CHUCK DARROW/Courier-Post Joseph Halsey is an actor who has a guest spot on Tuesday's episode of `Law & Order: SVU' on NBC. The Merchantville man's resume includes stints on `One Life to Live,' `The Guiding Light,' `Law & Order' and `The Cosby Show.'

Q: What will we see you doing on Tuesday's episode of Law & Order: SVU?

A: I play Officer Jones. I'm the officer in charge of the crime scene. I bring the detectives through the door and I show them the dead body. It's a step up, because last year I played a guy drinking at a bar on Law & Order.

Q: How did you get into acting?

A: I was a musician when I was a teenager; I played bass guitar and sang. I couldn't read or write music, but I wanted to go to college and get into an arts program and music wasn't going to get me there. So my dad and my drama teacher got me into the drama thing. I realized that's what was going to get me into a real arts program.

Q: Why do you live in Merchantville rather than New York City?

A: I did live there, but just trying to live in New York consumed my life. I couldn't focus on what I was there to do. And a lot of my work is across the bridge in Pennsylvania.

Q: What was it like working with Bill Cosby?

A: He was great to work with. I sat in his office and he told me a lot about this business. As for those rumors flying around now, I don't believe them. He was a very good guy.

Q: Where would you like to see your career go?

A: I'd love to star in a Sam Sheppard play. That would be my biggest wish. I've read everything he's ever written. More realistically, I think I love the medium of television more than anything else, especially nighttime drama. I had a good audition for a recurring role on a nighttime show, but I don't want to talk about. I don't want to jinx it. ON THE WEB