New York Undercover
Encyclopedia
New York Undercover is an American police drama
that aired on the FOX
television network from 1994 to 1998. The series starred Malik Yoba
as Detective J.C. Williams and Michael DeLorenzo
as Detective Eddie Torres, two undercover
detectives in New York City's 4th Precinct who were assigned to investigate various crimes and gang-related cases. The cast also included Patti D'Arbanville-Quinn
as their boss, Lt. Virginia Cooper, and Lauren Vélez
, who joined the cast in the second season as Nina Moreno, fellow detective and love interest to Torres.
New York Undercover, originally known as Uptown Undercover, is notable for being the first police drama on American television to feature two people of color in the starring roles. In contrast to the popularity of NBC
's "Must See TV
" on Thursday nights in the 1990s, many African-American viewers flocked to FOX
's Thursday night line-up of Living Single
, New York Undercover, and Martin
. In fact, these were the three highest rated series among black households (in this respective order) for the 1996-1997 season.
creator Dick Wolf
, also explored the private lives of its characters. For example, Det. Williams struggled to raise his young son, Gregory (George O. Gore II
), while Torres was shown to be fighting family and other related problems, including having to cope with his father's drug addiction and HIV-positive status and a childhood friend turned gang leader.
At the beginning of the third season, a new detective, Tommy McNamara (Jonathan LaPaglia
), was introduced as a principal character. In the third-season finale in May 1997, Torres and Moreno were married. However, in that same episode, Torres and McNamara were both killed by a gang of bank robbers. Many viewers believe that these events — particularly the death of Torres and the departure of actor Michael DeLorenzo — caused New York Undercover to "jump the shark
", since the friendship of Williams and Torres was a major dynamic of the series.
New York Undercover returned with a new cast for its fourth and final season in January 1998. Williams and Moreno were assigned to a new unit, resulting in D'Arbanville-Quinn being dropped from the cast. Joining the detectives were Lt. Malcolm Barker (played by Tommy Ford
), Det. Nell Delaney (Marisa Ryan
), and Det. Alec Stone (Josh Hopkins
). The new unit eventually captured the last bank robber responsible for the deaths of Torres and McNamara.
appeared in the first-season episode "Olde Tyme Religion" as a believer in Santería
. Additionally, J.K. Simmons
guest starred as Sgt. Treadway in the Season 2 episode "Unis", returning in Season 4's "Mob Street" as Law & Order
police psychiatrist Emil Skoda
. Michelle Hurd
had a recurring role in Seasons 1 and 2 as A.D.A. Reynolds, but returned as a criminal in Season 3's "No Place Like Hell". Joe Lisi
appeared in the second-season episode "Bad Blood" before assuming a recurring role as the Chief of Detectives in Season 4.
The following actors also appeared in multiple roles:
and R&B songs for its soundtrack, with noted musician-producer James Mtume
serving as musical director. Each episode during Seasons 1 through 3 began with a montage of scenes leading up to the crime to be investigated. These sequences were notable for the absence of any dialogue or sound effects and are accompanied instead by music, usually hip-hop or R&B. This method of introducing the plot was dropped in the fourth season.
At some point during each episode, one or more of the principal characters would end up at Natalie's, a popular New York R&B café owned by Gladys Knight
's character Natalie, where a popular artist would perform a set. Among the artists featured on the show during its run were Brownstone
, Aaron Neville
, New Edition
, Amel Larrieux
, Johnny Gill
, Levert
, The O'Jays
, Montell Jordan
, Aaliyah
, Chaka Khan
, Groove Theory
, Erykah Badu
, The Temptations
, Gladys Knight
, George Benson
, Boyz II Men
, Mary J. Blige
, Xscape
, The Notorious B.I.G.
, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
, 112
, Monifah
, Tito Puente
, Celia Cruz
, George Clinton
, Brandy
, Tevin Campbell
, Chuck D
, the P-Funk All-Stars and others. The two exceptions were a first-season episode, where The Notorious B.I.G.
performs at a rap concert, and the two-episode third-season premiere, where Kirk Franklin
and the Family portray a church choir.
In the first-season episode "The Eyewitness Blues", actress Salli Richardson
portrays a popular singer in need of police protection from a professional killer. This is the only episode from the first three seasons without a musical performance by a recording artist. In this episode, Richardson does the singing herself.
in both 1996 and 1997. Malik Yoba won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
for starring in this series in 1996, 1997, and 1998.
For their supporting roles as recurring characters on the show, Fatima Faloye
and Ice-T
were awarded the NAACP's awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
, respectively, in 1996.
, but when it was changed to Cloo, New York Undercover was dropped. The series also aired on Si TV
as well, but when it was changed to Nuvo TV, New York Undercover was also dropped.
Since January 1, 2008, New York Undercover has aired on RTL
's digital RTL Crime channel which shows reruns of RTL and American crime series such as Alarm für Cobra 11, Der Clown
and Forensic Files
. On April 2010, Malik Yoba stated on an episode of The Wendy Williams Show
that he is trying to bring the series back as a 10 years later story. It has not been confirmed on when and who is going to star in it.
