Tony Goldwyn Says He Still Feels Like “Law & Order”'s 'New Guy' After Filming Show's 500th Episode (Exclusive)

The actor recently joined the series as District Attorney Nicholas Baxter

Tony Goldwyn may "still feel like the new guy" in the world of Law & Order, but he has a lot to celebrate after the show's 500th episode.

The 63-year-old actor — who kicked off his tenure playing District Attorney Nicholas Baxter just this year — tells PEOPLE that after filming the milestone episode, the cast had a "big party" on set with creator Dick Wolf. And as he noticed, he was the "newest character" in attendance.

"It was funny, when I came in on episode seven, I guess of 13, it was a short season this year because of the strike," Goldwyn says of season 23. "Reid Scott, who was the previous new guy at the beginning of the season, 'Thank God I'm not the new guy anymore.' But I still feel like the new guy."

"But toward the last few episodes, I really felt starting to settle in and it's a beautiful group of people and really wonderful collection of actors as Law & Order always has," he adds.

Related: Tony Goldwyn on Connection to Shonda Rhimes That Led to His Scandal Casting: Things 'Come Around' (Exclusive)

Goldwyn also says that Wolf's "formula" still "really works" after 30 years. "Constantly people-ing it with just really first-rate actors and really smart writing," he explains.

"So it's been really fun and created a very interesting character for me, which, I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into," he continues. "But so far it's been really fun and the last few episodes of the season are really very smart and surprising and it's been great."

Per TODAY, the 500th episode, which was titled "No Good Deed" and aired on Thursday, May 9, comes 34 years after the show first premiered in 1990.

Related: Tony Goldwyn Hopes Scandal Costar Kerry Washington Offers 'Tips' on Playing a Lawyer on Law & Order (Exclusive)

Goldwyn previously described taking on the role of Baxter back in March, sharing that playing the DA “feels pretty similar" to taking on his starring role as President Fitzgerald Grant III opposite Kerry Washington in Scandal. Both characters come from “political families," and they even dress similarly, he said.

“It's funny, I wear a lot of blue suits and nice ties,” Goldwyn explained. “But just going into a system, an institution where I'm the chief executive, there are a lot of similarities and dealing with being the person whose job is to deal with intractable problems and to sort of steer the ship. I was really surprised how similar it felt to playing Fitz.”

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Goldwyn added at the time that his Law & Order character "isn't as troubled as Fitz," and doesn't appear to "have as much baggage." The actor officially joined the cast of Law & Order following Sam Waterston’s departure as DA Jack McCoy after 19 seasons.

"It's a very singular experience to step into something that's such an institution and do it in a capacity where my character's very central now to the story," Goldwyn said. "Stepping into Sam's shoes — I felt honored to be doing that, so it was cool. I felt very excited and privileged.”

Law & Order airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

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