"Law And Order" Actor Jerry Orbach Dead At 69 (December 29, 2004)

The bright lights of Broadway went dark Wednesday in remembrance of stage and screen star Jerry Orbach.

The 69-year-old Bronx native died Tuesday night after a long battle with prostate cancer.

Orbach played Detective Lennie Briscoe for 12 seasons on the original "Law and Order." He starred in several films including "Dirty Dancing," "Prince of the City" and "Crimes and Misdemeanors."

On Broadway, Orbach starred in hit musicals including "42nd Street," "Carnival," and "Promises Promises," for which he won a Tony Award.

Broadway marquees were dimmed Wednesday for one minute at curtain time.

Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani released a statement saying in part: "Jerry Orbach was a personal friend to me and a friend to all New Yorkers. I join the rest of New York City in extending my love and condolences to Jerry's friends and family."

Orbach will live on through his work. He's expected to appear in early episodes of "Law and Order: Trial by Jury," for which he continued as Briscoe.

The spin-off show is scheduled to premiere later this season.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celebrated stage and screen actor Jerry Orbach made a living off-Broadway on $$45 a week in the early 1960's while supporting a family. Of course, the hard work would pay off for the quintessential New York actor, who rose to the heights in the motion picture and TV industry.

New Yorkers woke up Wednesday morning to find that Mr. Orbach lost his battle with prostate cancer. NY1's Roma Torre offers this look back at his career.

As Detective Lennie Briscoe, Jerry Orbach was the face of "Law and Order," playing the seasoned, sarcastic and sardonic cop for 12 seasons on the award-winning show.

The Bronx-born actor appeared in scores of films and television shows including Dirty Dancing, Mr. Saturday Night, and Prince of the City, to name just a few.

But the veteran actor first plied his trade on the boards of New York's stages, appearing in the original cast of "The Fantastiks" in 1960. He sang one of its signature songs the year it closed at the Drama League Luncheon in 2002.

Orbach starred in a number of Broadway musicals, including the original Chicago, and earned a Tony for his performance in Promises, Promises. His face also graces nearly a dozen pages of the recently published, "Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time," in which he wrote the forward.

Frank Vlastnik, my co-author, and I wanted someone who really exemplified musical theater, and people who know Jerry Orbach from ÎLaw and Order have no idea that he had this huge Broadway career, says the books co-author, Ken Bloom.

Orbachs last musical, the original "42nd Street," in which he starred as tough as nails producer Julian Marsh, afforded him the chance to own one of street's most storied scenes.

In his over 20-year career performing on Broadway's musical stages, he had an uncanny ability to pick a winner.

In terms of a track record, he probably had, except for Ethel Merman, probably the best track record of any Broadway performer in terms of being in hits, says Bloom. It seems like every show he was in was a big hit.

The 69-year-old Orbach leaves behind a wife and two grown sons.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• jerry
• orbach
• tribute
• music
• video
• lennie
• briscoe
• law
• and
• order
• broadway
• legend
• singer
• dancer

[miggypiggy81]

R I P Jerry Orbach. You will be missed......

[Brummel25]

Happy birthday, Jerry ( 74 )

October 20, 1935 --- December 28, 2004

You will always be remembered in my heart.

R I P

[PREZILLA2009]

They forgot to mention him as the voice of lumiere lol.

[jabrhm78]

He is the quintessential cop!!!!! No holes barred!

[ciderpress134]

Jerry was one of the best actors on tv.......and Law and Order was a great show.

[ANOTHERHOLEINYOHEAD]

Shit I had no idea he died until I saw this video.

[joshuabrooks21]

Jerry appeared in two of my favorite movies, "Dirty Dancing," and "Beauty And The Beast," and one of my favorite TV shows, "Law And Order. " Jerry was Baby's father in "Dirty Dancing," the voice of Lumierre, the candle in "Beauty And The Beast," and Detective Lennie Briscoe, in "Law And Order." I guess it just goes to show that Jerry was a versatile actor, and a great one at that. When he passed, an era left with him. RIP Jerry, and thanks for bringing life to these three great characters.

[FBIagentNinja]

why did he have to go.

[zoinkpanooley]

@jvfunn3000

I second that

[THEMAMABOY101]

OH WELL WE LIVE ONCE AND DIE ONCES.. NOW HIS WIFE SPENDING HIS MONY THAT DAMM BITCH........

[Dreadlockjeff]

Hope to see u on the other side (QBALL)

[iloveevanescence1795]

omg i didn't know he could sing! aww he rocked. R.I.P. Jerry we love you