Police procedural
The police procedural is a subgenre of detective fiction which attempts to convincingly depict the activities of a police force as they investigate crimes. While traditional detective novels usually concentrate on a single crime, police procedurals frequently depict investigations into several...
that aired on the FOX
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
television network from 1994 to 1998. The series starred Malik Yoba
Malik Yoba
Abdul-Malik Kashie Yoba , better known by his stage name Malik Yoba, is an American actor and occasional singer. He is perhaps best known for his starring role as NYPD Detective J.C. Williams on the FOX police drama series New York Undercover or as Yul Brenner in Cool Runnings...
as Detective J.C. Williams and Michael DeLorenzo
Michael DeLorenzo
Michael DeLorenzo is an American actor, director and musician. He is best known for his portrayal of NYPD Detective Eddie Torres on the Fox Thursday night television series New York Undercover which was aired from 1994-1998....
as Detective Eddie Torres, two undercover
Undercover
Being undercover is disguising one's own identity or using an assumed identity for the purposes of gaining the trust of an individual or organization to learn secret information or to gain the trust of targeted individuals in order to gain information or evidence...
detectives in New York City's 4th Precinct who were assigned to investigate various crimes and gang-related cases. The cast also included Patti D'Arbanville-Quinn
Patti D'Arbanville
Patricia "Patti" D'Arbanville is an American actress and former model.-Early life:D'Arbanville, born May 25, 1951 in New York City, New York, is the daughter of Jean , an artist, and George D'Arbanville, a bartender, and attended PS 41 on Eleventh Street...
as their boss, Lt. Virginia Cooper, and Lauren Vélez
Lauren Vélez
Lauren Vélez is an American actress of Puerto Rican descent and the twin sister of actress Loraine Vélez. Her most notable roles are as María LaGuerta on Dexter, Detective Nina Moreno on Fox's New York Undercover, and Dr...
, who joined the cast in the second season as Nina Moreno, fellow detective and love interest to Torres.
New York Undercover, originally known as Uptown Undercover, is notable for being the first police drama on American television to feature two people of color in the starring roles. In contrast to the popularity of NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's "Must See TV
Must See TV
"Must See TV" is an advertising slogan used by the NBC television network to brand its prime time blocks of sitcoms during the 1990s, and most often applied to the network's Thursday night lineup, which featured such popular sitcoms as The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Cheers, Night Court, A Different...
" on Thursday nights in the 1990s, many African-American viewers flocked to FOX
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
's Thursday night line-up of Living Single
Living Single
Living Single is an American television sitcom which aired for five seasons on the Fox network from August 29, 1993 to January 1, 1998. The show centered on the lives of six friends who share personal and professional experiences while living in a Brooklyn brownstone.Throughout its run, Living...
, New York Undercover, and Martin
Martin (TV series)
Martin is an American sitcom produced by HBO Independent Productions that aired for five seasons, from August 27, 1992 to May 1, 1997 on Fox...
. In fact, these were the three highest rated series among black households (in this respective order) for the 1996-1997 season.
Synopsis
Besides solving each week's case, the show, produced by Law & OrderLaw & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
creator Dick Wolf
Dick Wolf
Richard Anthony "Dick" Wolf is an American producer, specializing in crime dramas such as Miami Vice and the Law & Order franchise. Throughout his career he has won several awards including an Emmy Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.-Early life:Wolf was born in New York City, the son...
, also explored the private lives of its characters. For example, Det. Williams struggled to raise his young son, Gregory (George O. Gore II
George O. Gore II
George O. Gore II is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Michael Kyle, Jr. on the ABC sitcom My Wife and Kids, and Gregory "G" Williams on the Fox police drama New York Undercover....
), while Torres was shown to be fighting family and other related problems, including having to cope with his father's drug addiction and HIV-positive status and a childhood friend turned gang leader.
At the beginning of the third season, a new detective, Tommy McNamara (Jonathan LaPaglia
Jonathan LaPaglia
Dr. Jonathan LaPaglia, M.B.B.S. is an Australian actor known for his roles as Frank B. Parker in the television series Seven Days, Kevin Debreno in The District and Det...
), was introduced as a principal character. In the third-season finale in May 1997, Torres and Moreno were married. However, in that same episode, Torres and McNamara were both killed by a gang of bank robbers. Many viewers believe that these events — particularly the death of Torres and the departure of actor Michael DeLorenzo — caused New York Undercover to "jump the shark
Jumping the shark
Jumping the shark is an idiom used to describe the moment in the evolution of a television show when it begins a decline in quality that is beyond recovery....
", since the friendship of Williams and Torres was a major dynamic of the series.
New York Undercover returned with a new cast for its fourth and final season in January 1998. Williams and Moreno were assigned to a new unit, resulting in D'Arbanville-Quinn being dropped from the cast. Joining the detectives were Lt. Malcolm Barker (played by Tommy Ford
Thomas Mikal Ford
Thomas Mikal Ford , known and credited also as Tommy Ford, is an American actor who is best known for his character Tommy Strawn in the sitcom Martin...
), Det. Nell Delaney (Marisa Ryan
Marisa Ryan
Marisa Ryan is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Elizabeth Cooper McGillis in the television sitcom Major Dad, she also co-starred as Det...
