Jerry Orbach

The late Jerry Orbach was perhaps best known for his starring role on the television series Law & Order. However, this was only a small part of his career. He was a successful Broadway performer, and also appeared in a large number of films.

Jerry Orbach was born on October 20, 1935, in New York City. His family moved frequently while Orbach was growing up. After high school, he studied drama at both the University of Illinois and Northwestern University before studying with legendary actor and teacher Lee Strasberg.

During the early years of his career, Orbach acted mainly in stage productions, and his talent was recognized by critics and audiences alike. He received a Tony Award nomination in the category of Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performances in Guys and Dolls and Chicago, and won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Promises, Promises.

Like so many stage actors, Jerry longed to be on the big screen, and he gradually began focusing on movie roles beginning in the 1980s. Orbach appeared in numerous films during his career. One of his notable roles was the one in the 1987 hit Dirty Dancing, in which he played the strict father of Baby, played by Jennifer Grey. Patrick Swayze, who was at that time virtually unknown, is Grey’s love interest and the resort’s dance instructor. Orbach also garnered starring roles in Last Exit to Brooklyn, also starring Jennifer Jason Leigh and Stephen Lang; Crimes and Misdemeanors, starring Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, and Anjelica Houston; and a 2000 role in the independent film Chinese Coffee, in which Orbach shared the spotlight with screen legend Al Pacino.

Before being cast in his signature television role, Orbach starred in the short lived series The Law and Harry McGraw, and also had a recurring role on Murder, She Wrote, starring Angela Lansbury and Tom Bosley. In 1992, he joined the cast of Law & Order, playing Detective Lennie Briscoe. Fans loved the character’s dry wit and sarcastic remarks, making Briscoe one of the show’s most popular characters. Orbach played Briscoe until 2004, appearing in the series spin-offs Law and Order: Criminal Intent and two episodes of Law an Order: Trial by Jury.

Orbach’s career ended on December 28, 2004, when he died of prostate cancer, an illness he had been fighting for over a decade. His talent and contributions to the acting world will not soon be forgotten. After his death, the marquees on Broadway were dimmed, one of the highest respects in theater. He and fellow Law & Order cast-mate Sam Waterston were named living landmarks in 2002. After his death, Jerry was also awarded a Screen Actors Guild Award for his long-time role as Briscoe.

Jerry was survived by his sons Anthony Nicholas and Christopher Benjamin. Their mother is Marta Curro, who was Jerry’s wife from 1958 to 1975. At the time of his death, Orbach was married to Broadway dancer Elaine Cancilla. The couple met on the set of Chicago and married in 1979. 

YUDDY