20 Stars You Totally Forgot Popped Up on 'Law & Order: SVU'

Over the years, "Law & Order: SVU" has welcomed some very special guest stars who've appeared as victims, rapists, hookers, and murderers. Classic comic stars, like Modern Family" cast members. Here are some of the most eyebrow-raising, devious, and unforgettable guest appearances since "Law & Order: SVU" debuted on September 20, 1999.

Mike Tyson (2013)

The boxer played Reggie Rhodes, a convict on death row whose horrific childhood abuse -- which never came up during his trial -- leads Benson and civil rights attorney (Andre Braugher) on a campaign to get his sentence commuted to life. Even more surprising: His abuser is played by Mary Tyler Moore's old boss, (and "Elf" Santa) Ed Asner!

Robin Williams (2008)

The late comedian starred in a disturbing episode ("Authority") as a prankster who's upset over the death of his wife and child, and whose vengeful antics escalate to kidnapping Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay).

Jerry Lewis (2006)

The legendary comic starred in "Uncle" as the mentally ill uncle of Detective Munch (Richard Belzer). His horror over a recent double murder leads him to commit a murder of his own.

Carol Burnett (2009)

The comic legend plays dramatically against type as a former ballerina whose many husbands have all died under mysterious circumstances, possibly with the help of her her much-younger lover/assistant, Matthew Lillard ("Scream").

Henry Winkler (2002)

The Fonz as a murderer? Unthinkable! But in the episode "Greed," this beloved TV actor plays a con artist who arranged to have his own wife raped and murdered. What would Mrs. C. say?

John Stamos (2011)

Uncle Jessie really, really loves children in the episode "Bang." He plays a "reproductive abuser," one who purposefully knocks up as many women as possible, often by sabotaging condoms. When detectives determine he has 47 children, the cad couldn't be more proud.

James Van Der Beek (2012)

He's a long way from "Dawson's Creek:" In one of the creepiest episodes of the series, Van Der Beek played a man who preyed on girls looking for their real father. He then manipulated the girls into bed, even impregnating one of his "daughters."

Julie Bowen and Luke Perry (2008)

The "Modern Family" Emmy winner learns, to her horror, that the man she married (our favorite "90210" bad boy), is also the man who raped her years ago.

Bob Saget (2006)

The genial former "Full House" star and host of "America's Funniest Home Videos" wasn't laughing in this episode in which he murders the wife of the man (Chris Sarandon) his wife (Catherine Bell) was sleeping with, then nearly kills his own wife as well.

Sarah Hyland (2009)

Hyland plays a not-so-bright teen on "Modern Family," but in this "SVU" ep, she plays an overachieving child prodigy, one who's driven to eliminate her smarter, more successful roommate.

Jaclyn Smith (2010)

The former "Charlie's Angel" is a detective with a secret in this ep about a decades-old murder. She's not the only '70s sex symbol in play: Ann-Margret, Susan Anton and Morgan Fairchild also appear as potential suspects.

Bradley Cooper (2005)

The "American Hustle" Oscar nominee played the ultra-slick lawyer of a wealthy accused rapist (Alfred Molina). He played the same character the same year on an episode of the short-lived "Law & Order: Trial by Jury."

Hayden Panettiere (2001)

The "Nashville" star was just 11 when she appeared as the love-starved child of a superstar singer who injures herself for attention. Four years later, she was back as a teen who turns to prostitution to buy nice things in the 2006 episode "Hooked."

Elle Fanning (2006)

The "Maleficent" star played a severely disturbed girl who latches onto Detective Beck (Connie Nielsen). She nearly kills them both so they can be together forever.

Elizabeth Banks (2001)

The "Walk of Shame" star played a mom who turns to porn to pay her daughter's medical bills. When she develops a taste for the spotlight, she has no problem killing the man in her way.

Mischa Barton (2010)

Three years after "The O.C." ended, Barton played a pregnant prostitute who survives an attack from a religious zealout. Benson then tries to convince her to get off the streets and keep her baby.

Emily VanCamp (2007)

After "Everwood," but before "Revenge," VanCamp appeared as the daughter of a mob lawyer (Cary Elwes) whose mom was killed on a night when she was partying heavily. When she realizes she might be guilty of killing her own mother, she freaks out and cuts her wrist in the squad room.

Jennifer Love Hewitt (2010)

In the episode "Behave," Hewitt played a terrified recluse who tells SVU she's been raped four times by the same man. Benson tracks down the creep who was stalking Hewitt (and several other women) for the last 15 years.

Amanda Seyfried (2004)

The same year she was in "Mean Girls," Seyfried played a high schooler who goes missing, then says she was assaulted and held captive for several days by three policemen.

Rainn Wilson (2002)

Wilson popped up briefly as a nervous janitor who doesn't want to submit his DNA in the case of a comatose patient who was impregnated, just in case it proves he has a terminal disease.