), and Det. Alec Stone (Josh Hopkins
Josh Hopkins
William Joshua Hopkins is an American actor.-Career:Hopkins joined the fourth, and last season, of New York Undercover in 1998. In 1999 Hopkins starred in Alanis Morissette's "Unsent" music video...
). The new unit eventually captured the last bank robber responsible for the deaths of Torres and McNamara.
Main characters
- Malik YobaMalik YobaAbdul-Malik Kashie Yoba , better known by his stage name Malik Yoba, is an American actor and occasional singer. He is perhaps best known for his starring role as NYPD Detective J.C. Williams on the FOX police drama series New York Undercover or as Yul Brenner in Cool Runnings...
as Det. Julius Clarence "J.C." Williams – J.C. is an African-American in his late twenties. He has a son, Gregory, whom he fathered as a teenager with his then-girlfriend Chantal Tierney. His partner Eddie Torres is his closest friend. J.C. is the only character that appears in all 89 episodes. - Michael DeLorenzoMichael DeLorenzoMichael DeLorenzo is an American actor, director and musician. He is best known for his portrayal of NYPD Detective Eddie Torres on the Fox Thursday night television series New York Undercover which was aired from 1994-1998....
as Det. Eduardo "Eddie" Torres (Seasons 1–3) – Born in the Bronx, Eddie is a Puerto Rican in his mid to late thirties. After years of estrangement from much of his immediate family, he formed close relationships with his brother Jimmy, a priest; his sister Carmen, a journalist; and his father Mike, a musician and recovering drug addict. His partner J.C. Williams is his closest friend. Eddie was killed in the line of duty on May 3, 1997, a little more than a month before his 39th birthday, according to his gravestone (which is viewable at the end of episode 1 of Season 4) - Patti D'Arbanville-QuinnPatti D'ArbanvillePatricia "Patti" D'Arbanville is an American actress and former model.-Early life:D'Arbanville, born May 25, 1951 in New York City, New York, is the daughter of Jean , an artist, and George D'Arbanville, a bartender, and attended PS 41 on Eleventh Street...
as Lt. Virginia Cooper (Seasons 1–3) – Virginia is an Irish Catholic in her mid-forties. She is married with three children, one of whom died at the age of eight. She is the commanding officer of the detective squad at the NYPD's 4th Precinct. - Lauren VélezLauren VélezLauren Vélez is an American actress of Puerto Rican descent and the twin sister of actress Loraine Vélez. Her most notable roles are as María LaGuerta on Dexter, Detective Nina Moreno on Fox's New York Undercover, and Dr...
as Det. Nina Moreno (Seasons 2–4) – Nina is a Puerto Rican in her late twenties. At the age of sixteen, she was married and gave birth to a daughter, Melissa Lewis. She gave up the girl for adoption after her husband abandoned her. Her mother is a sergeant with the NYPD. - Jonathan LaPagliaJonathan LaPagliaDr. Jonathan LaPaglia, M.B.B.S. is an Australian actor known for his roles as Frank B. Parker in the television series Seven Days, Kevin Debreno in The District and Det...
as Det. Tommy McNamara (Season 3) – Tommy is an Irish-Italian American in his late twenties. His father was a police officer who was killed in the line of duty, with many suspecting that the man was corrupt. Prior to his transfer to the 4th Precinct, he had very little interaction with New York's African-American and Latino neighborhoods or police officers. - Marisa RyanMarisa RyanMarisa Ryan is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Elizabeth Cooper McGillis in the television sitcom Major Dad, she also co-starred as Det...
as Det. Nell Delaney (Season 4) – Nell is a 22 year old Irish American. She lied about her age upon entering the police academy, but the NYPD chose to overlook this when she was exposed years later. She is a close friend of fellow detective Alec Stone. - Josh HopkinsJosh HopkinsWilliam Joshua Hopkins is an American actor.-Career:Hopkins joined the fourth, and last season, of New York Undercover in 1998. In 1999 Hopkins starred in Alanis Morissette's "Unsent" music video...
as Det. Alec Stone (Season 4) – Alec's father was an organized crime boss with the Brooklyn-based Damico Family. Alec's decision is pursue a career in law enforcement has estranged him from most of his relatives. He is a close friend of fellow detective Nell Delaney. - Tommy FordThomas Mikal FordThomas Mikal Ford , known and credited also as Tommy Ford, is an American actor who is best known for his character Tommy Strawn in the sitcom Martin...
as Lt. Malcolm Barker (Season 4) – Malcolm is an African-American in his mid-forties. He is the commanding officer of the NYPD's Special Investigations Division. Most of the S.I.D.'s operations are covert, and he frequently instructs his officers to "lie, cheat, [and do] whatever it takes" to close a case.
