Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Remembering Jerry Orbach
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 30, 2004
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 30, 2004
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
It's unfortunate that we have to read all these wonderful stories about Jerry Orbach in the many obituaries today, but Gothamist is heartened by the fact that many people, from fans to critics, as well as his peers, found him to be a great actor and a wonderful person. Gothamist thinks that was part of why we love Jerry so much, whether he was Detective Lennie Briscoe or Lumiere or Harry McGraw: He was wise and approachable. A few of the quotes we like:
- From the NY Times obituary, which has links to Al Hirschfeld drawings of Orbach from his Broadway days: Whether singing "Try to Remember" as the dashing narrator of "The Fantasticks" in 1960 or trading barbs with fellow detectives and reluctant witnesses on television in recent years, Mr. Orbach exuded a wry, ragged masculinity that was all his own.
- From a Newsday article, "Orbach, a True New Yorker": "There's a feeling that I am a typical New Yorker -- and everyone else seems to agree," he told a Scottish paper in 2002. "I'm the guy on the street who everybody waves to."
- On being named a Living Landmark by the City of New York (from the Daily News obituary): "This means," he joked, "that they can't tear me down."
- - From Jeffrey Wells' Hollywood Elsewhere, where Wells says he must rent Crimes & Misdemeanors to see Orbach play a criminal: "I love it when [Orbach] says to [Martin] Landau in that Crimes scene in the Jonah's guest house, 'I can't afford to be....aloof.'"
And a little story from Gothamist: When we visited the Law & Order set earlier this year, we were absolutely giddy when we saw Jerry glide onto set with Jesse L. Martin and S. Epatha Merkerson. As they were getting settled, they were all singing and seemed to be in high spirits, and we could tell the cast and crew loved working together. So, in our hearts, Jerry is singing, flashing those gleaming white teeth, while wearing a trench coat and wondering what the next case will bring.
Our post from yesterday, where readers joined in to share their Jerry memories. And the "Lennie Grabs A Dog" painting is by Brandon Hunt, part of the Law & Order: Artistic Intent art show put together by Brandon Bird.
Tagged
art
art show
arts
As
brandon bird
broadway
celebrities
city
daily news
Detective Lennie Briscoe
entertainment
Epatha Merkerson
gothamist
headlines
hollywood
hollywood elsewhere
jeffrey wells
jerry orbach
Jesse L
law
lennie briscoe
love
masculinity
new york
new yorker
news
ny times
obituary
people
television
The Fantasticks
theater
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
NYC music in October: The Strokes, a Blink-182 cover band, and Polish experimentalism
An excellent and diverse month of concerts are in store for October.
By
Hank Shteamer
Published Oct 2, 2026 at 11:15 a.m. ET
Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide.
There is now an (un)official verification process for those who can claim the title of city resident.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Arts & Entertainment
Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide.
There is now an (un)official verification process for those who can claim the title of city resident.
By
Hannah Frishberg
In the mood for a pastoral autumn experience? Try Queens.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
October is spooky season at the movies in New York City
By
Emma Stefansky
At the Museum at FIT, an argument for dolls as the ultimate fashion influencers
By
Quinn Moreland
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .