L.A. Law: The Inside Story From The Cast

Let me tell you something about L.A. Law. This show wasn’t just another series—it was a cultural phenomenon that changed the game in more ways than you might imagine. "We were shooting at 7:00 a.m. one day when an earthquake hit," Michele Greene, who played the sharp attorney Abby Perkins in the iconic 1986–’94 drama, tells Closer Weekly in the latest issue, now available on newsstands. "You know what? The writers turned it into an episode!" That's how real life and fiction blurred in this groundbreaking show.

Earthquakes and Everything Else

The world of L.A. Law wasn’t just shaken by earthquakes on set—it was shaken by life-changing experiences for the cast, too. Susan Ruttan, who brought legal secretary Roxanne Melman to life, shares, "This show opened doors I never imagined. I even got to visit England and attend a tea with Princess Diana!" Imagine that. One day you're acting on a set in Los Angeles, and the next, you're sipping tea with royalty. That’s the kind of impact this show had.

Personal Battles and Professional Triumphs

But it wasn’t all tea with royalty and earthquakes. Life had its challenges for the cast, too. Jill Eikenberry, who portrayed lawyer Ann Kelsey, reveals, "Right as the show started, I found out I had breast cancer." At 71 years old, Jill, who has been married to co-star Michael Tucker since 1973, adds, "I would go straight from the set to radiation every day. It was scary, but I kept going." Michael reflects, "It matured us. We grew together through it all." That’s the kind of bond this show created.

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The twists in the plot kept the cast on their toes as much as the audience. Susan Ruttan, now 70, remembers the shock of learning that Rosalind Shays, played by Diana Muldaur, fell down an elevator shaft. "We all gasped when we heard that," she says. Michele Greene had her own memorable moment when her single-mom character engaged in a same-sex kiss with colleague C.J. Lamb, played by Amanda Donohoe. "I told Amanda, 'Let’s not rehearse the kiss,' Michele, now 56, recalls. "I wanted my reaction to be genuine, and it was!"

Behind the Scenes: The Real Characters

Not everyone was exactly like their characters. Michele Greene shares, "Richard Dysart played this straight-laced head of the law firm, but in real life, he was a total rebel from the '60s who loved smoking weed." It just goes to show how the show allowed personalities to shine both on and off-screen.

Long days on set weren’t always easy, especially during those endless conference table scenes. "I actually fell asleep once, and Jimmy Smits had to kick me under the table to wake me up!" Michele