JEFF GOLDBLUM JOINS THE CAST OF LAW & ORDER CRIMINAL INTENT

Detective Zach Nichols portrayed by Jeff Goldblum is is to feature in the new season of NBC's Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Nichols will be introduced in the series' eighth season in replacement of Det. Mike Logan (Chris Noth), who departed from his duties for the Major Case Squad in the NYPD during the episode Last Rites.

After September, 11th 2001, Detective Zack Nichols left the police force to discover the meaning of life. But a cerebral, quirky and efficient cop doesn't stay away for long. Now, Det. Nichols' Socratic approach to crime scene investigation has his new partner, Det. Wheeler, and his old partner, Captain Ross, just trying to keep up.

A child of two psychiatrists, Nichols naturally shunned the shrink profession. It didn't have the closure like solving a crime does, at least for him. Even though becoming a cop was a means of rebellion for Nichols, he has found his father as an expert psychiatric witness in many of the cases he's been involved in.

Whether it's taking in a matinee movie to clear his mind or thinking outside the box about a criminal's motive, Zack Nichols is the x-factor on any crime scene investigation.