Family
- George Gore IIGeorge O. Gore IIGeorge O. Gore II is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Michael Kyle, Jr. on the ABC sitcom My Wife and Kids, and Gregory "G" Williams on the Fox police drama New York Undercover....
as Gregory "G" Williams – Gregory is the son of J.C. Williams and Chantal Tierney. In the pilot episode, he is described as a nine year old. For most of Season 1, his given age is 10. By the beginning of Season 3, his given age is 13. He is the only recurring character that appears in all four seasons. - Michael MicheleMichael MicheleMichael Michele is an American film and television actress. She played Dr. Cleo Finch on the medical drama ER and Det. Rene Sheppard on the police procedural Homicide: Life on the Street...
as Sandra Gill (Season 1) – Sandy is an attorney in her late twenties. Throughout Season 1, she was involved with J.C. Williams. She became pregnant with J.C.'s baby and agreed to marry him, but was murdered on the eve of her wedding by a criminal with a grudge against J.C. - Fatima FaloyeFatima FaloyeFatima Faloye , is of Nigerian and Barbadian descent and studied at Dalton School in New York City as well as New York University. Faloye won the coveted NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1996 for her role as Chantal in New York Undercover...
as Chantal Tierney (Seasons 1–3) – Chantal is a registered nurse in her late twenties. She has a son, Gregory, to whom she gave birth as a teenager with her then-boyfriend J.C. Williams. - Roger RobinsonRoger Robinson (actor)Roger Robinson is an American actor who won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play for the 2009 revival of Joe Turner's Come and Gone....
as Col. Williams (Season 3) – An officer with the United States Army Special Forces, he is the father of J.C. Williams. He abandoned his wife and son, and did not contact J.C. again for 17 years. - José Perez as Mike Torres (Seasons 1–3) – Mike is a jazz and salsa musician, and a recovering drug addict. Having alienated much of his family over the years, he is closest to his son Eddie.
- José ZúñigaJose ZunigaJosé Zúñiga is an American actor.Zúñiga was born in Honduras. He is best known for his roles in films such as Alive, Ransom, Con Air, Fresh, Crooklyn, Next Stop Wonderland and Twilight...
as Father Jimmy Torres (Seasons 1–2) – Jimmy is a Catholic priest, and the older brother of Eddie Torres. - Lisa VidalLisa VidalLisa Vidal is an American film and television actress.-Early years:Vidal was born in New York City, New York, the daughter of Josie, a secretary, and Manny Vidal, a tax consultant and businessman. Her parents moved from Puerto Rico and settled in Manhattan, New York, where Vidal and her two...
as Carmen Torres (Seasons 1–2) – Carmen is a newspaper reporter, and the sister of Eddie Torres. - Nancy Ticotin as Teresa Torres Rivera (Seasons 1 and 3) – Teresa is the well-to-do sister of Eddie Torres.
- Steve Ryan as Dave Cooper (Seasons 2–3) – Dave is the husband of Virginia Cooper.
- Zoe Dora Lukov as Melissa Lewis (Season 3) – Melissa is the biological daughter of Nina Moreno, who gave birth to the girl as a teenager and gave her up for adoption.
- Marina Durell as Sgt. Sonia Moreno (Seasons 2–3) – A sergeant with the NYPD, she is the mother of Nina Moreno.
- Dean WintersDean WintersDean Winters is an American actor, who has portrayed Ryan O'Reily on HBO's Oz, Johnny Gavin on FX Network's Rescue Me, and Dennis Duffy on NBC's 30 Rock...
as Paul Delany (Season 4) – A firefighter with the FDNYNew York City Fire DepartmentThe New York City Fire Department or the Fire Department of the City of New York has the responsibility for protecting the citizens and property of New York City's five boroughs from fires and fire hazards, providing emergency medical services, technical rescue as well as providing first response...
, he is the brother of Nell Delany. - Jennifer EspositoJennifer EspositoJennifer Esposito is an American actress, dancer and model, known for her appearances in films such as I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, Summer of Sam and Crash and in television series such as Spin City, The Looney Tunes Show and Samantha Who?.-Early life:Esposito, an Italian-American, was...
as Gina Stone (Season 4) – The former lover of Alec Stone, she is now married to his brother Frankie. - Justin Theroux as Frankie Stone (Season 4) – An organized crime boss with the Brooklyn-based Damico Family, he is the brother of Alec Stone.
Law enforcement personnel
- Frank PellegrinoFrank PellegrinoFrank Pellegrino is an American actor and restaurateur.Born in East Harlem, Pellegrino has often acted in law and gangster-themed film and television productions. He was a member of an early sixties singing group called The Holidaes. There is a rare recording of a song called "Never" that appears...
as Det. Ricciarelli (Seasons 1–2) - Jim MoodyJim Moody (actor)Jim Moody is a television and film character actor. He played the tough talking counselor/teacher Gene Daniels in Bad Boys. His first feature film was in the 1980 hit film Fame, which he played Mr. Farrell, a drama teacher. Jim starred in the 1983 comedy film D.C. Cab as Arnie, a member of the...
as Det. Otis "Old School" Washington (Season 1) - Gilbert LewisGilbert LewisGilbert Lewis is an American actor who is best known for playing The King of Cartoons in the first season of the 1986 children's show, Pee-wee's Playhouse. Lewis played the King of Cartoons in thirteen episodes before being replaced by actor, William Marshall...
