Thompson gives notice to ‘L&O;’

Fred Thompson is retiring his acting career, at least for now.

The former Tennessee senator has pulled out of his gig on NBC’s “Law & Order” to explore a possible GOP presidential bid, which means that the long-running procedural will be getting a new district attorney this fall.

NBC executives said two weeks ago that they were anticipating his departure. But Thompson, who played crusty Dist. Atty. Arthur Branch for five seasons, broke the news officially Wednesday to series creator Dick Wolf.

No word on who’s going to replace him.