Cast & creator
Michael Harney
Best known for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order, Law & Order
Michael Harney is an American actor of film, television, and theater recognized for his gritty, grounded screen presence and extensive background in dramatic roles. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, he spent years honing his craft under legendary acting teachers William Esper and Phil Gushee at The Neighborhood Playhouse, later running his own acting studio and directing numerous theater productions in New York. Transitioning to screen work, Harney became a ubiquitous television fixture known for memorable recurring and regular roles, most notably starring as Corrections Officer Sam Healy in the hit Netflix series Orange Is the New Black (for which he won multiple SAG Awards), Detective Mike Roberts in NYPD Blue, Steve Fields in HBO's Deadwood, and Detective Mitch Ouellette in Weeds. In addition to his prolific television resume—which includes appearances in True Detective, Unsolved, and Project Blue Book—he has delivered strong supporting performances in major feature films such as Erin Brockovich, Ocean's Thirteen, Widows, and Bradley Cooper's A Star Is Born.
Also known as: Michael J. Harney, Лілі Джеймс
23
film credits
54
television credits
77
1986–2026 · acting roles
7.0
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (77)
Showing 77 of 77 credits
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Detective Donald Torres
1999
Law & Order
Aaron Packard
1990Law & Order
Stu Miller
1990Law & Order
Detective Gullikson
1990
Criminal Minds
Pat Mannan
2005
NCIS: Los Angeles
LAPD Detective Frank Scarli
2009
Chicago Med
Dr. Ron Unger
2015
Suits
Joe Henderson
2011
Diagnosis: Murder
Kurt Vaughn
1993
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Xander's Father
1997
Chicago Hope
Chuck Lutsky
1994
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Chadwick
1993
FBI: Most Wanted
Ken Weldon
2020
Without a Trace
Detective Roberts
2002
ER
Mr. Stehly
1994
The Practice
Walt Frazier
1997
Numb3rs
U.S. Marshal
2005
Crossing Jordan
John Morrissey
2001
NYPD Blue
Mike Roberts
1993
Orange Is the New Black
Sam Healy
2013
True Detective
Steve Geraci
2014
Touched by an Angel
Carl
1994
L.A. Law
Howard Justin
1986
Strong Medicine
Edward Duke
2000
Weeds
Det. Mitch Ouellette
2005
For All Mankind
Jack Broadstreet
2019
Nash Bridges
Jerry Stevens
1996
Lethal Weapon
Mike Ramos
2016
The Division
Bob Willets
2001
The Unit
Crew Chief
2006
Boston Public
Mr. Pierce
2000
Profiler
Mike Caldare
1996
Doom Patrol
RJ Steele
2019
Invasion
Patrick Mitchell
2021
NCIS: Origins
Richard Kowalski
2024
Deadwood
Steve
2004
Saving Grace
Jerry Carver
2007
Life
John Garrity
2007
Viper
1994
Project Blue Book
Hugh Valentine
2019
Them
Otto Haber
2021
Raising the Bar
Robert Dougherty
2008
A Star Is Born
Wolfie
2018
Interior Chinatown
Chief Walden
2024
The Defenders
Detective Hank Smith
2010
Hello Tomorrow!
Sal
2023
Brimstone
Det. Charlie Hirrsh
1998
The Better Sister
Arty
2025
The Iron Claw
Bill Mercer
2023
Ocean's Thirteen
Blackjack Pit Boss
2007
The Banker
Melvin Belli
2020
Tremors
Gene Gallon
2003
Erin Brockovich
Pete Jensen
2000
Vanished
Roberta Rubia
2006
Interrogation
Mr. Russell
2020
Kevin (Probably) Saves the World
Karl Gilmore
2017
Deputy
William Hollister Sr.
2020
The Visitor
Warden Burke
1997
Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G.
Lieutenant Paul Larson
2018
Widows
Fuller
2018
The Onion Movie
Line-Up Detective
2008
Shade
Micky Swift
2003
Turbulence
Marshal Marty Douglas
1997
Captivity
Bettiger
2007
One Spoon of Chocolate
Sheriff McLeoud
2026
The '60s
Tom Gryzbowski
1999
Millennium Man
Lt. Col. Brody
1999
Warden of Red Rock
Henry Masters
2001
Gone in the Night
Richard Daley Jr.
1996
Space Command Redemption
Anson Kemmer
2024
Soy Nero
Seymour
2016
Bad Hurt
Ed Kendall
2016
Italian Movie
Mike
1994
Sonic Impact
Captain Mark Travis
2000
Nightman
Mr. Krueger
1997
Salvation Road
Douglas Moorland
2010
Solidarity
Frank