TV series
Two women cops working twice as hard for half the glory, twice the excitement!
Mary Beth Lacey and Chris Cagney are teamed up as NYPD police detectives. Their opposing personalities (one is tough and the other sensitive) mesh to make this one of the great crime-fighting duos of all time.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Cagney & Lacey is available to stream on Prime Video, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel in United States. You can also buy it from Amazon and Apple TV. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
Mary Beth Lacey and Chris Cagney are teamed up as NYPD police detectives. Their opposing personalities (one is tough and the other sensitive) mesh to make this one of the great crime-fighting duos of all time.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
Cagney and Lacey have another star witness who needs special treatment. This one is a schizophrenic, although not too bad if he takes his medication. But, of course, he doesn't.
Directed by James FrawleyGuest stars Carl Lumbly, Tony La Torre, Verna Bloom, Joe Regalbuto, Robert Hegyes
Episode 2
Corassa's gun is used to kill a black kid who just happens to be in a white section of town. The black community alleges coverup. This is based on a real-life incident.
Directed by Helaine HeadGuest stars Carl Lumbly, Michael D. Roberts, Travis Fine, Pepe Serna, Jon Gries, Haskell V. Anderson III, Robert Hegyes
Episode 3
Petrie gets his promotion to sergeant and leaves the show (Carl Lumbly wanted out). Lacy interferes in a neighborhood dispute and her enraged neighbors call for a Civilian Review Board. David Keeler (back in Chris' good graces) comes to the rescue
Directed by Jonathan EstrinWritten by Frank SouthGuest stars Carl Lumbly, Tony La Torre, Dan Lauria, Alan Fudge, Robert Hegyes
Episode 4
There's an older woman who acts strange, burns incense, and claims to be a witch. Is she? Or is she merely lonely and poor and standing in the way of higher real estate prices?
Directed by Sharron MillerGuest stars Tony La Torre, Diane Shalet, Susan Strasberg, Stanley Kamel, Bibi Besch, Jeanette Nolan, Robert Hegyes
Episode 5
Mature"" prostitutes are getting bumped off, so our heroines go undercover to investigate. Merry Clayton joins the cast as Detective Verna Dee Jordan. Isbecki just adores having a woman partner.
Guest stars Tony La Torre, David Paymer, Betty Buckley, Michael Pataki, Merry Clayton, Robert Hegyes
Episode 6
A valuable music video has been stolen, and there's some suspicious white powder about. In the meantime, Cagney's niece Bridget again visits, trying to carve out a career as a New York actress
Directed by Jackie CooperGuest stars Tony La Torre, Julie Bovasso, Stanley Kamel, Don Stark, Art Metrano, Mark Blankfield, Shay Duffin, Amanda Wyss
Episode 7
A game show is supposedly crooked. Once again, undercover work, this time as game show contestants (dressed up like fruits).
Guest stars David Paymer, Cliff Gorman, Merry Clayton, Robert Hegyes, Stevie Sterling
Episode 8
Cagney gets her dream - a chance to work with the Major Task Force. But one of those so-polished officers is really a traitor. Will they find the traitor, or will the glamour get to Cagney?
Directed by Reza BadiyiGuest stars Tony La Torre, Richard Romanus, Sal Viscuso, Alan Baltes, Richard Bradford, Caroline McWilliams, Merry Clayton, Robert Hegyes
Episode 9
Brad Potter seems like the perfect date - tall, handsome, successful. But he's really a date rapist. Cagney must explain to the guys at the precinct why she didn't draw her gun, and of course, the baddy says yes, it happened, but she consented
Directed by Sharron MillerGuest stars Richard Gautier, Henry G. Sanders, Marc Alaimo, Jack Bannon, Merry Clayton, Robert Hegyes
Episode 10
Harvey Jr. has his 18th birthday. His birthday present from his parents is a computer. His present to them is the announcement that he will enlist in the Marines.
Directed by Reza BadiyiGuest stars Tony La Torre, Rex Smith, Lew Ayres, Herta Ware, Ann Doran, Merry Clayton, Robert Hegyes
Episode 11
When Samuels takes some time off, Chris expects to be put in charge. But a high-tech, none-""street"" officer, Lt. Thornton, gets the job. The crime case deals with construction kickbacks, so Harvey volunteers to help out by wearing a wire
Directed by James FrawleyGuest stars James Stephens, Michael Shillo, Merry Clayton, Robert Hegyes, Michael Braveheart
Episode 12
Cagney and Lacey go undercover at a computer manufacturer. But the company has random drug testing and Chris flunks it. Of course, David argues that this is a violation of her civil rights.
