Michael Parmelee/NBCLaw and Order: SVU is no stranger to cast changes, but this time viewers got a proper goodbye from Danny Pino.
E! News has confirmed Pino, who joined the show in season 13 alongside Kelli Giddish as new detectives replacing Christopher Meloni, left the series as a series regular as of the season 16 finale. His character, Nick Amaro, has had problems with the brass before and attempted to apply for the sergeant's exam, but was discouraged. After a shootout in the courtroom that saw him take out Johnny D. (Charles Halford), Benson's (Mariska Hargitay) latest tormentor, Amaro took a bullet to the liver and knee. Sensing he was going nowhere in New York, Amaro informed Benson he was planning to retire and head to California to be with his family.
"You helped me grow," Benson told Amaro, referencing her 12 years with Meloni's Stabler.
"Thank u @nbcsvu @WolfFilms cast, writers, directors, guest casts, crew, editors for 4 fantastic seasons. Grateful for all the #SVUDieHards," Pino tweeted after the finale aired.
#FriendsForLife pic.twitter.com/9rV9hZ7Vgx
? Mariska Hargitay (@Mariska) May 21, 2015So who will be Benson's No. 2?
"Fin [Ice T] has the most experience but is happy where he is. Amaro wants it, but he's not popular with the brass. Olivia would much prefer someone in the squad step up, but who? Actually, I think sometimes the best person is the one you least expect," Hargitay told us prior to the finale. "That always makes the most interesting dynamic. Or maybe it's just the person who wants it the most, that's who ends up stepping up to the plate. Then there's always the possibility that it's the person who wants it the least. The person who says, 'Wait, what? Me? Absolutely not.' And then they come through and shine in the position. Which is my extended way of saying, 'Your guess is as good as mine.'"
The episode finally saw Benson adopt Baby Noah. He's now Noah Porter Benson and the SVU mainstay has her family. See Pino's goodbye below.
Law and Order: SVU returns for its season 17 this fall.
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)