Jerry Orbach

Birthday: 20 October 1935, New York City, New York, USA

Birth Name: Jerome Bernard Orbach

Height: 187 cm

Jerry was born in the Bronx. His father, Leon, was a former vaudevillian actor, and his mother, Emily, was a radio singer. His family moved frequently and eventually settled in Waukegan, Illinois wher ...Show More

I used to say when I was working in the theater that if I ever had five seasons of a hit TV show I'd Show more I used to say when I was working in the theater that if I ever had five seasons of a hit TV show I'd never have to worry about money and wouldn't have to do anything I didn't want to do . . . The 12 seasons on Law & Order (1990) really made that possible. Hide

[on why he decided to join the cast of Law & Order] Back in the early 60s my pal David Janssen was d Show more [on why he decided to join the cast of Law & Order] Back in the early 60s my pal David Janssen was doing The Fugitive (1963). He used to come home eight, nine o'clock at night, having gotten up at five in the morning, have one drink and boom! He'd fall asleep on the couch and we'd carry him to bed. I told myself, 'I will never do an hour drama. It's just too hard.' But then, as you get older... Hide

When I first began in this business I was doing a lot of musical theater but the problem was that pe Show more When I first began in this business I was doing a lot of musical theater but the problem was that people wouldn't hire me outside of that. I wasn't being taken seriously as an actor so I started taking more dramatic roles and serious acting jobs and eventually it got to the point where people were saying, "I really like his stuff. Does he sing?" Hide

[on working on Law & Order (1990)] It's a lot more fun for actors to cry and rant and rave, or h Show more [on working on Law & Order (1990)] It's a lot more fun for actors to cry and rant and rave, or have a drug problem or a drinking problem. Once in a while I get jealous of people who get to do real histrionics. But that's all right. That stuff's only about awards. It's not about people watching. People are very loyal to our show and they want to see the case resolved in an hour. Hide

It may sound a little off the wall to say this, but having the opportunity to do this in this long a Show more It may sound a little off the wall to say this, but having the opportunity to do this in this long an arc has given me - and is continuing to give me - a feeling that I'm doing something for the city and for the people of it and for the cops. I see it every day on the street. The profile of Law & Order (1990) has gotten bigger and bigger. And the way the city feels about us . . . it's like we're part of the good things that happen in the city. Hide

Jerry Orbach's FILMOGRAPHY

as Actor (154)

Simon and Simon - Season 4

Whos the Boss - Season 3

Beauty and the Beast: Belle`s Magical World

Whos the Boss - Season 2

Law and Order: Trial by Jury - Season 1

The Golden Girls - Season 3

Murder, She Wrote - Season 8

Hunter - Season 2 (1984)

Medical Center - Season 2 (US)

Empty Nest - Season 4

Frasier - Season 2

Underground Aces

Empty Nest - Season 2

Last Exit To Brooklyn

Whos the Boss - Season 1

Murder, She Wrote - Season 1

Tales From the Darkside - Season 4

Reading Rainbow - Season 14

Law and Order: Criminal Intent - Season 9

House of Mouse - Season 4

Tales From the Darkside - Season 2

Law and Order: Criminal Intent - Season 1

Hunter - Season 6 (1984)

Hunter - Season 7 (1984)

Empty Nest - Season 1

Mr. Saturday Night

Jerry Orbach'S roles

Glen O'Brien

Charley Pegler

Capt. Ronnie Donziger

Lennie Briscoe

Harry McGraw

Sa'luk

Dr. Jake Houseman

Dr. Christopher Gregor

Lumiere