Octavio Pisano Returns as Detective Joe Velasco in Upcoming 'Law & Order: SVU' Episode
- - Octavio Pisano Returns as Detective Joe Velasco in Upcoming 'Law & Order: SVU' Episode
Devon ForwardFebruary 11, 2026 at 3:20 AM
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Peter Kramer/NBC
After unexpectedly leaving Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in late 2025, actor Octavio Pisano, who plays the character Detective Joe Velasco, is officially returning to the show for at least one episode.
On Feb. 10, Deadline exclusively reported the news that Pisano was on set for the show in New York City to film an episode for later this year. According to sources, his character is going undercover in the new storyline.
The surprising news comes after Pisano left the show in 2025, with no official reason reported. In May, it was announced that both Pisano and Juliana Martinezwouldn't be returning for the next season, and fans were forced to say goodbye to their characters. Pisano ended up appearing at the start of Season 27 to sort of wrap up his storyline, but since then, he hasn't been in the show.
Luckily, it seems like the writers of Law & Order: SVU and people at NBC changed their minds, as Pisano is officially back. While it's confirmed that he will appear in at least one episode, the total number of episodes isn't clear. It could be a quick one-off appearance or a story arc over multiple episodes.
Related: Law & Order: SVU Star Shares "Precious" Rare Video of Young Daughter
Throughout the crime drama's long run, the show has said goodbye and hello to a long list of cast members, and there's no way to predict if your favorite character will be around a few seasons down the line.
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One key example of this is Kelli Giddish and her character, Sergeant Amanda Rollins. Back in late 2022, Giddish was a series regular when it was revealed that she would be leaving the show. While she didn't share why, many fans suspected it was because of budget cuts at NBC.
Although Giddish made appearances in Seasons 25 and 26, fans were left stunned when it was announced that she would be returning as a series regular in Season 27. Everyone welcomed her back with open arms, but the situation was a testament to how unpredictable a cast member's status can be.
With this in mind, fans of Pisano can be hopeful that maybe someday, sooner or later, the actor could be back as a main cast member on Law & Order: SVU.
Related: The 26 Best 'Law & Order: SVU' Guest Stars — From Robin Williams to Snoop
This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