as Det. Otis "Old School" Washington (pilot episode only) - Lee Wong as Medical Examiner Wong (Seasons 1–3)
- James SaitoJames SaitoJames Tomio Saito is an American actor of stage, motion pictures, and television. He is best known for his physical portrayal of Shredder in the 1990 film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; the character was voiced by David McCharen. Saito also appeared in films like The Devil's Advocate, Home Alone 3,...
as Det. Chang (Season 1) - Michelle HurdMichelle HurdMichelle Hurd is an American stage, film, and television actress. She is married to actor Garret Dillahunt.-Early life:...
as A.D.A. Reynolds (Seasons 1–2) - Edie FalcoEdie FalcoEdith "Edie" Falco is an American television, film and stage actress, known for her roles in Oz as Diane Wittlesey, as Carmela Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos, and as the titular character on the Showtime series Nurse Jackie...
as Sgt. Kelly (Seasons 2–3) - James McCaffreyJames McCaffreyJames G. McCaffrey is an American actor.-Biography:McCaffrey was born in Northern Ireland and raised in New York. His first role was for sills models, as a mentally challenged teen, in Bill II: on His Own, the Bill Sackter story. He also played the lead in the first and last seasons of the series...
as Capt. Arthur O'Byrne (Season 3) - Joe LisiJoe LisiJoe Lisi , also credited as Joe Lissi, is an American television actor. He appeared in the NBC television show Third Watch as NYPD Lieutenant Swersky from 2000 to 2005...
as Chief of Detectives (Season 4) - Jon M. McDonnell as Detective Wilcox (Seasons 1–3)
Villains
- John CostelloeJohn Costelloe (actor)John A. Costelloe was an American actor best known for his role as Jim "Johnny Cakes" Witowski, the gay fireman lover of Vito Spatafore, in the HBO TV series The Sopranos....
as John Santucci (Seasons 1–3) – Santucci is an organized crime boss connected to the Gambino Family. He was a childhood acquaintance of Eddie Torres, and there is personal animus between the two. - Ice-TICE-T* Ice-T, an American rapper and actor* ICE T , a tilting model of the German InterCityExpress series of high-speed trains...
as Danny "Danny-Up" Cort (Seasons 1–2) – A chemistry whiz, Cort was a rising drug kingpin until being apprehended by detectives from the 4th Precinct. After J.C. Williams killed his brother in a police shootout, Cort retaliated by murdering J.C.'s pregnant fiancée Sandy Gill — igniting a bitter feud between the two men. - Giancarlo EspositoGiancarlo EspositoGiancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito is a Danish-born American film and television actor and director.-Early life:Esposito was born in Copenhagen, Denmark to an Italian father and African-American mother. His mother was an opera and nightclub singer from Alabama, who once appeared on the same...
as Adolfo Guzman (Season 2) – Guzman was a childhood rival of Eddie Torres, and as an adult became a criminal associate of John Santucci. The animus between Eddie and Guzman multiplied when Guzman attempted to take over Mike Torres' nightclub. - Naomi CampbellNaomi CampbellNaomi Campbell is a British model. Scouted at the age of 15, she established herself among the top three most recognisable and in-demand models of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and she was one of six models of her generation declared "supermodels" by the fashion world...
as Simone Jeffers (Season 2) – Sometime after Sandy Gill's death, Jeffers seduced J.C. Williams as part of a revenge plot enacted by Danny Cort. - Dana EskelsonDana EskelsonDana Erika Eskelson is an American television, film, and theatre actress.-Filmography:*Singles *Exiled: A Law & Order Movie *Cold Creek Manor *The Brave One -TV series:...
as Nadine Jordan (Seasons 3–4) – Jordan was a part of a highly skilled bank robbery team, and was responsible for the murder of Tommy McNamara. Every member of her crew was captured or killed by the police, but she escaped. In retaliation, she killed Eddie Torres, becoming the primary enemy of J.C. Williams (Eddie's best friend) and Nina Moreno (Eddie's bride)but then later stab in prison by Nina Moreno.
Others
- Victor Colicchio as "Slick Rick" (Season 1) – One of Eddie Torres’ confidential informants.
- Gladys KnightGladys KnightGladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
as Natalie (Season 1) – The original owner of Natalie's, the nightclub which appears in virtually every episode of the series’ first three seasons. - Rosanna ScottoRosanna ScottoRosanna Scotto is an American news anchor. She currently anchors WNYW's Good Day New York with Greg Kelly. Previously, Scotto anchored at 5 and 10 P.M. with Ernie Anastos and Fox 5 Live at 11 A.M. Scotto has been the lead female news anchor since 1990...
as Herself (Seasons 1–3) – She is a television reporter for Fox 5 New YorkWNYWWNYW, virtual channel 5 , is the flagship television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in New York City. The station's transmitter is atop the Empire State Building and its studio facilities are located in the Yorkville section of Manhattan...
.
Multiple-role players
Numerous actors made appearances in two or more episodes portraying different characters. Before joining the cast in Season 2 as Nina Moreno, Lauren VélezLauren Vélez
Lauren Vélez is an American actress of Puerto Rican descent and the twin sister of actress Loraine Vélez. Her most notable roles are as María LaGuerta on Dexter, Detective Nina Moreno on Fox's New York Undercover, and Dr...
appeared in the first-season episode "Olde Tyme Religion" as a believer in Santería
Santería
Santería is a syncretic religion of West African and Caribbean origin influenced by Roman Catholic Christianity, also known as Regla de Ocha, La Regla Lucumi, or Lukumi. Its liturgical language, a dialect of Yoruba, is also known as Lucumi....
