Dann Florek gained attention for his portrayal of direct-marketing whiz Dave Meyer on the Emmy Award-winning L.A. Law, and has been known for his acting versatility. Born on May 1, 1950 in Flat Rock, Michigan, Florek has also made it in the entertainment industry as a director. In the seventies, he became known as a “folk-punk” singer while acting on underground scenes in New York. He majored in math and physics at Eastern Michigan University, but received a drama scholarship that changed his career choice. He trained at the prestigious Juilliard School, appearing on stage productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Love Labour’s Lost. He has worked on theatres like the Globe Theatre and the La Jolla Playhouse. He worked his way towards ‘80s films, getting supporting roles in Sweet Liberty, Moon Over Parador, and Angel Heart.
Florek soon co-starred in Law & Order as Capt. Don Cragen, and was allowed to direct a few episodes of the show in 1994 and 1995. He continued to expand his career, gaining guest-starring roles on NBC’s Wings and The Pretender. He was soon seen in The Practice and NYPD Blue, and played a doctor and school principal on Roseanne. In 1994, he was given the role of Mr. Slate in The Flintstones movie, allowing him to work with John Goodman, Rick Moranis, Rosie O’Donnell, Halle Berry and Elizabeth Taylor. Florek became known for being cast in Ellen, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Smart Guy and portrayed Abraham Lincoln on the controversial UPN sitcom The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer. He reprised his Law & Order role in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and in Exiled: A Law & Oder Movie. Florek made other film appearances, playing Mr. Mehlor in the thriller Hard Rain with Morgan Freeman and Christian Slater and had a part in the comedy Getting Even with Dad starring Macaulay Culkin.