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
Detective Newman is just walking down the street, celebrating a successful collar, when he is shot down. A cop killed is always taken very seriously.
Directed by Alexander SingerGuest stars Tony La Torre, Paul Mantee, Dick O'Neill
Episode 2
An Islamic girl from a very devout family wants to be more American. No arranged marriage for her; she'd rather go to Malibu.When she turns up dead, Cagney and Lacey must face her angry family. They're also being considered for a very select task force that Cagney sees as her path to sta
Directed by Ray DantonWritten by Frank SouthGuest stars Tony La Torre, Philip Bruns, Henry G. Sanders, Lee Lucas
Episode 3
Lacey and Isbecki are trapped in an elevator. Of course it's the hottest day of the year, and Victor is claustrophobic. The episode also features character actor Stanley Kamel as Det. Solomon
Directed by Alexander SingerGuest stars Liz Sheridan, Katherine Helmond, James Naughton, Frank Pesce
Episode 4
(Also given to me as ""Incest."") A girl says that their father is molesting the younger daughter, who is too young to testify. How does she know? Because she was molested herself. Cagney and Lacey get the children away from their parents, but have to split up the girls to do so.
Directed by James FrawleyWritten by Daniel FreudenbergerGuest stars Tony La Torre, Alyson Croft, Judith Barsi, Michael Paul Chan, CCH Pounder, Craig Richard Nelson, Dick O'Neill, Rose Portillo
Episode 5
In a self-referential show, the 14th is visited by a TV star, ""Detective Deedee,"" who has permission from the brass to learn how real policemen work. She especially wants to learn from Cagney and Lacey.
Directed by James FrawleyGuest stars Tony La Torre, Leo Rossi, Vonetta McGee, Shannon Tweed, Robert Hegyes
Episode 6
An assistant D.A. has devoted his entire career to prosecuting child pornography. When he turns up dead, Cagney (who would have liked to have gotten to know him better) thinks one of those scuzzy pornographers had killed him.
Directed by Francine ParkerGuest stars Tony La Torre, Jack Colvin, Joseph Whipp, Robert Hegyes
Episode 7
The 14th precinct has to help support the annual New York City marathon. One of the (white) runners is from South Africa, and is facing death threats if she runs. Cagney and Lacey are assigned to talk her out of running but if they can't, then they must protect her.
Directed by Ralph S. SingletonGuest stars Tony La Torre, Charles S. Dutton, Jared Rushton, Robert Hegyes
Episode 8
A college sorority initiate falls off a building. The detectives suspect a hazing prank gone sour, but the sorority sisters won't talk.
Directed by Reza BadiyiGuest stars Tony La Torre, Ron Palillo, Faith Ford, Robert Hegyes
Episode 9
When someone who Petrie held a grudge against is killed, Marcus is the suspect. In the B plot, Chris dates a reporter and discovers that he has a hidden agenda.
Guest stars Kathy Bates, Vonetta McGee, Harris Yulin, John Milford, Joan McMurtrey, Robert Hegyes
Episode 10
In a sequel to episode #69, Sara Jones goes on trial. She wants Cagney to back up her story, but Cagney won't do it.
Directed by Helaine HeadGuest stars Tony La Torre, Larry Gelman, Conni Marie Brazelton, Robert Hegyes
Episode 11
In a sequel to episode #75, Mansfield goes on trial. He's done something clever - he's hired David Keeler to defend him. David explains how principled he is. Chris tells him to go to hell.
Directed by Al WaxmanWritten by Frank South, Joe Viola, Paul LaurenceGuest stars Rosalind Cash, John Harkins, Robert Hegyes, Dick O'Neill
Episode 12
A toy company is dumping toxic wastes, and a gungho environmentalist is willing to do whatever it takes to get Cagney and Lacey to investigate.
Directed by Claudia WeillGuest stars Tony La Torre, Didi Conn, Stanley Kamel, Kurt Fuller, Robert Hegyes, Janet MacLachlan
Episode 13
The detectives go after a corrupt judge. but he has an ""in"" - he's an old friend of Charlie Cagney's. Cagney also has to do the performance reviews, and smoke flies when she doesn't give Lacey top ranking.
Directed by Al WaxmanGuest stars Val Avery, Tom Everett, Robert Hegyes, Dick O'Neill
Episode 14
Story by Allison Hock. The crime story hits close to home here. The Laceys are burglarized and Mary Beth must deal with Detective Dupnick from Queens. Of course, she's neglected all the precautions that she lectures civilians about. Cagney attends the Emerald Ball, while dealing with a high school athlete who dropped dead of steroid overuse
Guest stars Tony La Torre, Dan Lauria, Brock Peters, Gregory Sierra, Robert Hegyes, Dick O'Neill
Episode 15
The detectives go undercover at Alcoholics Anonymous to find out who's holding up AA meetings. At a session for co-dependents they meet Donna, Charlie's girlfriend, who's figured out that Charlie's an alcoholic.
Directed by Helaine HeadGuest stars Julianna McCarthy, Deborah White, Robert Hegyes, Dick O'Neill, Sandra J. Marshall
Episode 16
Story by Sandy Sprung and Marcy Vosburgh. Samuels is getting the Distinguished Service Award at a banquet. All Cagney and Lacey have to do is plan the banquet, coordinate the entertainment, get the balloons, and make cannoli. Very funny, especially the cannoli scene.
Directed by Ray DantonGuest stars Tony La Torre, Susan Peretz, Cassie Yates, Robert Hegyes, Dick O'Neill
Episode 17
A spiritualist has a new gimmick. She charges people to get messages to their dead loved ones by hiring terminally ill people as messengers. The funny thing is that everyone except Cagney and Lacey are happy with the setup.
Directed by Sharron MillerGuest stars David Paymer, Peter Brocco, Phil Leeds, Lisa Pelikan, Lois Nettleton, Jan Burrell, Victor Brandt, Robert Hegyes
Episode 18
A deaf girl is suspected of murder. Could someone with such a severe handicap commit a crime like that? Also, a drunken David Keeler appears on Cagney's door step begging her forgiveness. She hadn't seen him since ""the Cost of Living"" although he left numerous messages on her answering machine.
Directed by Sharron MillerGuest stars David Paymer, Michael Dante, Michael Fox, Robert Hegyes, Dick O'Neill
Episode 19
Lacey participates in a protest march against nuclear weapons. She gets arrested and thrown to the tender mercies of Detective Dupnick.
Directed by Jackie CooperGuest stars Tony La Torre, Dan Lauria, Robert Hegyes, Dick O'Neill
Episode 20
This time it's Lacey's turn to get shot. She isn't hurt as badly as Cagney was, but the trauma sends them to the police psychiatrist. Lacey is saved from certain death by her bullet-proof vest.
Directed by James FrawleyGuest stars Christian Clemenson, Robert Jayne, Robert Hegyes, Dick O'Neill
Episode 21
Charlie's drinking finally catches up with him and he goes to the Great Bar in the Sky. Chris and brother Brian send him off with a wake at Flannery's. But Chris can't handle it, and winds up dead drunk in her apartment. Only Lacey can save her and get her to AA.
Directed by Sharron MillerWritten by Georgia JeffriesGuest stars Tony La Torre, John Furlong, Madeleine Sherwood, Steve Eastin, David Ackroyd, Robert Hegyes, Dick O'Neill
Episode 22
In the B plot, Lacey rescues a child from a burning car and then has to return the child to the proper mother.
Directed by Sharron MillerWritten by Jonathan Estrin, Shelley ListGuest stars Tony La Torre, Jean Sagal, Robert Hegyes, Sandra J. Marshall
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
