Fifty Shades of Esparza! Tony Nominee Raul Esparza to Star in Erotic Novel-Themed Law & Order: SVU Episode

Listen up, Christian Grey fans... it looks like the popular Fifty Shades of Grey novels are getting the Law & Order treatment with the help of four-time Tony nominee Raul Esparza and Tony winner Roger Bart. Esparza is about to complete his Law & Order trifecta by taking on a recurring role as District Attorney Rafael Barba on Law & Order: SVU.

In SVU’s October 10 episode, Esparza’s character will be pulled onto a case that focuses on a best-selling erotica author (3C’s Anna Chlumsky) who accuses a talk show host (Bart) of rape. Esparza will also appear on the November 14 episode.

The actor has previously appeared on Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, following the unofficial rite of passage that dozens of Broadway stars have undertaken: appearing on the long-running procedural. Lucky for Esparza, he’ll be avoiding the bodybag!

Esparza received Tony nominations for Speed-the-Plow, The Homecoming, Company and Taboo and has appeared on Broadway in Leap of Faith, Arcadia, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Rocky Horror Show and Cabaret. His off-Broadway work includes Twelfth Night, The Normal Heart, Comedians and tick,tick...BOOM! Esparza's film and TV credits include Pushing Daisies, My Soul to Take, Medium and Find Me Guilty.

Bart earned a Tony for You're a Good Man Charlie Brown and an additional nomination for The Producers. His other Broadway credits include Young Frankenstein, The Frogs, King David, Big River and Triump of Love.