Jerry Orbach, Prince of the City: His Way from The Fantasticks to Law and Order

Today the late actor Jerry Orbach (1935-2004) is best remembered as the world-weary New York City Detective Lennie Briscoe from the Emmy Award-winning NBC television series ÊLaw and OrderÊ. But that work only accounts for 12 years of a 50-year career that spanned stage screen and television. From the moment he landed the role of the Street Singer in the 1955 off-Broadway revival of ÊThe Threepenny OperaÊ he distinguished himself as a major performer in popular musicals and plays including ÊThe FantasticksÊ ÊCarnivalÊ ÊScuba DubaÊ ÊPromises PromisesÊ Ê6 RMS RIV VUÊ ÊChicagoÊ and Ê42nd StreetÊ.ÞÞJerry Orbach also appeared in over 40 films with ÊCrimes and MisdemeanorsÊ; ÊPrince of the CityÊ; ÊDirty DancingÊ; and the voice of the candlestick Lumi¬re in Disney's ÊBeauty and the BeastÊ topping the list. From the '60s through the '90s he was a guest or featured actor on major TV hits like ÊThe DefendersÊ; ÊLove American StyleÊ; ÊMurder She WroteÊ; ÊThe Golden GirlsÊ; and ÊFrasierÊ. ÊJerry Orbach Prince of the CityÊ is the story of this versatile performer ä his triumphs and tragedies public and private. Most of all it is a study of a gifted actor's craft as told through the observations insights and reminiscences of those who knew him best.ÞListen to John Anthony Gilvey live at Book Expo America on the BEA Podcast. See more