Orbach left the original "Law & Order" series at the end of last season, but was already in production on the latest spinoff of the popular series, "Law & Order: Trial By Jury."
After a long Broadway stage career, Orbach became best known for his Lennie Briscoe role on the long-running NBC hit series. He first appeared on the show in 1990 before becoming a regular cast member in 1992. He was nominated for an Emmy in 2000 for the role on "Law & Order," but he was also nominated for a guest appearance on "The Golden Girls" in 1990 and the made-for-television movie "Neil Simon's Broadway Bound" in 1992.
Born Into Show Business
Orbach was born in the Bronx on October 20, 1935 to a show business family. His father, Leon Orbach, was a former vaudevillian, and his mother, Emily Orbach, was a radio singer.He studied drama at the University of Illinois and Northwestern University and made his stage debut in a summer stock production of "Room Service" while still a teenager. At the age of 21, he made his first professional appearance in New York in a revival of "The Threepenny Opera," and worked his way into the lead role of Macheath.
In 1960, Orbach played El Gallo in the original off-Broadway company of "The Fantasticks." He later earned a Tony nomination for his role of Sky Masterson in the 1965 revival of "Guys and Dolls."
Tony Nominations
Orbach won a Tony in 1969 for the hit musical "Promises, Promises" and received a Tony nomination in 1976 for the original role of Billy Flynn in "Chicago." His other Broadway appearances include "Carnival!," "Annie Get Your Gun," "The Natural Look," "8 Rms Riv Vu" and the original production of "42nd Street."Orbach also appeared in several movies, including "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight," "Fore Play," "The Sentinel," "Prince of the City," "Brewster's Millions," "F/X," "Dirty Dancing," "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Last Exit to Brooklyn," "Crimes and Misdemeanors," "Out for Justice," "Straight Talk," "Mr. Saturday Night," "The Cemetery Club," "Chinese Coffee," and "Prince of Central Park."
Orbach was the original voice of Lumiere in the Oscar-nominated "Beauty and the Beast" and its sequels.
He is survived by his wife, Elaine Orbach, and sons, Anthony and Christopher Orbach.
