Jerry Orbach's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Law & Order Detective L… Law & Order: Trial by Jury D.A. Invest… The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers Zachary Foxx Later with Bob Costas Jerry Orbach Diana Donald Kirby Our Family Honor Brian Merrick

Main Movie Roles 1992 - Universal Soldier 1992 - Straight Talk 1991 - Toy Soldiers 1991 - Out For Justice 1991 - Beauty and the Beast 1991 - Delusion 1991 - Delirious 1989 - Last Exit to Brooklyn 1989 - Crimes and Misdemeanors 1987 - Dirty Dancing 1987 - Someone to Watch Over Me 1986 - FX 1985 - Brewster's Millions 1984 - Beverly Hills Cop 1981 - Prince of the City 1977 - The Sentinel 1961 - Mad Dog Coll 1955 - Marty

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.


TRIVIA:

• Is one of four cast members from _"Law & Order" (1990)_ (qv) whose character became a regular on a "Law & Order" spin-off. He played Det. Lennie Briscoe in both "Law & Order" and _"Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005)_ (qv). Although he was signed as a regular cast member in L&O:TBJ, he died unexpectedly after shooting only two episodes.
• W 53rd St. in Manhattan has been named Jerry Orbach Way!.
• In 1976, he was nominated for the Tony Award® for "Best Actor in a Musical" for his performance in "Chicago."
• His character _"Law & Order" (1990)_ (qv) and _"Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005)_ (qv) character, Detective Lennie Briscoe, was the longest running character on American prime time live action television from May 2004, when _"Frasier" (1993)_ (qv) ended, to March 2005. 'Kelsey Grammer' (qv) had played Dr. Frasier Crane in _"Cheers" (1982)_ (qv) and _"Frasier" (1993)_ (qv) since November 1984. 'Richard Belzer' (qv), who has played Detective John Munch in _"Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993)_ (qv) and _"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999)_ (qv) since January 1993, is the current holder of the title.
• According to his book "Hollywood Animal", 'Joe Eszterhas' (qv) said that when he was down and out, Orbach would fill his station wagon with groceries and deliver them to his house.
• Although he and 'Steven Hill (I)' (qv) appeared in 177 episodes of _"Law & Order" (1990)_ (qv) and the _"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999)_ (qv) episode "Entitled" together, the only time that they ever appeared on screen together was during one brief scene in the _"Law & Order" (1990)_ (qv) Season Seven episode "Corruption".
• Appeared in episodes of four different series with 'Sam Waterston' (qv): _"Law & Order" (1990)_ (qv), _"Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993)_ (qv), _"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999)_ (qv) and _"Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005)_ (qv).
• Received the Edith Oliver Award for Sustained Excellence at the 1999 Lucille Lortel Awards.