Directed by Jackie CooperGuest stars James Stephens, Earl Billings, Michael Durrell, Takayo Fischer, Merry Clayton, Robert Hegyes, Michael Braveheart
Episode 13
David finally pops the question to Chris. she's consistent - she says no, even though Mary Beth likes him much better than she did Dory.
Guest stars Al Ruscio, Merry Clayton, Robert Hegyes
Episode 14
The 14th Precinct gang takes a refresher course at the police academy, along with Detective Dupnick from Queens. Lacey is the eager, hand-up, teacher's pet. Chris thinks it's a waste of time
Directed by Jackie CooperGuest stars Dan Lauria, Ed Nelson, Merry Clayton, Robert Hegyes, Paul Mantee, Barry Sattels, Troy Slaten, Patricia Hodges
Episode 15
A Salvadoran refugee is murdered. Some people say he ran drugs, others say he was a saint. In the B story, Chris meets Nick the plumber at an AA meeting.
Directed by Stephen MachtGuest stars Carl Weintraub, Mercedes McCambridge, John Hostetter, William Long Jr., Merry Clayton, Robert Hegyes
Episode 16
A very valuable painting is stolen, and Cagney and Lacey make the rounds of fancy galleries looking for leads. In the B plot, Samuels has a reunion with an old friend. Also, the dissimilarities between David Keeler and Nick are shown. Nick was decidedly everything David was not and vice-versa.
Directed by James FrawleyGuest stars Walter Gotell, Carl Weintraub, Peter Boyle, Norman Alden, Merry Clayton, Robert Hegyes
Episode 17
A man is murdered, and his girl friend begs the police for help. It's a hard case, since he was in the Federal Witness Protection Program
Directed by Al WaxmanGuest stars Amy Van Nostrand, Carl Weintraub, Deborah Van Valkenburgh, Mark Keyloun, Merry Clayton, Robert Hegyes
Episode 18
Thornton shots a fellow officer in an operation that went bad. That's what happens when you put someone with no practical experience in charge
Guest stars James Stephens, Rosanna Huffman, Robert Hegyes
Episode 19
In a sequel to episode #112, Cagney's rape case goes to trial. The main story is that Harvey Jr. is missing while doing maneuvers. Fortunately Mary Beth has moral support from both her father and Christine.
Directed by Reza BadiyiWritten by Jonathan Estrin, Shelley ListGuest stars Jack Bannon, Richard Bradford
Episode 20
A Wall Street tycoon is burgled, and he has a lot of clout with the higher-ups. Harvey Jr. comes home for a visit, and nobody mentions the previous episode. (Rosenzweig usually does a much better job of continuity.)
Directed by Nancy MaloneGuest stars Tony La Torre, Joanne Nail, Stanley Kamel, Robert Hegyes
Episode 21
A bank is missing some money - not much, only $100,000. The baddy offers a plea bargain - she knows who stole $100 million. Now that's worth sending Cagney and Lacey to upstate New York to hunt down the bank president. But when they find him, they discover that the real bank president is gone, and that this is an FBI agent. Our heroines narrowly escape a shootout and get offered a promotion to Major Case Squad as the series ends
Directed by Reza BadiyiGuest stars David Paymer, Pat Corley, Marvin Kaplan, Edward Winter, Noah Keen, Gregg Henry, Robert Foxworth, Merry Clayton
Episode 22
A bank is missing some money - not much, only $100,000. The baddy offers a plea bargain - she knows who stole $100 million. Now that's worth sending Cagney and Lacey to upstate New York to hunt down the bank president. But when they find him, they discover that the real bank president is gone, and that this is an FBI agent. Our heroines narrowly escape a shootout and get offered a promotion to Major Case Squad as the series ends
Directed by Reza BadiyiGuest stars Edward Winter, Owen Bush, Sian Barbara Allen, Robert Foxworth, Merry Clayton, Robert Hegyes
Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026
Tyne DalyMary Beth Lacey
Meg FosterChristine Cagney
Sharon GlessChristine Cagney
John KarlenHarvey Lacey
Al WaxmanLieutenant Bert Samuels
Carl LumblyMark Petrie
Martin KoveDet. Victor Isbecki
Sidney ClutePaul La Guardia
CBSUnited States
Orion Television
CBSUnited States
Filmways PicturesUnited States
