Jerry has been one of my favorite actors for decades.
May he rest in peace.
Too bad. Love his character 'Lenny' in Law & Order.
Biography for Jerry Orbach
Birth name
Jerome Bernard Orbach
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Height
6' 2" (1.88 m)
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Mini biography
Jerry was born in the Bronx. His father, Leon, was a former vaudevillian actor and his mother, Emily, was a radio singer. His family moved frequently and eventually settled in Waukegan, Illinois where he went to high school. The constant moving made him the new kid on the block and forced him to become "a chameleon" to blend in his new settings. He studied drama at the University of Illinois and at Northwestern. He then went to study acting in New York and got constant work in musicals. He slowly pushed to get acting roles in tv and movies, but was frequently overlooked because of his musical roots.
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IMDb mini-biography by John Sacksteder
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Spouse
Elaine Cancilla (7 October 1979 - present)
Marta Curro (21 June 1958 - 1975) 2 children
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Trivia
On Monday, 20th March 2000 he sued on-line auctioneer eBay Inc. in Manhattan (New York) federal court for displaying his Social Security number on the Internet. The suit alleges that eBay began broadcasting the confidential information on its Web site on Wednesday 15th March 2000 when it advertised the sale of two of Orbach's contracts from 1958.
Spent part of his childhood in Nanticoke Pa.
Created the roles of El Gallo in "The Fantasticks", Billy Flynn in "Chicago" and Julian Marsh in "42nd Street" on the New York stage.
Father of Chris Orbach
Was partying at the Copacabana with famed New York mobster Joey Gallo hours before he was shot dead at Umberto's Clam House in New York City
He was an only child.
Worked as a chauffeur for Mae West.
Had read for the roles of Max Greevey and Phil Cerreta on Law and Order before finally being cast as Lennie Briscoe.
In 1965, he was nominated for the Tony Award® for "Best Featured Actor in a Musical" for his performance in "Guys and Dolls."
In 1976, he was nominated for the Tony Award® for "Best Actor in a Musical" for his performance in "Chicago."
Announced on March 26th, 2004, that he would be leaving the series "Law And Order" after 12 years on the series.
In 1969, he won the Tony Award for lead male in a musical for his 1968 role of Chuck Baxter in the Burt Bacharach/Hal David musical "Promises, Promises", a stage adaptation of Billy Wilder's "The Apartment".
Played a defense attorney in the Second Season of Law and Order before getting the role of Det. Briscoe on the show a few years later.
Was one of the first in a long series of actors who have played multiple characters on Law & Order: before he played Lenny Briscoe, Orbach guest-starred as defense attorney Frank Lehrman in 2nd seson episode "The Wages of Love".
The New York Landmark Conservancy declared him a Living Landmark.
His manager, Robert Malcolm, announced in December 2004 that he has prostate cancer. However, Malcolm said, "We expect he'll be fine. He's been playing golf, shooting his episodes (of "Law & Order: Trial by Jury") and doing real well."
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Personal quotes
"I used to say when I was working in the theater that if I ever had five seasons of a hit TV show I'd never have to worry about money and wouldn't have to do anything I didn't want to do...The 12 seasons on Law & Order really made that possible."
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Biography from Leonard Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia:
A Tony Award-winning veteran of the New York musical theater ("The Fantasticks," "42nd Street"), this quintessentially Noo Yawk character actor made his film debut in 1958's Cop Hater and later became a staple on episodic television. Usually cast as double-dealers, gangsters, or cops, he offered memorable support in 1981's Prince of the City 1986's F/X and 1989's Crimes and Misdemeanors He took the leading role in a movie just once, in the adaptation of Jimmy Breslin's The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971). He has since costarred in several TV series, including "The Law and Harry McGraw" (1987-88, a spinoff from "Murder, She Wrote") and "Law and Order" (1993- ), in which he replaced Paul Sorvino.
OTHER FILMS INCLUDE: 1961: Mad Dog Coll 1965: John Goldfarb, Please Come Home 1977: The Sentinel 1985: Brewster's Millions 1987: Dirty Dancing (as Jennifer Grey's father), Someone to Watch Over Me 1989: Last Exit to Brooklyn 1992: Mr. Saturday Night, Universal Soldier
Copyright © 1994 Leonard Maltin, used by arrangement with Signet, a division of Penguin Putnam, Inc.
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How sad! He had the best lines in that show.
Prayers for his family.
RIP, Briscoe.
How awful! I loved him in "Law & Order." Such a talented actor and singer!
I just heard this on FoxNews! Sad. I liked his character.
I saw Jerry Orbach in my first Broadway musical, "42nd Street" in the 70's.
