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Farewell: Jerry Orbach Has Died

Gothamist is utterly sad to report that Jerry Orbach, the versatile actor of stage, screen, and tube who epitomized the seen-it-all cynical NYPD detective on Law & Order for twelve years, is dead at age 69. Earlier this month, Orbach's manager had confirmed to the Daily News that Orbach had been suffering from prostate cancer but was recovering, but now it seems that he succumbed. Radio station 1010 WINS was first to report Orbach's death, and they have a nice obituary that runs down from his birth in the Bronx (born Jerome Orbach) to childhood and teen years in Illinois, from moving back to New York for an acting break to his successes. Updated: The AP's early obituary for Orbach has some great quotes, like how he didn't know "where I stop and Lennie starts, really. ... I know he's tougher than me and he carries a gun. And I'm not an alcoholic...I know I wouldn't want to be him. I guess THAT'S where I stop and he starts."

Jerry Orbach was Gothamist's favorite actor. We missed him even before he left Law & Order earlier this year, because there was something comforting about knowing that Detective Lennie Briscoe was on the case. Sure, Orbach may be considered "just an actor" by some, but he provided countless moments of pleasure to us. Here are some of our posts about Jerry:
- Visiting the Law & Order set
- Seeing Jerry Orbach film one of his last scenes and our thoughts on the episode (1, 2)
- At a Times Talk with Orbach, Law & Order creator Dick Wolf, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly
- Reaction to Orbach leaving L&O and Lennie Briscoe being on the fourth L&O spin-off
- Wondering which was the best L&O cast - for our money, Orbach must be in it
- Jerry liked Carnegie Deli and Judson Grill
- On Late Night with Conan O'Brien, who showed him the Law & Order Coloring Book
- Law & Order art (1, 2)
- And the impossible task of giving up Law & Order for Lent

Plus IMDB's filmography for Orbach and Brandon Bird has been selling his Lennie Briscoe t-shirts to donate proceeds to the American Cancer Society. And thanks to all our readesr who emailed us to share their condolences - Gothamist is proud to be one of Jerry's biggest fans.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

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  • guest

    May I add a late tribute as I did not know of the death of Jerry Orbach until recently. No mention was made in the UK press at the time but approx. 6 months ago, when Trial by Jury was about to air, mention was made that a leading actor had died. Now that I know it is Jerry Orbach I am devastated. What makes it worse is that he has been gone all this time and had even left Law & Order before I had started to take a real interest in the show. I understand L&O continues (we are many series behind in the UK) but Lennie Briscoe WAS the first half. I understand that the show continues but I can't imagine how it will be without him. Jerry Orbach was a consummate actor, using body and facial movements to project his character even when he was not centre stage. Having read the accolades printed above I now know not only how popular he was but what a very nice human being he was too. My heart goes out to his widow and his sons. I can only hope that time has brought them some peace and acceptance. I have just started grieving!

    Rest in peace Jerry Orbach.

  • Wow~

  • Megan

    Jerry Orbach has only recently become my favorite actor of all time. I know it is 2 years after his death but I feel I owe it to him to say thank you for being such a wonderful role model for me as a teen. His wisecracks on L&O are some of the highlights of my day and I sometimes use them to make people stop teasing me. His voice as Lumiere helped inspire to want to become a voice actor. Mr. Orbach you are a hero. Thank you so very much.

  • Roberta

    I am a true Law & Order junkie, and I'm not ashamed to say it. I miss Jerry Orbach terribly! His role as Det. Briscoe is unmatched. How I would have loved being a New Yorker with the possibility of seeing L&O filmed. I'm thankful for these photos. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to see Jerry Orbach in his various roles, to know what a wonderful actor he was. A very talented man! I miss you, Jerry!

  • Deb

    Jerry will be sadly missed - Law and Order will never be the same...

  • Andrew

    you will be missed. i watch Law and Order every night, and i have seasons 4-8 on videotape :(

  • Erin

    In addition his performance on L&O, his contributions to the stage live forever in the hearts and minds of those lucky enough to have witnessed his energy live. My love and prayers to his family! He will be greatly missed!

  • D.Ellenberger

    Jerry and I were in the same English 101 class at Illinois. He's firmly banked in my memory after 52 years. A great guy. He always wore blue jeans to classes.

  • Joni Coleman

    I am so sad that we have lost such a hero. I love Jerry and mourned his dparture as Det. Briscoe. He is my all time favorite celebrity. Jerry Orbach is a family favorite. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family and I thank them for sharing this great man with us.

