Jerry Orbach
Jerome Bernard Orbach ( born October 20, 1935 in New York City; † December 28, 2004 ) was an American actor.
Life
His diploma was awarded Orbach at Northwestern University. He studied with Lee Strasberg and was a member of the Actors Studio. Orbach began his career on Broadway, where he drew attention to himself in various musical productions. He created the role of El Gallo in The Fantasticks and won two Tony Awards, among others. He also appeared in the musicals Chicago, 42nd Street, Carnival! , Guys and Dolls, Promises and The Cradle Will Rock.
His feature film debut was in the late 1950s, however, he came afterwards rarely supporting roles beyond. However, he played under such directors as Sidney Lumet ( Prince of the City ), Ridley Scott ( The man in the background) and Woody Allen ( Crimes and Misdemeanors ). His greatest successes had Orbach in the film Dirty Dancing, in which he played the father of 'baby' Houseman, as well as in Universal Soldier by Roland Emmerich and as Speaker of the Lumiere in the Walt Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast.
Orbach was also known for television roles. From 1987 to 1988 he played in the television series Harry McGraw, the main role of private detective of the same name. The series was a short-lived spin-off series Murder, She Wrote, in which the figure of the Harry McGraw had occurred previously. His most successful role was that of Detective Lennie Briscoe in the years 1992 to 2004 in existing since 1990 crime drama Law & Order, on whose success he was instrumental. He then had two more appearances in the series Law & Order: Trial by Jury, in which he also embodied his role success.
Seven Orbach was honored with a nomination of the Screen Actors Guild for Best Performance in a TV Series - Ensemble, he also received three nominations for the Emmy.
Early December 2004 it was announced that Orbach underwent since the spring of 2004, a treatment for prostate cancer. His agent Robert Malcolm expressed to the effect that Orbach was suffering from cancer for ten years.
Orbach was married to Broadway dancer Elaine Cancilla since 1979 and had two sons from a previous marriage. His son Chris Orbach appeared in the first spin-off of Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on, in which he played the nephew of Jerry Orbachs series character Lennie Briscoe.
A stretch of 53rd Street at 8th Avenue in Manhattan amount received in September 2007, Orbach in honor of the additional or sub name Jerry Orbach Way. In June 2007, one of the theaters of the Snapple Theatre Center in Jerry Orbach Theatre was renamed.