I've been borrowing the discs from the library but I *think* Season 3 was missing a disc(s); there were only 3 in the case. Also - the discs were terribly scratched so I have a few questions:
Was this Paul's last season?
If so, how was it explained that he left?
It was mentioned Ben had a daughter; any idea who the mother is?
Are you referring to actor Paul Sorvino, who played Detective Phil Cerreta, or actor Richard Brooks, who played ADA Paul Robinette?
Paul Sorvino left the show early in Season 3. His character, Detective Phil Cerreta, was shot and badly injured in the 8th episode of Season 3. He did appear briefly in the following episode as a guest star. Jerry Orbach replaced him as Detective Lennie Briscoe. In the book, "Law & Order: The Unofficial Companion," by Kevin Courrier and Susan Green, Sorvino left because he didn't like doing the many outdoor scenes in the cold. He felt his singing voice was being endangered.
Richard Brooks, who played ADA Paul Robinette, left the show after Season 3 and was replaced by Jill Hennessy who played ADA Claire Kincaid. According to the same book, Brooks and Dann Florek (Captain Cragen) were dismissed because the show's bigwigs wanted some women in the leading roles. Florek was replaced by S. Epatha Merkerson, who played Lt. Anita Van Buren.
Brooks and Florek would reappear in the L&O franchise. Florek's Cragen would appear in some L&O episodes later on and in the 1998 L&O: Exiled movie as well as direct a few episodes. His Cragen character would be a regular in the SVU spinoff series for many years. Brooks would appear as Robinette (a defense lawyer) in 3 L&O episodes but never appear in any other L&O franchise episodes. Robinette never explained why he left the DA's office nor was there any mention of it at the start of Season 4 when the two women first appeared.
As for Ben Stone, according to the same book, Ben is divorced and has a daughter. I recall that being mentioned in an episode but forget the circumstances. I don't recall anything about his ex-wife, either.
Thanks! I was referring to actor Richard Brooks, who played ADA Paul Robinette. No explanation? That's disappointing!
Much gratitude. On to Season 4!
There was a deleted scene from the season 4 premiere explaining the Robinette had gone into private practice and left the DA's office. We saw him again in the episodes Custody, Birthright and Fear America where he represented the defendant.
Stone was divorced but nothing was ever mentioned about his ex wife or daughter and we knew basically nothing about his personal life, as was the case with most characters.