Cool News
Jerry Orbach 1935-2004
Jerry Orbach passed away Wednesday morning at age 69, according to New York radio station WINS, which reportedly got the news from Orbach’s manager, Robert Malcolm.
It comes as a bit of a shock because a) Orbach was first diagnosed with prostate cancer only earlier this month, and b) Orbach is one of the stars of NBC’s “Law & Order: Trial By Jury,” which is set to premiere early next year.
I confess that since the departure of Michael Moriarty I haven’t had much use for the original “Law & Order,” on which Orbach starred for 12 years, but I loved Orbach’s work in “Crimes and Misdemeanors” (he was Martin Landau’s shady brother), “Beauty and the Beast” (the French candle-dude Lumiere), and “Prince of the City,” and I was really sorry to hear about this.
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I confess that since the departure of Michael Moriarty I haven’t had much use for the original “Law & Order,” on which Orbach starred for 12 years, but I loved Orbach’s work in “Crimes and Misdemeanors” (he was Martin Landau’s shady brother), “Beauty and the Beast” (the French candle-dude Lumiere), and “Prince of the City,” and I was really sorry to hear about this.
Looking for bumper stickers, plush toys and girls’ underwear covered with cartoon double-amputees? Visit The Herc Store!
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Dec 29, 2004 12:59:26 PM CST
Who will make the black humored comment at his death scene ?
by johnnyfriendly
Goodnight, Sweet Briscoe, we hardly knew ye.
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That you will be missed Jerry. This is a Sad day.
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had hias final torch snuffed
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Dec 29, 2004 1:16:42 PM CST
Please tell me this will reduce the number of L&O airings per we
by roguewriter
... SOMETHING good needs to come out of this cool guy's death... Hate LAW & ORDER, have always hated LAW & ORDER, and consider the police-procedural glut every bit the death-knell of quality TV that reality-television has been. Rest well, Mr. Orbach. Nobody here's gonna forget your big death scene in F/X.
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If it wasn't for Jerry, nobody would've put Baby in the corner... Goodbye Mr Orbach, my girlfriend will never forget you
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I loved him on Law&Order, the show never really came together until he came along with his fantastic characterization of Briscoe, the "been there, seen that" yet caring attitude that he gave the character was the main reason I watched faithfully for the last 12 years. I don't even watch the reruns if I don't see him in the beginning montage. He's so good as Brisco, it's hard to imagine that he was a well respected song and dance man on Broadway for many many years, even garnering a Tony nomination. He could do it all, sing, dance, act, but like most, I'll always remember him as Brisco. I'm going to be depressed all day now. I agree with another poster, this news needs to be moved to the main page, and be given a better eulogy, Harry seems to be aware of even the most obscure celebrities, certainly he must have some knowledge of Jerry Orbach, he's a legend in the New York acting scene. Rest in peace Jerry, you will be remembered.
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Dec 29, 2004 1:28:26 PM CST
Thanks, Johhny Ace. The obits I'm seeing on TV seem to be leavi
by barry egan
This may be one of his most famous perfrormances. Check out Mr. Orbach's resume. What a career this man had! And I love "Law & Order."
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I loved watching him on L&O...he will be missed.
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Jerry Orbach was ALL OVER television and movies when I was a kid. Sad to see him go.
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the fact that the man was going to be starring in an upcoming television program doesn't make his death a shock. it makes it a bit more sad and certainly more of a blow to people who were anticipating the show, but that's some lousy writing to say that his death was a shock because he had plans.
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Orbach was the shit. I was excited for "Trial by Jury" and all that. Orbach was one of the most underappreciated actors still working today.
Goodbye, Briscoe. We knew ye more than hardly. -
I've missed Lenny and his (often horrible) gallows-humor one liners on L&O. I also liked him on E! True Hollywood Story since he was connected to so many people. He had a very cool old-Hollywood attitude
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Too bad he didn't live long enough to star in The Morton Downey Jr. biopic. He would have been fantastic.
