Get Better, Jerry Orbach!

News that our favorite Law & Order detective portrayer, Jerry Orbach, has prostate cancer is upsetting, but we're glad that he has been responding well to treatment and we'll send him our prayers. That said, Gothamist never wants to think about Jerry Orbach's prostate again; we rather think of pithy one-liners that Lennie Briscoe would say. But if Jerry even needs some cheering up, Gothamist would be happy to gather up a crew of people to perform a Broadway-style song-and-dance outside his apartment (we'd wear rumpled trenchcoats and warble a tune about having seen it all on the job, too many ex-wives, and the glories of hot dog carts). Our friend Brandon Bird has decided to sell his Lennie Briscoe t-shirts again, and will donate the proceeds to the American Cancer Society.

In other Law & Order news, Michael Imperioli, aka "Christufuh" on the Sopranos, will be guest-starring three of the last four episodes of the season. He'll be playing a detective who Detective Fontana, played by Dennis Farina, is paired with while Detective Green is filming Rent in San Francisco (yes, yes, it's actually Jesse L. Martin). This is the first time on Law & Order that there's been a guest detective (Law & Order: Criminal Intent did have a guest second banana detective to Vincent D'Onofrio's Detective Goren when Kathryne Erbe was pregnant), and we'll have to finally summon up the courage to bug Imperioli the next time we see him in TriBeCa.

Gothamist on last day of filming and Jerry Orbach.

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By Jen Chung in Arts & Entertainment on December 2, 2004 3:52 PM

Comments [rss]

Erin

I can't believe that the acting world has lost such a wonderfully versatile performer. His performances in both Chigaco and 42nd Street will be in my mind forever. A more unpretentious and talented actor could not be found today. My prayers go out to his family.

david langford

IT SHOCKED ME TO FIND OUT THAT MY FAVORITE ACTOR MR JERRY ORBACH HAS PASSED AWAY YOU WILL BE MISSED SO MUCH THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT YEARS OF LAW AND ORDER WE WILL MISS YOU MY THOUGHTS GO OUT TO HIS FAMILY DAVID LAUNCESTON TASMANIA AUSTARLIA AND LAST OF ALL YOU WERE GOOD WITH YOUR PERFECT ONE LINERS

Rebecca

I would just like to say how sorry I am for the loss of a great actor, Mr. Jerry Orbach. The man was a great actor and I loved to watch him in Law and Order. That series will never be the same without him. We're going to miss you, Mr. Orbach!

Jesse

I'm still having a hard time getting into this season of L&0 without Lennie Briscoe. I need that opening wisecrack. Thank heavens for TNT.

Tom B .

Imperioli!! Yes!!!

rgo

Martin's character, Tom Collins, is supposed to be a little older than the rest of the "Rent" gang. I think his character teaches, or at least used to teach, a course at NYU.

Dirk

I wish him a speedy recovery. I wish Jerry Orbach were my dad.

Imperioli will make for a nice change of pace on L&O for awhile. To be honest the regular L&O is getting a bit stale this season. Isn't Jesse L. Martin a bit too old to be in Rent?