• Peter Scanavino remembers his first line as Sonny Carisi on Law & Order: SVU.
  • His debut featured a memorable mustache that was quickly dropped in later seasons.
  • Scanavino recalled the line: “They shot at us right outside of the station…”
  • SVU returns Jan. 8 at 9/8c on NBC; episodes stream next day on Peacock.

Scanavino’s first line as Sonny Carisi

Peter Scanavino, who plays Dominick “Sonny” Carisi on Law & Order: SVU, says he still remembers his first line after joining the regular cast. In a behind-the-scenes video released in 2022, Scanavino recalled delivering the line with the nervous energy of an actor eager to make a strong first impression: “They shot at us right outside of the station, so they want us to know they’re crazy.”

Why that moment stuck

Scanavino had appeared in multiple Law & Order productions before landing the Carisi role, but he told colleagues he could not recall earlier small parts because they were very different from the A.D.A. he would become. The first day on set as a regular brought both pressure and a specific bit of on-screen flair that fans still laugh about: a thick, retro mustache.

That mustache moment

“The mustache — yeah, that was awesome,” Scanavino said, grinning at the memory. He admitted he was surprised the show let him keep the facial hair for the debut. The look was short-lived, however: producers and the actor later decided it wasn’t the best fit for the character, and Carisi was clean-shaven in subsequent seasons.

The mustache has become a small but fond bit of SVU lore among viewers, a reminder of how even minor styling choices can shape a character’s early impression. Scanavino’s playful reaction shows how cast and crew sometimes retool characters after seeing how they read on camera.

Behind the scenes: the video

Scanavino’s recollection appears in a Law & Order cast video where he and other actors look back at roles across the franchise. Watch the clip below for the full context and Scanavino’s comments:

How to watch

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit returns Thursday, January 8 at 9/8c on NBC. New episodes are available the next day on Peacock for streaming. Fans tuning in can expect more character moments and callbacks as the long-running series continues to evolve.

Scanavino’s memory of his first line and the brief-lived mustache is a small, human moment from a show that has built decades of storytelling — a reminder that even seasoned actors remember the little details that make a role theirs.

Image Referance: https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/peter-scanavino-reaction-carisi-mustache-law-order-svu