. Additionally, J.K. Simmons
J. K. Simmons
Jonathan Kimble "J. K." Simmons is an American actor. He is best known for his roles on television as Dr. Emil Skoda in NBC's Law & Order , Assistant Police Chief Will Pope in TNT's The Closer, neo-Nazi Vernon Schillinger in the HBO prison drama Oz, on film as J...
guest starred as Sgt. Treadway in the Season 2 episode "Unis", returning in Season 4's "Mob Street" as Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
police psychiatrist Emil Skoda
Emil Skoda (Law & Order)
Emil Skoda, M.D. is a fictional character on the TV crime dramas Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He also appeared once each in Law & Order: Criminal Intent and New York Undercover. He is portrayed by J. K. Simmons....
. Michelle Hurd
Michelle Hurd
Michelle Hurd is an American stage, film, and television actress. She is married to actor Garret Dillahunt.-Early life:...
had a recurring role in Seasons 1 and 2 as A.D.A. Reynolds, but returned as a criminal in Season 3's "No Place Like Hell". Joe Lisi
Joe Lisi
Joe Lisi , also credited as Joe Lissi, is an American television actor. He appeared in the NBC television show Third Watch as NYPD Lieutenant Swersky from 2000 to 2005...
appeared in the second-season episode "Bad Blood" before assuming a recurring role as the Chief of Detectives in Season 4.
The following actors also appeared in multiple roles:
|
Steve Harris (actor) Steve Harris is an American actor who has appeared in a number of films including; Quarantine, Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Bringing Down The House, The Rock, The Mod Squad, and Minority Report. He is most famous for his role as Eugene Young on the legal drama The Practice... Hassan Johnson Hassan 'Iniko' Johnson is an American actor/producer from Staten Island, NY, born November 19, 1976. His most noted performance was appearing on the HBO program The Wire as Roland Wee-Bey Brice. His first acting role was in the 1995 Spike Lee film Clockers. He also had a significant role in the... Jean-Claude La Marre Jean-Claude La Marre is a Haitian-American writer, director, and film and television actor. His film credits include Malcolm X, Dead Presidents, Gang of Roses and Go For Broke. On television, he has guest-starred on New York Undercover, Law & Order, and NYPD Blue... Scott Lawrence Scott Lawrence is an American actor best known for his role as United States Naval JAG lawyer Cdr. Sturgis Turner on the CBS series JAG. Lawrence played the role from 2001 until 2005, when the series ended.-Career:... Jesse L. Martin Jesse L. Martin is an American theatre, film, and television actor. He is known for originating the role of Tom Collins in the Broadway theatrical production of Rent, and for his portrayal of NYPD Detective Ed Green on the NBC drama television series Law & Order.-Early life:Martin, the third of... Anthony Mason (basketball) Anthony George Douglas Mason is a retired American National Basketball Association player with the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat. He averaged 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in his 13-year NBA career... Novella Nelson Novella Nelson is an American actress and singer.Nelson was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Evelyn Hines and James Nelson. Her career in films did not begin until she was approaching middle age, with a small part in 1978's An Unmarried Woman. Over the next thirty years, she continued... Sean Nelson (actor) - Biography :Nelson was born in the Co-Op City section of Bronx, New York, of Jamaican/St. Thomian descent. He began his acting career at age 10 when he landed a role in an off-Broadway play Hey Little Walter. Sean Nelson turned 13 shortly before beginning principal photography on his debut film,... Manny Perez Manuel "Manny" Pérez Batista is a Dominican actor, who has appeared in the television series Third Watch and in the film Washington Heights. Pérez was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic, and currently resides in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood.Pérez is one of 11 siblings... |
Mekhi Phifer Mekhi Thira Phifer is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his multi-year role as Dr. Greg Pratt on NBC's long-running medical drama ER and his co-starring role opposite Eminem in the feature film 8 Mile... Jon Polito Jon Polito is an American actor and voice artist, who is known for working with the Coen Brothers, most notably in the major supporting role of Italian gangster Johnny Caspar in Miller's Crossing. He also appeared in the first two seasons of Homicide: Life on the Street and on the first season of... Ruben Santiago-Hudson Ruben Santiago-Hudson is an American actor and playwright, who has won national awards for his work in both areas. In November 2011 he will appear on Broadway in Lydia Diamond's play .-Early life:... Henry Simmons Henry Oswald Simmons, Jr. is an American actor.-Life and career:Simmons was born in Stamford, Connecticut, the son of Aurelia, a school teacher, and Henry Simmons, Sr., an IRS agent. He is one of three children, including his twin sister, and another sister... Tamara Tunie Tamara Renee Tunie is an American actress. She is best known for her portrayal of attorney Jessica Griffin on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns, and medical examiner Melinda Warner on the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit... John Ventimiglia John Ventimiglia is an American actor, known for his role as Artie Bucco on the HBO television series The Sopranos. He has had parts in feature films such as Cop Land, Jesus' Son, and Mickey Blue Eyes and has appeared in numerous television shows including Law & Order and NYPD Blue... Frank Vincent Frank Vincent is an American actor, musician, author and entrepreneur. He is a favorite performer of director Martin Scorsese, having played important roles in three of Scorsese's most acclaimed films: Raging Bull , Goodfellas and Casino . He often plays a gangster and works both in features and... Chris Webber Mayce Edward Christopher "Chris" Webber, III , nicknamed C-Webb, is a retired American professional basketball player. He is a five-time NBA All-Star, a former All-NBA First Teamer, a former NBA Rookie of the Year, and a former #1 overall NBA Draftee... Kristen Wilson (actress) Kristen Wilson is an American actress.-Early life:Wilson was born and raised in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, near Boston. She was adopted as a child. She trained as a dancer there and worked with the Boston Ballet for four years... |
Soundtrack
Each episode of the first three seasons of New York Undercover featured several hip hopHip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
and R&B songs for its soundtrack, with noted musician-producer James Mtume
James Mtume
James Mtume is a jazz and R&B musician and a radio personality. Mtume's group is perhaps best known for their 1983 R&B hit song "Juicy Fruit". The song was sampled by The Notorious B.I.G. in his song "Juicy"...
