| “ | I had an actress, a bankable actress, who was attached to Bovary. But Heidi gives her $12 mllion to do an asteroid movie instead, because our marriage didn't work out! That vindictive bitch! I could have made something! | „ |
| ~ Newman cursing the woman he murdered. |
Eddie Newman is a supporting antagonist in the TV series Law & Order. He is an egotistical, drug-addicted filmmaker who murders his ex-wife because he blames her for his stalled career. He appears in a three-episode story arc in the series' seventh season.
He was portrayed by Scott Cohen, who also portrayed Luca Falcone in The Penguin.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Newman was a successful film director whose debut film, Crooked Street, was acclaimed by critics and was a hit at the box office. He also helped his career by marrying Heidi Ellison, a major film producer at Mattawin Studios.
Newman's career stalled, however, as he gained a reputation as a hot-tempered egomaniac; his worsening prescription drug addiction also made him difficult to work with. He was soon reduced to directing children's movies about talking animals, wounding his fragile ego and driving him to take more drugs. He took his rage out on Ellison, physically and emotionally abusing her whenever something didn't go his way. Eventually, she grew tired of his abuse and divorced him, which further damaged his professional reputation.
He tried to revitalize his career by directing a film adaptation of Madame Bovary, but Ellison persuaded his lead actress to leave the project for a blockbuster science fiction film. Newman confronted Ellison in the New York City apartment they had once shared, and, in a drug-fueled rage, stabbed her to death with a Japanese sword he had bought at an auction. Upon realizing what he had done, Newman panicked and dismembered her corpse with the sword, scattering her limbs and head in several different locations across New York state. He then flew back to Los Angeles to begin directing his newest film, as if nothing had happened.
"D-Girl"[]
After Ellison's remains are found, NYPD Homicide Detectives Lennie Briscoe and Rey Curtis go to L.A. to question people she knew, including Newman, who says he had been with his and Ellison's therapist in L.A. at the time of her death. Briscoe and Curtis suspect Ellison's personal trainer and lover, Evan Grant, and arrest him after finding DNA evidence that implicates him. Grant admits to sleeping with Ellison, but denies killing her, offering as evidence of his innocence a toll receipt he took while driving her car.
Briscoe and Curtis search the car and find Ellison's blood in the trunk, which casts suspicion on Newman after they find out that he lied had the car cleaned and detailed the very night of Ellison's death. They also learn that Newman lied about being in L.A. at the time of the murder, which makes them even more suspicious.
"Turnaround"[]
The murder weapon is found in Islip, New York, and Ellison's blood is found on it. Briscoe and Curtis question Steven Berger, another Hollywood producer, who admits that Newman had been on his private plane shortly after Ellison's death, intoxicated and crying. Assistant District Attorney Jamie Ross questions LAPD Lieutenant Stu Miller, who had responded to several domestic violence calls at Newman's house but had declined to prosecute him after Newman made an empty promise to develop his life story as a police officer into a movie.
Briscoe and Curtis get a warrant to arrest Newman but find that he has checked into a 10-day drug rehab clinic. They fly back to L.A. and arrest Newman, although his lawyers argue that New York lacks the jurisdictional authority to prosecute him. After a few legal setbacks, Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy successfully argues that Newman should be prosecuted in New York.
"Showtime"[]
McCoy and Ross begin the trial against Newman, who is represented by defense attorney Neil Gorten, Ross' ex-husband. Meanwhile, Mattawin executive Lisa Lundquist gives Curtis information about Newman's failed Madame Bovary project, which supplies a motive for Newman. Gorten changes strategy and offers a defense of "extreme emotional disturbance", arguing that Newman had been so angry and intoxicated while fighting with Ellison that he did not know what he was doing when he killed her. Gorten also threatens to take full custody of his and Ross' daughter, Katie, unless Ross either drops the case against Newman or makes an offer for a lenient plea bargain.
Newman testifies in his own defense, putting on a show of remorse and saying that he killed Ellison while he was "blacked out" on drugs prescribed to him by Dr. Dan Duvall, a "psychiatrist to the stars" who is widely regarded as a quack. He also says that Duvall advised him on disposing of Ellison's remains, which Gorten uses to argue that Duval drugged and manipulated Newman into killing Ellison to stop her from testifying in a sexual harassment lawsuit that would have indirectly cost him millions by bankrupting several studio executives who went to him for illegal prescriptions.
While cross-examining Newman, McCoy confronts him with his failing career and the fact that Ellison stood in the way of making his dream film, which makes Newman so angry that he shouts that she was a "vindictive bitch". The jury sees through him and sentences him to death. He is then presumably executed.
Trivia[]
- Newman was primarily inspired by the late O.J. Simpson, a football star and actor who was tried and acquitted for killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her close friend Ron Goldman at the front steps of Brown's home.
External links[]
- Eddie Newman on the Law & Order Wiki
