Nick Falco - Characterization and Production

Characterization and Production

Imperioli was brought in to play Falco after Ed Green was shot. While Falco can appear to be a "loose cannon" type, he has been known to take extra precautions when interrogating suspects or executing warrants that sometimes annoy other detectives. A part-time law student, Falco tends to know more about the "fine print" of the law that could sink otherwise good-faith arrests.

On playing Falco, Imperioli said, "I think what I find interesting is that the character of Nick Falco probably comes from a similar background as my character on The Sopranos; economically and geographically and kind of culturally. The differences: they're both Italian-American; they're both New Yorkers; they come from middle class backgrounds....The character I'm playing on Law & Order, has a real passion for making the world safe and making the city safe for people. He wants to make sure that the bad guys go to jail and that justice wins out and I think he grew up with that reverence and lives with it."