serving as musical director. Each episode during Seasons 1 through 3 began with a montage of scenes leading up to the crime to be investigated. These sequences were notable for the absence of any dialogue or sound effects and are accompanied instead by music, usually hip-hop or R&B. This method of introducing the plot was dropped in the fourth season.
At some point during each episode, one or more of the principal characters would end up at Natalie's, a popular New York R&B café owned by Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
's character Natalie, where a popular artist would perform a set. Among the artists featured on the show during its run were Brownstone
Brownstone
Brownstone is a brown Triassic or Jurassic sandstone which was once a popular building material. The term is also used in the United States to refer to a terraced house clad in this material.-Types:-Apostle Island brownstone:...
, Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville is an American soul and R&B singer and musician. He has had four top-20 hits in the United States along with four platinum-certified albums...
, New Edition
New Edition
New Edition is an R&B group formed in Boston in 1978. The group reached its height of popularity during the 1980s. They were the progenitors of the boy band movement of the 1980s and 1990s and led the way for groups like New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync...
, Amel Larrieux
Amel Larrieux
Amel Larrieux is an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter and keyboardist. Larrieux rose to fame in the mid 1990s as a founding member of the duo Groove Theory along with Bryce Wilson. After leaving the group in 1999, she released her debut solo album Infinite Possibilities the following year on...
, Johnny Gill
Johnny Gill
Johnny Gill is an American R&B singer-songwriter. He is the sixth and final member of the R&B supergroup New Edition, and was also a member of another supergroup called LSG; with Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat. His signature song "My, My, My" has been included on numerous romantic...
, Levert
LeVert
LeVert is a R&B/pop music singing group, formed in Ohio in 1984, comprising Sean and Gerald Levert, the sons of O'Jays founder Eddie Levert, as well as Marc Gordon.-Biography:The group released their first single, "I'm Still", for Harry Coombes' Tempre label...
, The O'Jays
The O'Jays
The O'Jays are an American R&B group from Canton, Ohio, formed in 1963 and originally consisting of Eddie Levert , Walter Williams , William Powell , Bobby Massey and Bill Isles. The O'Jays were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005...
, Montell Jordan
Montell Jordan
Montell Jordan is a former American R&B singer-songwriter and record producer. Jordan became the main solo male artist on its Def Soul imprint until leaving the label in 2003. Of his live performances it is often regarded that he is a rock oriented musician, with Jordan even going as far as to...
, Aaliyah
Aaliyah
Aaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
, Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
, Groove Theory
Groove Theory
Groove Theory is an American R&B duo, with former member, singer-songwriter Amel Larrieux and songwriter/producer/actor, Bryce Wilson. The group is best known for their 1995 pop/R&B hit, "Tell Me," which reached the top five of Billboard 's Hot 100 and the US Billboard R&B chart.-Early years:The...
, Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
, The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
, Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
, George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
, Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are the most successful R&B group of all time, having sold more than albums worldwide. In the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet, but original member Michael McCary...
, Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
, Xscape
Xscape (band)
Xscape, was a female American R&B group that originally started out as a quintet and then became a quartet. The group had a string of hit songs during the 1990s...
, The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is an American Hip-Hop/R'n'B band from Cleveland, Ohio formed in 1991. It originally consisted of rappers Layzie Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Bizzy Bone, Krayzie Bone, and Wish Bone. Rapper Eazy-E of the group N.W.A signed Bone Thugs-N-Harmony to Ruthless Records in 1994, when Bone...
, 112
112 (band)
112 is an American R&B quartet from Atlanta, Georgia. Formerly artists on Diddy's Bad Boy Records, the group signed to the Def Soul roster in 2002. They had great success in the late 1990s and early 2000s with hits such as "Only You", "Anywhere" and "Peaches & Cream"...