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Apologies? Did you give him cancer? Well, that was certainly a jackass thing to do.
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And for me Orbach will always be known as the guy who voiced the character Zachary Fox on the cheesy but good syndicated cartoon series Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers.
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The origional Law and Order is totally a guilty pleasure of mine. Lenny was always my favorite character. Jerry was such an underappreciated actor. I'll miss him. "Sending little ditties out into cyberspace while he's smelling her undies and bopping his banana's got to get boring after a while." --Lenny Briscoe
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Dec 29, 2004 3:03:36 PM CST
Now it's reported that Jerry was actually suffering from prostat
by rolling_stone
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Deep in December it's nice to remember
although you know the snow will follow.
Deep in December it's nice to remember
without the 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 and follow.
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Lest we forget, Jerry was a child of the theatre. He was the original lead in "The Fantastiks" in the early 60's went on an played the Jack Lemmon role in the Broadway, Burt Bacharach musical version of "The Apartment" ("Promises Promises") and was the original Billy Flynn in "Chicago". As well as the role of the director Julian Marsh in the original B'way recreation of "42nd Street".
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Man i totally forgot he was zach from Galaxy rangers.
I loved that show and he was the main man.
Man i will miss him.
Im a law and order fan also.
ALWEASEL -
A 3 paragraph blurb over on the side? One that says basically "I don't really care about the show he was on, but it sucks anyway."
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AICN likes to comment on dead celebrities so they look like they are 'aware' of all things media. It's their disgusting little habit.
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Cancer did it? Yea, just give me an unmarked and a shotgun, and let me do it my way... alrite?
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Herc, do some research and keep your opinion out of it. So what you haven't seen the show since 1994, his death isn't about you so stop trying to make his tribute all about you. Show some respect.
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For entertaining us and allowing us to enjoy your talents. You will be missed, but will be remembered and loved forever.
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Did he make it through two seasons? And when he left, it was because of his ego. He swore he was getting the short end of the half of the show they devoted to the court case. Law and Order is the real deal. No shark jumping here. Solid cop/court drama that was a fresh twist when it began and continues to rule. Orbach was there for a lot of it, too. And even with all the drama of the original 'ripped from the headlines' plots, it is the personal episodes that I remember best. Remember the death penalty episode which showed them all reacting to the reality of the sentence. When Lenny fell off the wagon and was a pasenger when Jill Hennessey's character died. Remember his heartbreak over the loss of his daughter. This guy was the real deal. The tough as nails, old-school detective sworn to uphold the law but human enough to know when to bend the rules. Also, in case you're unclear on the chronology, Law and Order came before NYPD Blue, before the CSI's and all their evil spawn. It is not the reason for the 'glut of cop shows'. Non-creative garbage who have no problem copying from the greats are the reason. L&O rules. Long live Lenny.
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Dec 29, 2004 8:10:28 PM CST
Oddly enough, the first time I ever saw Mr. Orbach's face...
by iblis_mage
Was in Starlog magazine back in 1980. They did some fan-on-the-street interviews at the original Empire Strikes Back premiere, and Jerry and his son (10 at the time, probably close to 35 now) were both there and liked the movie quite a lot. Didn't actually see him onscreen till much later, but a fine actor and a great loss.
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Hearing of Orbach's passing this AM has kept me in a permanently grey mood today. Like Marvin Gaye & Andy Kaufman, he was one of the coolest cats to walk the planet in the past X years. R.I.P., Jerry. BTW, Hercules, lose the self-aggrandizement please - no one wants your CafePress crap.
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Dec 29, 2004 11:37:42 PM CST
Det. Lennie Briscoe: "I specifically asked for him to be put on
by hell's cigarette
Det. Lennie Briscoe: "I want to go to law school so I can learn how to turn gold into lead."
