Alfred Molina to join new 'Law & Order' series

LOS ANGELES -- Veteran film and Broadway actor Alfred Molina is joining the cast of "Law & Order: Los Angeles," which debuts this fall as the newest member of the NBC crime drama family.

Molina will play deputy district attorney Morales, said Dick Wolf, creator and executive producer of the series nicknamed "LOLA" that will air 9 p.m. on Wednesdays.

The show's premiere date -- and the first name of Molina's character -- have yet to be announced.

"I am thrilled that Fred is 'LOLA's' deputy D.A.," Wolf said in a statement Saturday, adding that Molina joins a list of outstanding character actors who have starred in "Law & Order" series, including Sam Waterson, Dianne Wiest and Michael Moriarty.

"Law & Order: Los Angeles" will join "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" on NBC. The original "Law & Order" ended its run last season after 20 years to share a longevity record with "Gunsmoke."

Skeet Ulrich ("Jericho") plays a lead detective in the new crime drama that, like its predecessors, divides its episodes between the work of police and prosecutors.

Molina's film credits include "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Spider-Man 2" and "The Da Vinci Code." He recently starred on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning drama "Red."

"Law & Order: Los Angeles" is produced by Wolf Films and Universal Media Studios.

Wolf is joined by Rene Balcer, Blake Masters and Peter Jankowski as executive producers.