I want to work with great actors and great directors and stuff like that. It's certainly something that I aspire to do. There's no doubt about that.'
New York Post
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Stephen A. Smith opens up to The Post on 'crazy' role in 'Law & Order'
Stephen A. Smith is a 'different animal' when it comes to his acting career. That's something the ESPN personality heard many times over the years from his colleagues, and it has served as fuel for his goal of making it to primetime television, Smith said in an interview with The Post on Monday. Smith, who's known for his loud, theatrical personality as a sports analyst across multiple shows at ESPN, will have a guest star role on 'Law & Order,' airing Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. 'I've always been told and all my colleagues always say, 'When the lights come on, he's a different animal. He's ready,'' Smith, 57, said. 'So, I take pride in that. And the lights come on, it's showtime and it's time to step up and produce, and that's what I pride myself on being able to do.' 3 Stephen A. Smith as Ted Hunter and Dushaun Thompson as Jackson Dean on the 'Law & Order' episode, 'Tough Love' on May 8, 2025. Virginia Sherwood/NBC It might be difficult to grasp another version of Smith, who became a household name by being himself in front of the camera. In the episode entitled 'Tough Love,' Smith plays Ted Hunter, an outspoken sports agent who is stabbed to death, leaving a trail of suspects who wanted him gone. 'It was crazy to say the least,' Smith said of playing the character. 'I mean, from the standpoint of knowing who [sports agents] are and how they can be as professionals, I get that because I've been in sports journalism for over 30 years, so in that regard, that's fine. 'But it's still a challenge when you have to go in front of the cameras on a set and act the role and step out of character and be something that you're not.' The most fascinating part of all is that Smith has never taken a single acting class or sought any type of formal training. Smith explained that he was approached by Pam Wexler, a writer for 'Law & Order,' about a guest star role on the show — just as he was for his role on 'General Hospital,' which is ABC's longest-running soap opera. 'We were both in LA, said she was a fan and that many of her colleagues were fans and they wanted to know if I would be interested in appearing on 'Law & Order,'' Smith recalled of his conversation with Wexler. 'And I said, 'The 'Law & Order'? Are you kidding me? Prime time? Are you kidding me? Absolutely!' So, I jumped at it and that's how it happened. I was ecstatic.' 3 ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith on the air before a Knicks-Lakers game at Madison Square Garden on February 3, 2024. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Smith made his acting debut on 'General Hospital,' with a short cameo appearance as a television reporter on Feb. 2, 2007. Later in 2007, he was in the Chris Rock motion picture, 'I Think I Love My Wife.' Smith returned to 'General Hospital' in April 2016 as Brick, a surveillance expert for the Mob, and has continued to make regular appearances on the soap opera since then — and most recently April 28. This is just the beginning for Smith's acting career, and he said he won't stop until he lands more roles on primetime television and in movies. However, giving up his job with ESPN to become a full-time actor is where he draws the line. 'It would have to be the right opportunity, of course,' Smith said of future acting roles. 'I mean, I have a day job that pays me pretty well, so I don't really need the work.' Smith signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension with ESPN in March, according to The Athletic. 'If I'm gonna do it, it has to be the kind of [role] that I want,' Smith said. 'I want to be in the movies. I want to be on primetime television. I want to be on epic shows like 'Law & Order,' I want to work with great actors and great directors and stuff like that. It's certainly something that I aspire to do. There's no doubt about that.' 3 Stephen A. Smith before Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on June 12, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. Getty Images 'If the right opportunity presents itself, of course I'd be willing to do it and sacrifice the time necessary in order to do it well because I'm not interested in doing anything half-ass. That would basically be my approach, but it's not going to be something that's going to compel me to give up my day job — that I'm not going to do. 'I wouldn't do that to become a full-time actor. That's not what I would do, not after what I've been blessed to accomplish and I'm on throughout my career over the last 30 years. I'll continue doing this for as long as I can.' Smith credited 'General Hospital' star Maurice Bernard, who's played Sonny Corinthos on the soap since 1993, along with producer Frank Valentini, for taking him under their wing in Hollywood. He also attributed longtime 'General Hospital' stars, Laura Wright, who plays Carly Corinthos, and Steve Burton, who plays Jason Morgan, for 'teaching me about the profession.' 'I remember when Maurice Bernard told me one time [on set], 'This is who I need you to be at this moment.' And when I went and taped the scene for 'Law & Order,' I was like, 'This is who I need to be in this moment right here. This is what it calls for,'' Smith said. 'And I knew it instinctually because of the things that they taught me over the years, and I'm incredibly grateful to them, and they're all my friends and we communicate all the time.'