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Jerry Orbach could very well become the first celebrity to make it all the way through an AICN talkback without getting shit on once. It's interesting that such a small-time and little known actor has such massive respect from the general public...I wonder what it is about him...at any rate, I'll miss Jerry Orbach greatly...in fact, I think I'll go out and buy that Law & Order PC game just so I can hang out with Briscoe for a while...
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Class act. God bless him.
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First time I saw Jerry Orbach was back in 1969 when my parents took me to see 'Promises Promises' on Broadway. Thirty five years later and I still haven't forgotten him singing that song. Good-bye Jerry, you will be missed. ***Yesterday I donated the ten gallons of bottled water that I bought when this year's Hurricanes threatened South Florida to the Tsunami relief effort. What a horrible way to end the year.
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This happened to a friend of mine who was being treated for a similar type of cancer. The doctors decided to aggressively attack the cancer with medications and it caused my bud to die 2 weeks after he found out he had cancer. We later discovered that the meds had caused his death. Now, my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer, given 6 months to live, and lived almost 2-years without seeking ANY medical help. She lived comfortably until the die she died. Keep the doctors away from me!
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He was only onscreen for a short time, but conveyed a lot of emotions and ideas: brotherly resentment, regret, being at terms with his choices, the hardness of life, etc. Very strong work in a not-so-showy role. I loved this guy on Law and Order. Sorry to see him go at such a relatively young age. Wish I could have seen him on broadway.
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Very sad to hear of his passing. Farina is doing an ok job but he's no Briscoe.
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Gosh I loved his work with Byrne over that long run of fantastic Fours. What's that? Orbach?
Never mind. -
Jerry Orbach is one of those actors who sneaks into your subconscious and becomes a part of your entertainment world that you can't imagine being gone. I was pretty disappointed when he left "Law & Order" but I was looking forward to the new show. I don't know if we can understand yet the influence this guy has had and is going to have on future portrayals of cops on TV. At least as much as Jack Webb. When I think of a homicide detective, I think of Lenny Brisco. And I probably always will. Speaking as an actor, Orbach was an inspiration. The fact that he could play roles as varied as Billy Flynn, Lumiere, Baby's Dad, and Lenny Brisco speaks to how talented the guy really was. Jerry definitely does belong on the main page, and he deserves a better eulogy than Herc gave him. RIP, Mr. Orbach.
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Of him last night on his t.v. show.
he even seemed to get a little choked up as he talked about Orbach being a friend of the show, and how he worked with him on some bits.
Then he showed a clip from his first season with Orbach doing a trick pool shot.
Very sad, he seemed like a real class act. -
He was a great actor (loved him in FX) and from what I have read, a truly nice guy. I feel sad for his family. This is a true loss for such a talented man. Too bad herc could'nt give him the respect he so deserved.
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Dec 31, 2004 12:36:59 PM CST
Herc's half-assed memorial to a truly remarkable actor's career
by barry egan
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Be our Guest, Be our Guest put our service to the test, tie your napkin round your Neck Chere' and we'll provide the rest.
Soup De Jour, hot O'rderves well we only live to serve. Try the grey stuff its delicious don't believe us? Ask the dishes.
BE OUR GUEST, BE our GUEST please BE OUR GUEST.
Performed with such gusto and panache. THe words to this song are engraved in my heart. THank you for LUMERE, Jerry. Bon Voyage.......... -
I had the great honor of working with Jerry when I was a stand-in on Dirty Dancing in Lake Lure, N.C. One night after shooting we all piled into the hotel lobby and Jerry bought us drinks while we watched the baseball playoffs. The great thing about him both on-screen and off was that even though he was incredibly talented, underneath it all he was as down to earth as anyone could be. There was never an air of superiority about him. He was just a super nice person and very easy to talk to. That was what made him so believable as an actor. Jerry, the next round's on me! Slainte!
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The first season with Jerry Orbach was the best! Chris Noth + Jerry Orbach = Law and Order perfection.
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