Zack Nichols
| Zack Nichols | |
|---|---|
| First appearance | Season 8: "Rock Star" |
| Last appearance | Season 9: "Three-In-One" |
| In-universe information | |
| Nickname | Nichols |
| Gender | Male |
| Title | NYPD Detective |
| Occupation | Police Officer |
| Family | Dr. Theodore Nichols (father) mother brother |
Zack Nichols is a fictional character, portrayed by Jeff Goldblum, featured in the series Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Nichols was introduced in the series' eighth season to replace Det. Mike Logan (Chris Noth), who departed from his duties for the Major Case Squad in the NYPD during the episode "Last Rites".
Profile
Nichols was an old friend of Captain Danny Ross, and served with him in Anti-Crime. However, after September 11, 2001, Detective Nichols left the police force for seven years to discover the meaning of life. In the episode "Rock Star", Ross remarked that during this period, his only clue to Nichols' whereabouts was a postcard from Cleveland. However, according to Nichols, a cerebral, quirky and efficient policeman does not stay away for long. When he returned to the force, his Socratic approach to crime scene investigation had Ross and Nichols' new partner Detective Megan Wheeler just trying to keep up.[1]
Nichols is estranged from the rest of his family. A child of two psychiatrists, Nichols shunned their profession. Zack has not spoken to his father, Dr. Theodore Nichols, even though both have lived in New York City for decades; his father lives on West 64th. (In the episode "Three-in-One", his father, played by F. Murray Abraham, lives in the 400 block of W. 81st Street.) Zack rebelled against his father, a Columbia professor, by dropping out of medical school to become a detective ("In Treatment"). Like Robert Goren, he also has an older brother who for some reason he does not talk about a lot ("Abel and Willing").
Nichols can play the piano well, but considers it only a hobby. He often has a habit of finishing other people's sentences, such as those of his boss Capt. Ross and his partner Det. Wheeler ("Astoria Helen"). He also has seen the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's at least a hundred times ("The Glory That Was...").
He was on good terms with Henry Muller, one of the most respected forensic scientists in the NYPD; however, Muller kills a young woman after allowing her to take shelter in his apartment during the Season 8 episode "Major Case." Nichols works his way through Muller's attempt to frame another man for the crime, ignoring the potential danger to his own career, and eventually arrests him. During this same episode, Ross comments that he himself risked being suspended almost every month while he and Nichols were partners due to the latter's behavior.
Nichols is seen visiting a preparatory school named "Emerson Academy", where he studied in his youth. He went there to play the piano after Wheeler assumed he was "wandering aimlessly" ("Salome in Manhattan").
Detective Eames began partnering with Zack Nichols in "Major Case" after Nichols' regular partner, Megan Wheeler, went into labor and gave birth. This coincides with Julianne Nicholson, who plays Wheeler, giving birth while CI was still in production. Eames worked with both Goren and Nichols through the remainder of the season. In the episode "Revolution", Eames mentions that Zack Nichols reminds her of her partner Det. Robert Goren after Nichols suspects a foreigner may have sent a written message to The New York Times due to the "not very good English" in which it is composed. To this, Eames responds, "You're starting to remind me of someone," and Capt. Ross responds, "This one is taller."
After Wheeler left the Major Case Squad, Nichols was partnered with Detective Serena Stevens (played by Saffron Burrows), who was introduced in the second part of the two-part Season 9 premiere episode "Loyalty" (April 6, 2010). In the episode "Loyalty (Part 2)," Zack claims to be part Irish, though it is left to the viewer to decide if Nichols was doing this to gain the confidence of the witness. In the season finale "Three In One", Zack asks for his father's advice for help on a case, and they reconcile their differences.
His badge number is 0369.
Fictional work history
| Squad | Borough | Division | Partner | Direct Superior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1PP | Manhattan | Anti-Crime | Danny Ross | Unknown |
| Major Case Squad | Det. Megan Wheeler | Capt. Danny Ross | ||
| Det. Alexandra Eames | ||||
| Det. Serena Stevens | Capt. Zoe Callas |