Seemed like one of the good guys. Good rest his soul.
Article is in error here - Lenny was the 3rd 'senior detective' on the show. George Dzundza as Det. Sgt. Max Greevey was on for one season, then Paul Sorvino as Det. Phil Cerreta for seasons 2 & 3 before Lenny took over.
Orbach had been with the series since the beginning, 12 seasons ago.
I had no idea. So sorry, what a loss.
When I went downtown to buy the sound track of the Off Broadway play was when I was "introduced" to the immense talent of Mr. Jerry Orbach. To this day, Try To Remember is among my very favorite pieces of music. I tried a couple of years ago to find out how I could send the sleeve of the album (which by the way I have no turntable on which to play the album) to Mr. Orbach to autograph but, sadly, was unable to accomplish that. Ordinarily I am not into star worship but I loved the talent of this man.
My most sincere condolences to those family members, friends, and so many fans who, along with me, will miss him greatly. I will be praying for all.
RIP Lenny! You were the best thing about Law and Order (well, after Jill Hennessy and Angie Harmon!). The show may have been relentlessly PC but I could count on you for perspective.
Aw man, that's a rough one!
I'm truly sad to hear that one.
Orbach had been doing some filming of the new L&O series, "Law and Order: Trial By Jury" of late, but according to some articles I had read, they were adjusting the film schedule around his illness.
I hadn't realized that it was so far gone...
Rest well, Lenny.
(2000s) (1990s) (1980s) (1970s) (1960s) (1950s)
Kingdom Hearts II (2005) (VG) (voice) (unconfirmed) .... Lumiere
"Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005) TV Series .... D.A. Investigator Lennie Briscoe
Law & Order: Justice Is Served (2004) (VG) .... Lennie Briscoe
Law & Order II: Double or Nothing (2003) (VG) (voice) .... Detective Lennie Briscoe
Mickey's PhilharMagic (2003) (voice) (uncredited) .... Lumiere
Law & Order: Dead On the Money (2002) (VG) (voice) .... Detective Lennie Briscoe
Manna From Heaven (2002) .... Waltz Contest Announcer
The Hunt (2001/II) (TV) .... Presenter
"House of Mouse" (2001) TV Series (voice) .... Lumiere
Prince of Central Park (2000) .... Businessman
Chinese Coffee (2000) .... Jake Manheim
Temps (1999) .... Announcer
Exiled (1998) (TV) .... Detective Lennie Briscoe
... aka Exiled: A Law & Order Movie (USA: promotional title)
Belle's Magical World (1998) (V) (voice) .... Lumiere ... aka Disney's Belle's Magical World (USA: complete title)
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997) (V) (voice) .... Lumiere
... aka Beauty and the Beast 2 (USA: promotional title)
Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996) (V) (voice) .... Sa'luk, Metal-fingered Thief
The Cemetery Club (1993) (uncredited) ... aka Looking for a Live One
"Law & Order" (1990) TV Series .... Det. Lennie Briscoe (1992-2004)
Mastergate (1992) (TV) .... Clifton Byers
Mr. Saturday Night (1992) .... Phil Gussman
Universal Soldier (1992) .... Dr. Christopher Gregor
Straight Talk (1992) .... Milo Jacoby
Quiet Killer (1992) (TV) .... Dr. Vincent Califano ... aka Black Death
... aka New York, alerte à la peste (France)
Broadway Bound (1992) (TV) .... Jack Jerome ... aka Neil Simon's Broadway Bound (USA: complete title)
A Gnome Named Gnorm (1992) .... Stan Walton ... aka The Adventures of a Gnome Named Gnorm ... aka Upworld
California Casanova (1991) .... Rominoffski
Dead Women in Lingerie (1991) .... Bartoli
Beauty and the Beast (1991) (voice) .... Lumiere ... aka Beauty and the Beast: Special Edition (USA: longer version)
Delirious (1991) .... Lou Sherwood
Delusion (1991) .... Larry
Toy Soldiers (1991) (uncredited) .... Albert Trotta
Out for Justice (1991) .... Capt. Ronnie Donziger Homicide Division NYPD
Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter (1991) (TV) .... Vic St. John
Kojak: None So Blind (1990) (TV) .... Tony Salducci
In Defense of a Married Man (1990) (TV) .... Alan Michelson
Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) .... Jack Rosenthal
Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989) .... Boyce ... aka Letzte Ausfahrt Brooklyn (West Germany)
The Flamingo Kid (1989) (TV) .... Phil Brody
Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder (1989) (TV) .... Blaine Counter
I Love N.Y. (1988) .... Leo
Someone to Watch Over Me (1987) .... Lt. Garber
"The Law and Harry McGraw" (1987) TV Series .... Harry McGraw
Dirty Dancing (1987) .... Jake Houseman
Love Among Thieves (1987) (TV) .... Spicer
Out on a Limb (1987) (TV) .... Mort Viner
The Imagemaker (1986) .... Byron Caine
"The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers" (1986) TV Series (voice) .... Zachary Foxx
... aka Galaxy Rangers (USA: short title)
"Dream West" (1986) (mini) TV Series .... John Sutter
F/X (1986) .... Nicholas DeFranco ... aka F/X - Murder by Illusion ... aka Murder by Illusion
Brewster's Millions (1985) .... Charley Pegler
The Special Magic of Herself the Elf (1983) (TV) .... King Thorn
An Invasion of Privacy (1983) (TV) .... Sam Bianchi
Prince of the City (1981) .... Gus Levy
The Way They Were (1981) (TV)
Underground Aces (1981) .... Herbert Penlittle
The Sentinel (1977) .... Michael Dayton
Fore Play (1975) .... Jerry Lorsey ... aka Foreplay ... aka The President's Women
A Fan's Notes (1972) .... Fred The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971) .... Kid Sally Palumbo ... aka The Gang That Couldn't Shoot (UK: cable TV title)
Annie Get Your Gun (1967) (TV) .... Charles Davenport
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home (1965) .... Pinkerton
Ensign Pulver (1964) (uncredited)
Mad Dog Coll (1961) .... Joe
Twenty-Four Hours in a Woman's Life (1961) (TV)
Cop Hater (1958) .... Joe 'Mumzer' Sanchez, street gang leader
Filmography as: Actor, Miscellaneous Crew, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances
Miscellaneous Crew - filmography (2000s) (1990s)
Law & Order: The First 3 Years (2004) (V) (special thanks)
Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996) (V) (singer: "Welcome to the Forty Thieves")
Disney Sing-Along-Songs: Be Our Guest (1994) (V) (singer: "Be Our Guest")
The 64th Annual Academy Awards (1992) (TV) (singer: "Be Our Guest")
Beauty and the Beast (1991) (singer: "Be Our Guest", "Something There" and "The Mob Song") ... aka Beauty and the Beast: Special Edition (USA: longer version)
Filmography as: Actor, Miscellaneous Crew, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances
Himself - filmography (2000s) (1990s) (1980s) (1970s) (1960s)
"Broadway: The American Musical" (2004) (mini) TV Series .... Himself
Law & Order: The First 3 Years (2004) (V) .... Himself
Broadway's Lost Treasures (2003) (TV) (also archive footage) .... Himself
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special (2003) (TV) .... Himself
Try to Remember: The Fantasticks (2003) .... Himself
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (2003) .... Himself ... aka Broadway (USA: short title) ... aka Broadway: The Golden Age (USA: short title) ... aka Broadway: The Movie (USA: short title)
The 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2002) (TV) .... Himself
The Hustler: The Inside Story (2002) (V) .... Himself
The 56th Annual Tony Awards (2002) (TV) .... Himself
TV Guide 50 Best Shows of All Time: A 50th Anniversary Celebration (2002) (TV) .... Himself
"Encounters with the Unexplained" (2000) TV Series .... Himself/Host
Dirty Dancing: The E! True Hollywood Story (2000) (TV) .... Himself
The Acting Class (2000) .... Himself
Herve Villechaize: The E! True Hollywood Story (1999) (TV) .... Himself
"You Be the Judge" (1999/I) TV Series .... Host
Christopher Jones: The E! True Hollywood Story (1999) (TV) .... Himself
The 64th Annual Academy Awards (1992) (TV) .... Himself - Performer
The Making of 'Beauty and the Beast' (1991) (TV) .... Himself
Coney Island (1991) (TV) .... Voice Only
Night of 100 Stars (1982) (TV) .... Himself
The 30th Annual Tony Awards (1976) (TV) .... Himself
The 23rd Annual Tony Awards (1969) (TV) .... Himself - Performer
Filmography as: Actor, Miscellaneous Crew, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances
Archive Footage
Disney Sing-Along-Songs: Be Our Guest (1994) (V) (voice) .... Lumiere
Filmography as: Actor, Miscellaneous Crew, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances
Notable TV Guest Appearances
"Late Night with Conan O'Brien" playing "Himself" 20 January 2004
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" playing "Detective Leonard Briscoe" in episode: "Poison" (episode # 1.7) 11 November 2001
