Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsPrimetime EmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalFall TV GuideMost Anticipated This MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayTrending peopleCelebrity news
    IMDb LabsHelp centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
Law & Order
S1.E3
All episodesAll
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Reaper's Helper

  • Episode aired Oct 4, 1990
  • TV-14
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
724
YOUR RATING
George Dzundza and Chris Noth in Law & Order (1990)
CrimeDramaMysteryThriller

A gay man with AIDS is accused of murdering another gay man. However, he claims that the victim also had AIDS, and that it was a mercy killing.A gay man with AIDS is accused of murdering another gay man. However, he claims that the victim also had AIDS, and that it was a mercy killing.A gay man with AIDS is accused of murdering another gay man. However, he claims that the victim also had AIDS, and that it was a mercy killing.

  • Director
    • Vern Gillum
  • Writers
    • Thomas Francis McElroy
    • David Black
    • Robert Nathan
  • Stars
    • George Dzundza
    • Chris Noth
    • Dann Florek
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    724
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Vern Gillum
    • Writers
      • Thomas Francis McElroy
      • David Black
      • Robert Nathan
    • Stars
      • George Dzundza
      • Chris Noth
      • Dann Florek
    • 11User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Episodes

    Photos5

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 2
    View Poster

    Top Cast30

    George Dzundza
    George Dzundza
    • Sergeant Max Greevey
    Chris Noth
    Chris Noth
    • Detective Mike Logan
    Dann Florek
    Dann Florek
    • Captain Donald 'Don' Cragen
    Michael Moriarty
    Michael Moriarty
    • Executive ADA Ben Stone
    Richard Brooks
    Richard Brooks
    • ADA Paul Robinette
    Steven Hill
    Steven Hill
    • DA Adam Schiff
    Peter Frechette
    Peter Frechette
    • John 'Jack' R. Curry
    Tom Signorelli
    Tom Signorelli
    • Anthony Holland
    Barbara Andres
    • Patricia Holland
    Jesse Corti
    Jesse Corti
    • Angel Suarez
    Charlotte Moore
    Charlotte Moore
    • Defense Attorney Julia DeBakey
    Neal Benari
    Neal Benari
    • Mr. Gordon
    • (as Neal Ben-Ari)
    Richard Steinmetz
    Richard Steinmetz
    • Terry Roland
    Millie Tirelli
    • Lois Rivera
    Steven Gilborn
    Steven Gilborn
    • Judge Greenbaum
    Francis Guinan
    Francis Guinan
    • Jed Coles
    Susan Knight
    • Allison McGill
    Suzanne Shepherd
    Suzanne Shepherd
    • Judge Victoria Sawyer
    • Director
      • Vern Gillum
    • Writers
      • Thomas Francis McElroy
      • David Black
      • Robert Nathan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews11

    7.5724
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Related interests

    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      This episode appears to be based on several cases/incidents:
      • The 1982 Marty James case. James was a 21-year-old hitchhiker from California whose body was found in Utah, shot in the head and mutilated. His belongings were never recovered, and a severed body part found in Kansas was possibly linked but never confirmed. The case is suspected to be part of a series of unsolved killings known as the "Castration Murders," but no suspect has ever been identified.
      • The 1980's & 1990's Dr. Jack Kevorkian (a.k.a. "Dr. Death") case. Dr. Kevorkian became famous in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a supporter of assisted suicide. He became most noted for publicly championing a terminal patient's right to die via euthanasia; he claims to have assisted at least 130 patients to that end. He famously said that "dying is not a crime." Between 1999 and 2007, Kevorkian served eight years of a 10-to-25-year prison sentence for second-degree murder. His trial was a lengthy one because of several acquittals and a mistrial. He was released on June 1, 2007, on parole due to good behavior. He died on June 3, 2011.
      • The epidemic of assisted suicides of gay/bi men infected with HIV during the early AIDS epidemic in the United States.
      • A supporting character is inspired by attorney Lynne Stewart.
    • Goofs
      During the trial an 'expert witness', Mr. Willmen, states that doctors have the right to assist their patients in dying in the UK. This in incorrect; it is permissible in the Netherlands however.
    • Quotes
      • Det. Sgt. Maxwell "Max" Greevey: Do you think a lot of cops are gay?
      • Detective Mike Logan: No way, man. The department's got a special test. They look you in the eye, and if your left eye blinks before your right eye, they know you're gay.
      • [Blinks at Greevey with his left eye]
    • Connections
      Featured in 'Law & Order': The Beginning (2002)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    • Release date
      • October 4, 1990 (United States)
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Instagram
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Wolf Films
      • Universal Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h(60 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    You have no recently viewed pages
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2026 by IMDb.com, Inc.