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Jerry OrbachAmerican actor
Date of Birth: 20.10.1935
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Jerry Orbach: A Life on Stage and Screen
- Broadway Career
- Film and Television Success
- 'Law & Order' Legacy
- Personal Life
- Legacy and Tributes
Jerry Orbach: A Life on Stage and Screen
Early Life and EducationJerome Bernard "Jerry" Orbach was born on October 20, 1935, in the Bronx, New York City. The only child of Emily Olexy, a radio singer, and Leon Orbach, a Sephardic Jewish restaurant owner and vaudeville performer, Orbach was raised Catholic, a religious affiliation he later attributed to his iconic character, Detective Lennie Briscoe. Growing up, Orbach moved frequently with his family; after studying drama at the University of Illinois, he relocated to New York City, where he further trained at Lee Strasberg's Actors Studio.
Broadway Career
On and off Broadway, Orbach established himself as a seasoned actor. His first notable role came as El Gallo in the long-running musical "The Fantasticks." Orbach also starred in productions of "The Threepenny Opera," "Carnival!" (a musical version of the film "Lili"), and revivals of "Guys and Dolls" and "Cradle Will Rock." In 1955, he made a brief appearance as a barbershop customer in the film version of "Guys and Dolls."
Film and Television Success
In the 1980s, Orbach began working regularly in film and television. He gained recognition for his portrayal of corrupt police detective Gus Levy in Sidney Lumet's crime drama "Prince of the City." He also appeared in the dance romance "Dirty Dancing" with Patrick Swayze and Woody Allen's dramedy "Crimes and Misdemeanors" as murderous gangster Jack Rosenthal. Orbach initially played the character of Gary McGruder in the short-lived 1987 TV series "The Law and Harry McGraw," later reprising the role as a guest star in an episode of "Murder, She Wrote."
'Law & Order' Legacy
Orbach's career reached its peak with his role as Detective Lennie Briscoe in the long-running crime drama "Law & Order." Briscoe became one of the most popular television detectives, with "TV Guide" ranking him among its "50 Greatest TV Detectives of All Time." Orbach signed on to star in the spin-off series "Law & Order: Trial by Jury," but sadly passed away before filming two completed episodes. Both episodes aired in March 2005, with one of them, "View from Up Here," serving as a tribute to the actor.
Personal Life
Orbach married Marta Curro in 1958, with whom he had two sons, Anthony Nicholas and Christopher Benjamin, before divorcing in 1975. In 1979, he married Broadway dancer Elaine Cancilla, whom he had first met during the musical "Chicago." They remained married until his death.
Legacy and Tributes
In September 2007, the intersection of 8th Avenue and 53rd Street in New York City was renamed Jerry Orbach Way, near where he had lived in a high-rise building and frequented several Italian restaurants. The local planning board had initially resisted the move, but Orbach's popularity and the affection of city residents prevailed.
He passed away from prostate cancer on December 28, 2004, after battling the disease for a decade, according to his agent, Robert Malcolm. Upon his death, Orbach had requested that his eyes be donated to help others. This wish was fulfilled when one cornea went to a person in need of nearsightedness correction, while the other went to someone with farsightedness issues. His widow passed away on April 1, 2009, from pneumonia at the age of 69.
Novelist Kurt Vonnegut, a fan of Orbach's work, said in a 2005 radio interview: "You know, people ask me, 'Who would you rather have been, if you couldn't be yourself?'... Without any question, Jerry Orbach... I talked to him once, and he was delightful."