"The Howard Stern Radio Show" playing "Himself" 24 September 2000
"Larry King Live" playing "Himself" 12 April 2000
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" playing "Det. Lennie Briscoe" in episode: "Entitled: Part 1" (episode # 1.15) 18 February 2000
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" playing "Det. Lennie Briscoe" in episode: "Hysteria" (episode # 1.4) 11 October 1999
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" playing "Det. Lennie Briscoe" in episode: "Or Just Look Like One" (episode # 1.3) 4 October 1999
"Homicide: Life on the Street" playing "Det. Leonard 'Lennie' Briscoe" in episode: "Sideshow: Part 2" (episode # 7.15) 19 February 1999
"Homicide: Life on the Street" playing "Det. Leonard 'Lennie' Briscoe" in episode: "Baby, It's You: Part 2" (episode # 6.5) 14 November 1997
"Frasier" playing "Mitch" (voice) in episode: "High Crane Drifter" (episode # 3.17) 12 March 1996
"Homicide: Life on the Street" playing "Det. Leonard 'Lennie' Briscoe" in episode: "For God and Country" (episode # 4.12) 9 February 1996
"Later with Bob Costas" playing "Himself" 24 November 1992
"Empty Nest" playing "Arthur" in episode: "...Or Forever Hold Your Peace" (episode # 5.4) 10 October 1992
"Empty Nest" playing "Arthur" in episode: "The Mismatchmaker" (episode # 4.16) 1 February 1992
"Law & Order" playing "Frank Lehrman" in episode: "The Wages of Love" (episode # 2.2) 24 September 1991
"Murder, She Wrote" playing "Harry McGraw" in episode: "The Skinny According to Nick Cullhane" (episode # 7.22) 12 May 1991
"Murder, She Wrote" playing "Harry McGraw" in episode: "From the Horse's Mouth" (episode # 7.16) 24 February 1991
"Who's the Boss?" playing "Nick" in episode: "Starlight Memories" (episode # 7.10) 20 November 1990
"The Golden Girls" playing "Glen O'Brien #2" in episode: "Cheaters" (episode # 5.22) 23 March 1990
"Hunter" playing "Sal Scarlatti" in episode: "Son and Heir" (episode # 6.13) 3 February 1990
"Murder, She Wrote" playing "Harry McGraw" in episode: "Double Exposure" (episode # 5.19) 30 April 1989
"Simon & Simon" playing "Harrison/Malcolm Shanley III" in episode: "Ain't Gonna Get It from Me, Jack" (episode # 8.5) 5 November 1988
"The Hitchhiker" playing "Rick" in episode: "Cabin Fever" (episode # 3.17) 12 May 1987
"Murder, She Wrote" playing "Harry McGraw" in episode: "Death Takes a Dive" (episode # 3.16) 22 February 1987
"Tales from the Darkside" playing "Robert" in episode: "Everybody Needs a Little Love" (episode # 3.17) 22 February 1987
"Murder, She Wrote" playing "Harry McGraw" in episode: "One Good Bid Deserves a Murder" (episode # 2.17) 23 February 1986
"Reading Rainbow" playing "Himself" (voice) in episode: "Germs Make Me Sick!" 1986
"Murder, She Wrote" playing "Harry McGraw" in episode: "Tough Guys Don't Die" (episode # 1.15) 24 February 1985
"Trapper John, M.D." playing "Dr. Beeker" in episode: "Hot Line" (episode # 1.22) 30 March 1980
"Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" playing "Lars Mangros" in episode: "Space Rockers" (episode # 1.21) 21 February 1980
"Kojak" in episode: "A Question of Answers" (episode # 3.1) 14 September 1975
"Medical Center" playing "Josh" in episode: "The Captives" (episode # 6.17) 13 January 1975
"Love, American Style" in episode: "Love and the Hoodwinked Honey" (episode # 5.6c) 19 October 1973
"The Defenders" playing "J.P. Loring" in episode: "The Sworn Twelve" (episode # 4.25) 25 March 1965
"The Nurses" playing "Steve Ford" in episode: "Field of Battle" (episode # 1.31) 30 May 1963
"Toast of the Town" playing "Himself" 16 April 1961
He's had some great roles and some stinkers. I remember a particular episode of "Buck Roger in the 25th Century" that he would have probably like to have forgotten.
He played a Space Disco King who was going to use Space Disco to control the minds of teenagers But Buck saves the day.
Enjoyed his work, admired him as an actor, liked his role as Dad in Dirty Dancing.
Ive enjoyed his characters - and his voice work for Beauty and the Beast (Lumierre) was pretty fun too
God speed
RIP Lumiere.Mr Orbach was also a deeply faithful man of God. Prayers and condolences to his family, much rejoicing that he is with our Father today.