Michael Emerson To Join Wife Carrie Preston as a Recurring Star on ‘Elsbeth’

Things are getting personal on the set of CBS’ “Elsbeth.” The Eye network was set to announce Sunday that Emmy-winning actor Michael Emerson — the husband of “Elsbeth” star Carrie Preston — will join the show in a recurring role this season.

The news was scheduled to be revealed during the “Elsbeth” panel at New York Comic-Con, as moderated by series guest star Laura Benanti. As announced during the panel, Emerson will join in a recurring role starting with the show’s Dec. 12 episode.

More from Variety

The “Lost” and “Person of Interest” star will appear as Judge Milton Crawford, described as a “haughty, soft-spoken and bespectacled man from an old New England family of public servants who sees his place in the nation’s elite as a birthright.” He’ll serve as a foil to Elsbeth Tascioni, the character played by Preston.

The couple has appeared on camera before in projects including “Person of Interest.” And there’s another reason it all made sense: Emerson most recently starred on the series “Evil,” from Robert and Michelle King. And the Kings, of course, are also behind “Elsbeth,” the latest series from their “The Good Wife”/”The Good Fight” universe.

At New York Comic-Con, the panel featured a sneak peek at the upcoming Halloween episode, as well as a conversation with co-creators and executive producers Robert and Michelle King, as well as showrunner and executive producer Jonathan Tolins and cast members Preston and Wendell Pierce. Emerson then scheduled to join Preston and the rest of the planel on stage to deliver the news of his new gig.

Elsbeth CBS
Elsbeth CBS

“Elsbeth,” from CBS Studios, stars Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni, “the astute but unconventional consent decree attorney working with the NYPD to catch New York’s most well-heeled murderers utilizing her unique point of view.” Pierce stars as her boss, Captain Wagner, while Carra Patterson plays detective-in-training Officer Kaya Blanke.

Emerson won Emmys his roles on “The Practice” and “Lost.” On “Evil,” he starred as Leland Townsend. Other credits besides those shows and “Person of Interest” include the mini-series “The Name of the Rose,” and guest roles on “Without A Trace,” “Law & Order,” “The X-Files, “Parenthood” and “Fallout.” His film appearances includes “The Laramie Project,” “The Legend of Zorro,” “The Imposters” and the original “Saw.”

“Elsbeth” is exec produced by Robert King, Michelle King, Jonathan Tolins, Liz Glotzer, Erica Shelton Kodish, Bryan Goluboff and Gail Barringer. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.