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Emmy Ann Wooding was a production assistant who worked at Universal Studios Television for 37 years. She died in a car accident on October 24, 2004, during the filming of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’s sixth season. The show’s seventh episode, “Charisma,” was dedicated to her memory.
If you watched Law & Order: SVU in 2004, you might have noticed a dedication card at the end of the episode “Charisma.” The simple message read “In Memory of Emmy Ann Wooding (1947 – October 24, 2004).” For viewers unfamiliar with production crews, this tribute might have seemed like just another end credit. But for the people who worked alongside her at Wolf Films and Universal Studios, it represented the loss of a colleague who had spent nearly four decades in television production.
Born on January 26, 1947, Emmy Ann Wooding built her career in an era when television production was a vastly different industry. She started working at Universal Studios Television in the late 1960s, when the studio was producing shows like “The Virginian” and “Marcus Welby, M.D.”
Over 37 years, she witnessed the evolution of television production. She worked through the transition from film to tape, saw the rise of procedural dramas, and became part of the team behind one of the most successful franchises in TV history. Her role as a longtime assistant at Wolf Films meant she was involved in the day-to-day operations that kept productions running smoothly.
Production assistants handle the unglamorous but essential work that audiences never see. They coordinate schedules, manage paperwork, assist with location logistics, and solve countless small problems that arise during filming. Without experienced crew members like Wooding, even the most talented actors and directors couldn’t bring a show to life.
On October 24, 2004, Wooding died in a car accident. The incident occurred while Law & Order: Special Victims Unit was filming its sixth season. She was 57 years old.
The circumstances surrounding the accident remain limited in public records. Most sources confirm she died instantly from injuries sustained in the crash. Some reports suggest she was traveling in a vehicle related to production work, though specific details about location and cause have not been widely documented.
Her death shocked the Law & Order production family. Dick Wolf, the creator and executive producer of the franchise, decided to memorialize her in the show. This wasn’t a standard practice for every crew member who passed away, which speaks to the impact she had on the people she worked with.
The episode “Charisma,” which aired during SVU’s sixth season, carried the dedication to Wooding’s memory. The episode itself dealt with a manipulative cult leader, a typical case for the SVU team. But for those who knew Wooding, the dedication at the end held personal significance.
Memorial dedications on television serve multiple purposes. They honor the deceased, acknowledge their contributions, and provide closure for the crew who worked alongside them. When you spend years working 12-hour days with the same people, you develop bonds that go beyond typical workplace relationships.
Not every crew member receives an on-screen dedication when they pass away. These tributes are typically reserved for people who made significant contributions to a show or had deep connections with the cast and crew.
Wooding’s 37 years at Universal and her longtime position at Wolf Films meant she had likely worked with many of the same people throughout her career. When someone spends that much time in one organization, they become part of its institutional memory. They know how things work, they’ve seen problems solved before, and they provide continuity as other people come and go.
The decision to dedicate “Charisma” to her memory reflected the respect she earned over those decades. It was a way for Dick Wolf and the SVU production team to publicly acknowledge someone whose work happened behind the scenes but was no less important.
Emmy Ann Wooding was survived by her husband Jack, two children, and three grandchildren. A memorial service was held on November 1, 2004, at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles.
Beyond these basic facts, details about her personal life remain private, as her family has understandably chosen to keep those memories to themselves. What we do know comes from the professional legacy she left behind and the tributes from colleagues who worked with her.
Online obituary pages contain comments from Law & Order viewers who were touched by the dedication and took time to express condolences to a woman they never met. This speaks to the power of seeing someone’s name honored on screen, even when you don’t know their story.
Emmy Ann Wooding’s story reminds us that television production depends on hundreds of people whose names rarely appear in headlines. While viewers focus on actors, directors, and writers, shows rely on production assistants, coordinators, and support staff who handle the logistics that make filming possible.
Her 37 years at Universal Studios Television represent a lifetime of dedication to her craft. She worked through multiple television eras, contributed to numerous productions, and earned enough respect that one of television’s most successful producers chose to honor her memory on screen.
The car accident that took her life in 2004 was sudden and unexpected. But the dedication in “Charisma” ensured that her name would be remembered by the millions of people who watch Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, even if they never knew who she was or what she did.
That’s perhaps the most fitting tribute for someone who spent their career working behind the scenes—being recognized, even briefly, by the audience whose entertainment she helped create.