  • tom thomas

    Thanks for this opportunity to say that even though a complete stranger to me, Jerry Orbach has my undying friendship and deepest sympathy. Love from Texas, Jerry.

  • julie

    for some reason, the website isn't processing all time times I pushed enter to add new lines in the following comment. Sorry it's so jumbled like so.

    what I'm listening to right now and is bringing tears to my eyes:

    "Try to remember the kind of September

    when life was slow and oh so mellow.

    Try to remember the kind of September

    when grass was green and grain was yellow.

    Try to remember the kind of September

    when you were a tender and callow fellow.

    Try to remember, and if you remember,

    then follow...

    Try to remember when life was so tender

    that no one wept except the willow.

    Try to remember when life was so tender

    that dreams were kept beside your pillow.

    Try to remember when life was so tender

    that love was an ember about to billow.

    Try to remember and if you remember

    then follow...

    Deep in December it’s nice to remember

    although you know the snow will follow.

    Deep in December it’s nice to remember

    without a hurt, the heart is hollow.

    Deep in December it’s nice to remember

    the fire of September that made us mellow.

    Deep in December our hearts should remember,

    then follow..."

    to the person who mentioned losing him is like losing your grandfather: my own grandfather, the grandparent who I hold most dear to my heart, passed away a bit over a week ago. And although nothing will ever compare to missing him, Jerry Orbach's death comes close and touches the same part of me causing the same pain.

    My guess is I'm not the only New Yorker in a household where sitting down in front of the tv before 11pm on any night means only one thing: Law & Order re-runs. And at 11pm, it starts competing with the nightly news, but L&O always wins out. I'm probably also one of many NY-er's who watches an episode for ten minutes and then starts channel surfing thinking "hey, I've seen this one before, haven't I?"

    It's true is voice has an aura of wisdom in it. Maybe that's just because I'm listening to this song, but I have a sense it's much more than that.

    Being an Upper West Sider, although only having watched L&O for maybe six years now, I have seen Briscoe & Green a handful of times. Most recently last year crossing the island on Broadway at 82nd street leaving the Starbucks they were going to on a quick break from filming. Like all others, the show is so a part of New York life, as are they, that I actually thought Jesse Martin and Jerry Orbach were simply people that lived on my street or took the same bus as I did every morning or something like that as why there were so familiar. Then I realized a second later, that I had just crossed paths with two near-gods and didn't even realize. I met Jesse Martin a few years ago through a family friend, he is also a great New Yorker, but he spent most of the brief conversation we had talking about Jerry Orbach and how wonderful he is.

    Great man. RIP Jerry Orbach, New York misses you.

  • Thanks for your posts about Jerry and L&O. Wonderful tributes.

  • TO JERRY'S FAMILY

    WOW,,, Im sorry to hear of your loss of this great and talented man. Ive read all the comments here and yes we will miss Jerry, but not as much as y'all will. He was a great entertainer and can not be replaced. God grant this family strength and comfort and God bless Jerry to enter Heaven. Det. Briscoe has solved his last case. My love to all the Orbach family.

    ccd

  • a loyal fan

    Mr. Orbach: May GOD bless your every footstep as you take your final journey. Its like Ive known you all my life. Well in a way I have. You came into my house. I enjoyed your visits for lunchtime & dinner. You have entertained me from stage to screen. May GOD bless your family with strength during this tragic loss. Farewell dear sir, another case has been solved by Det. Briscoe, well done. cew

  • sandy kurdziel

    may god be with you and your family. WHEN I HEARD OF THIS DEATH I FELT AS THROUGH I LOST MY FATHER. I LOVE YOU AND YOU WILL BE MISSED!!!!!! MAY YOU R.I.P...... LOVE THE KURDZIEL FAMILY

  • K

    I was picking up lunch when I heard. Somehow I had missed all the news segments. I literally did a double take. I can't believe how sad I am about it.

  • ianf

    Dear Jen,

    I share your sense of loss, even though the earthly

    incarnation of Det. Lenny Briscoe never was my

    *premier* idol on L&A or elsewhere (he was pretty

    good as father-grievien-over-loss-of-virginity-of-

    youngest-daughter in "Dirty Dancing", I admit that

    much). On the bright side, The Hallmark Channel

    in Europe is rerunning the entire original L&A series

    starting 6 of Jan, 2005 at 8:30 PM CET, so --dead

    or alive-- Lenny B. aka Jerry O. lives again!

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