, Monifah
Monifah
Monifah is an American female R&B singer-songwriter.-Career:In 1996, her debut album, Moods...Moments was released. In 1997, she contributed the Heavy D. produced "I Still Love You" to the soundtrack of the film, Sprung. Monifah's second album was Mo'hogany. Released in the last quarter of 1998,...
, Tito Puente
Tito Puente
Tito Puente, , born Ernesto Antonio Puente, was a Latin jazz and Salsa musician. The son of native Puerto Ricans Ernest and Ercilia Puente, of Spanish Harlem in New York City, Puente is often credited as "El Rey de los Timbales" and "The King of Latin Music"...
, Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz was a Cuban-American salsa singer, and was one of the most successful Salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums...
, George Clinton
George Clinton (funk musician)
George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
, Brandy
Brandy Norwood
Brandy Rayana Norwood , known professionally as Brandy, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu....
, Tevin Campbell
Tevin Campbell
Tevin Jermod Campbell is an American R&B singer-songwriter and actor. He scored a string of R&B chart hits as a teenager in the early to mid-1990s.-Music career:...
, Chuck D
Chuck D
Carlton Douglas Ridenhour , better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy.- Early life :Ridenhour was born in Queens, New York...
, the P-Funk All-Stars and others. The two exceptions were a first-season episode, where The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
performs at a rap concert, and the two-episode third-season premiere, where Kirk Franklin
Kirk Franklin
Kirk Dwayne Franklin is an American Gospel music musician, choir director, and author, and is most notably known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirs such as The Family, God's Property and One Nation Crew .- Early years :...
and the Family portray a church choir.
In the first-season episode "The Eyewitness Blues", actress Salli Richardson
Salli Richardson
Salli Elise Richardson-Whitfield is an American television and film actress. She is known for her role on Eureka and her voice acting on Gargoyles.-Early life:...
portrays a popular singer in need of police protection from a professional killer. This is the only episode from the first three seasons without a musical performance by a recording artist. In this episode, Richardson does the singing herself.
Awards and nominations
New York Undercover won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Drama SeriesNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Drama Series
The NAACP Image Award winners for Outstanding Drama Series:-Facts & Stats:...
in both 1996 and 1997. Malik Yoba won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
The NAACP Image Award winners for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series:*Most Wins:* Malik Yoba, Eriq La Salle, Hill Harper have won this category 3 times.*Most Nominations-Winners/Nominees:...
for starring in this series in 1996, 1997, and 1998.
For their supporting roles as recurring characters on the show, Fatima Faloye
Fatima Faloye
Fatima Faloye , is of Nigerian and Barbadian descent and studied at Dalton School in New York City as well as New York University. Faloye won the coveted NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1996 for her role as Chantal in New York Undercover...
and Ice-T
ICE-T
* Ice-T, an American rapper and actor* ICE T , a tilting model of the German InterCityExpress series of high-speed trains...
were awarded the NAACP's awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
The NAACP Image Award winners for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:*Most Wins**Loretta Devine & S. Epatha Merkerson- has three wins*Most Nominations**1. S. Epatha Merkerson- 6 nominations**2. Pam Grier- 5 nominations...
and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
The NAACP Image Award winners for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:*Most Wins:**Mehki Phifer, Ice-T, Ossie Davis, Gary Dourdan & Omar Epps- has 2 wins a piece.*Most Nominations:**1. James Pickens Jr.- 6 nominations...
, respectively, in 1996.
Syndication
The series aired on the TV One cable network from 2007 to 2011. In 2008, the series began airing on SleuthSleuth (TV channel)
Cloo is a digital cable television channel with programming dedicated to the crime and mystery genres. It is owned and operated by NBCUniversal. It launched on January 1, 2006, replacing Trio...
, but when it was changed to Cloo, New York Undercover was dropped. The series also aired on Si TV
Sí TV
NuvoTV is an English-language cable network that caters to the bicultural Latino population of the United States. Programming includes lifestyle, reality, comedy, and more...
as well, but when it was changed to Nuvo TV, New York Undercover was also dropped.
Since January 1, 2008, New York Undercover has aired on RTL
RTL Group
RTL Group is Europe's largest TV, radio and production company, and is majority-owned by German media conglomerate Bertelsmann. It has 45 television and 32 radio stations in 11 countries...
's digital RTL Crime channel which shows reruns of RTL and American crime series such as Alarm für Cobra 11, Der Clown
Der Clown
Der Clown was a German television series that ran between 1998-04-21 and 2001-10-11. It ran for 46 episodes, and starred Sven Martinek, Diana Frank, Thomas Anzenhofer and Volkmar Kleinert.Der Clown was also a 2005 film.-Story:...
and Forensic Files
Forensic Files
Forensic Files is an American documentary-style series which reveals how forensic science is used to solve violent crimes, mysterious accidents, and even outbreaks of illness. The show is broadcast on truTV, narrated by Peter Thomas, and produced by Medstar Television, in association with truTV...
. On April 2010, Malik Yoba stated on an episode of The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Wendy Williams that premiered on July 14, 2008, as six-week sneak peek, in Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York City. The test run was picked up for a full season that began its run on July 13, 2009 in over 70% of the country in...
that he is trying to bring the series back as a 10 years later story. It has not been confirmed on when and who is going to star in it.