what happened to captain cragen

Captain Donald Cragen, a beloved character on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (SVU) played by Dann Florek, was revealed to have died in the Season 27 premiere episode titled "In The Wind," which aired in September 2025. The episode centered around his memorial service, bringing together current and former SVU team members to honor him. Cragen was a longtime commanding officer and mentor to key characters like Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler. His death was treated as a significant and emotional moment in the show, though the cause of his death was not specified. The episode included a final video message from Cragen reflecting on his career and life, where he expressed pride and gratitude for his years of service with the NYPD. This marked a respectful farewell to a character who had been part of the franchise for over 35 years across several series.