Danielle "Dani" Beck is a Danish detective assigned to Manhattan's Special Victims Unit. She briefly replaces Olivia Benson as Elliot Stabler's partner when Benson takes an undercover assignment.
History
Beck is a widow; her husband, fellow NYPD detective Michael Dooley, was murdered while on duty. She swore to herself that she would never let his murderer, Tracy Monroe, get parole, and became obsessed with keeping him in prison. Eventually, however, she realized that Michael would have wanted her to move on with her life, and so, she forgave Monroe in order to put her husband's death behind her.
There is some romantic tension between Beck and Stabler, and they share a kiss in "Underbelly"; however, they never take their relationship to the next step.
Beck leaves SVU after she bonds with an abused child and takes her in, only to find that there is nothing she can do to help her when the child tries to burn down her house in an attempt to kill herself and Dani so they could be together forever. Traumatized, she returns to her original assignment in the Warrants Squad.
Behind the scenes
Nielsen was cast to replace Mariska Hargitay, who plays Olivia Benson, while the latter was on maternity leave. When Hargitay returned to the show, Nielson departed.
Officer-involved shootings
Trivia
- Beck is fluent in French, which she used to comfort and gain the trust of a rape victim who was a native speaker. (SVU: "Recall")
Appearances
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1 season, 6 episodes):
- Season 8: "Clock" • "Recall" • "Uncle" • "Confrontation" • "Underbelly" • "Cage"