--- name: "Jerry Orbach" canonical: "https://film.one/person/jerry-orbach" fi1m_id: "jerry-orbach" imdb_id: "nm0001583" tmdb_id: 725 wikidata_id: "Q421707" roles: ["Actor"] born: "20 October 1935" died: "28 December 2004" reviewed_on_fi1m: 4 average_fi1m_score: 82 average_as: "actor" average_over: 4 updated: "2026-09-26T01:49:02.048513+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Jerry Orbach ## Identity Jerry Orbach - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jerry-orbach - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** jerry-orbach - **IMDb ID:** nm0001583 - **TMDB ID:** 725 - **Wikidata ID:** Q421707 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Orbach, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q421707, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001583/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/725 Actor. Born 20 October 1935 in New York City, New York, USA. Died 28 December 2004. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 20 October 1935, New York City, New York, USA - **Died:** 28 December 2004 - **Active:** 1987–1991 - **Average Fi1m score:** 82, as actor, over 4 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 82 (2), 1990s 82 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 85 to 78 across 3 titles - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 3, Crime 2, Romance 2, Animation 1, Comedy 1, Family 1 - **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $658m across 3 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Orbach, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q421707, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001583/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/725 ## Streaming the US now - **Disney+:** [*Beauty and the Beast*](https://film.one/film/beauty-and-the-beast.md) (91) - **Tubi:** [*Crimes and Misdemeanors*](https://film.one/film/crimes-and-misdemeanors.md) (84) - **Pluto TV:** [*Dirty Dancing*](https://film.one/film/dirty-dancing.md) (79) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Biography Jerry Orbach was an American actor and singer. He originated the role of El Gallo in the off-Broadway musical *The Fantasticks* and played Chuck Baxter in the original Broadway production of *Promises, Promises*, for which he received a Tony Award. Orbach is best known for portraying Detective Lennie Briscoe in the television series *Law & Order* from 1992 to 2004 and for voicing Lumiere in the Disney film *Beauty and the Beast* (1991). His other notable film roles include Jake Houseman in *Dirty Dancing* (1987) and appearances in *Crimes and Misdemeanors* (1989) and *Universal Soldier* (1992). He also provided voices for *Aladdin and the King of Thieves* (1996) and *Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas* (1997). *Sources: themoviedb.org, behindthevoiceactors.com, rottentomatoes.com, biography.com.* ## On Fi1m (4) - *Beauty and the Beast* (1991), Fi1m 91, as Lumiere (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/beauty-and-the-beast.md) - *Law & Order* (1990), Fi1m 72, as Lennie Briscoe — [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md) - *Crimes and Misdemeanors* (1989), Fi1m 84, as Jack Rosenthal — [page](https://film.one/film/crimes-and-misdemeanors.md) - *Dirty Dancing* (1987), Fi1m 79, as Jake Houseman — [page](https://film.one/film/dirty-dancing.md) ## Complete filmography (86) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The New Yorker Presents* (2016), series, as Detective Lennie Brisco - *Disney Princess Sing Along Songs, Vol. 2 - Enchanted Tea Party* (2005), as Lumiere (voice) - *Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards* (2005), as Chuck Baxter (segment "Promises, Promises") (archive footage) - *Law & Order: Trial by Jury* (2005), series, as Lennie Briscoe - *Broadway's Lost Treasures II* (2004), as Host (segment "Revivals and Record Breakers") / Billy Flynn (segment "Chicago") - *Law & Order: Corruption Empire* (2003), Actor - *Broadway's Lost Treasures* (2003), as Host (segment "Broadway Divas") / Julian Marsh (segment "42nd Street") - *Manna from Heaven* (2002), as Waltz Contest Announcer - *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Lennie Briscoe - *Disney's House of Mouse* (2001), series, as Lumiere (voice) - *Prince of Central Park* (2000), as Businessman - *Chinese Coffee* (2000), as Jake Manheim - *Encounters With the Unexplained* (2000), series, Actor - *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Detective Lennie Briscoe - *Belle's Tales of Friendship* (1999), as Lumiere (voice) - *Serial Killers: Profiling the Criminal Mind* (1999), as Narrator - *Exiled* (1998), as Detective Lenny Briscoe - *Belle's Magical World* (1998), as Lumiere (voice) - *Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas* (1997), as Lumiere (voice) - *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor - *Aladdin and the King of Thieves* (1996), as Sa'Luk (voice) - *Frasier* (1993), series, as Mitch (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md) - *The Cemetery Club* (1993), as Jake Rubin (uncredited) - *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993), series, as Lennie Briscoe — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/homicide-life-on-the-street.md) - *Mastergate* (1992), as Clifton Byers - *Mr. Saturday Night* (1992), as Phil Gussman - *Universal Soldier* (1992), as Dr. Christopher Gregor - *Straight Talk* (1992), as Milo Jacoby - *Quiet Killer* (1992), as Dr. Vincent Califano - *Broadway Bound* (1992), as Jack Jerome - *Beauty and the Beast* (1991), as Lumiere (voice) — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/beauty-and-the-beast.md) - *Delirious* (1991), as Lou Sherwood - *A Gnome Named Gnorm* (1991), as Stan Walton - *Toy Soldiers* (1991), as Albert Trotta (uncredited) - *Out for Justice* (1991), as Ronny Donziger - *Delusion* (1991), as Larry - *Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter* (1991), as Vic St. John - *Dead Women in Lingerie* (1991), as Mr. Bartoli - *California Casanova* (1991), as Constantin Rominoffski - *In Defense of a Married Man* (1990), as Alan Michelson - *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Frank Lehrman, Lennie Briscoe — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md) - *Kojak: None So Blind* (1990), as Tony Salducci - *Crimes and Misdemeanors* (1989), as Jack Rosenthal — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/crimes-and-misdemeanors.md) - *Last Exit to Brooklyn* (1989), as Boyce - *Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder* (1989), as Blaine Counter - *Someone to Watch Over Me* (1987), as Lt. Garber - *The Law & Harry McGraw* (1987), series, as Harry McGraw - *Dirty Dancing* (1987), as Jake Houseman — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/dirty-dancing.md) - *I Love N.Y.* (1987), as Leo - *Love Among Thieves* (1987), as Spicer - *Out on a Limb* (1987), series, as Mort Viner - *The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers* (1986), series, as Zachary Foxx (voice) - *F/X* (1986), as Nicholas DeFranco - *The Imagemaker* (1986), as Byron Caine - *The Golden Girls* (1985), series, as Glen — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-golden-girls.md) - *Brewster's Millions* (1985), as Charley Pegler - *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Harry McGraw - *Tales from the Darkside* (1984), series, as Roberts - *Hunter* (1984), series, as Sal Scarlatti - *The Streets* (1984), as Sgt. Max Grozzo - *The Hitchhiker* (1983), series, as Cameron - *The Magic of Herself the Elf* (1983), as King Thorn (voice) - *An Invasion of Privacy* (1983), as Sam Bianchi - *Plaza Suite* (1982), as Roy Hubley / Jesse Kiplinger / Sam Nash - *Simon & Simon* (1981), series, Actor - *Prince of the City* (1981), as Gus Levy - *Underground Aces* (1981), as Herbert Penlittle - *Alex and the Doberman Gang* (1980), as Rogers - *Trapper John, M.D.* (1979), series, Actor - *Buck Rogers in the 25th Century* (1979), series, as Lars Mangros - *The Sentinel* (1977), as Michael Dayton - *Fore Play* (1975), as Jerry Lorsey - *Kojak* (1973), series, as Brubaker — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/kojak.md) - *A Fan's Notes* (1972), as Fred Exley - *The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight* (1971), as Kid Sally - *Love, American Style* (1969), series, as Homer 'Arsenal' Andrews - *Medical Center* (1969), series, Actor - *Annie Get Your Gun* (1967), as Charles Davenport - *John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!* (1965), as Pinkerton - *Bye Bye Birdie* (1963), as Bob (Ed Sullivan Show Producer) (uncredited) - *The Defenders* (1961), series, as J.P. Loring - *Mad Dog Coll* (1961), as Joe Clegg - *24 Hours in a Woman's Life* (1961), as Cristof - *Cop Hater* (1958), as Mumzer - *Guys and Dolls* (1955), as Barbershop Patron (uncredited) — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/guys-and-dolls.md) - *Marty* (1955), as Ballroom Patron (uncredited) ## Gallery - ![Jerry Orbach](https://film.one/media/person/78780/gallery-1bafcc0ff61b.jpg) Jerry Orbach — Tenthouse Theater of Chicago, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Jerry_Orbach_1965_press_photo.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![53rd Street at 8th Avenue in New York City is named Jerry Orbach Way in honor of Jerry Orbach. (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/78780/gallery-a3116c056d09.jpg) 53rd Street at 8th Avenue in New York City is named Jerry Orbach Way in honor of Jerry Orbach. (2019) — Gotanero, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Jerry_Orbach_Way.jpg/1280px-Jerry_Orbach_Way.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Publicity still from the original production of musical Chicago of characters Mary Sunshine (played by Michael O'Haughey) and Billy Flynn (played by Jerry Orbac (1976)](https://film.one/media/person/78780/gallery-36c5ac1526ef.jpg) Publicity still from the original production of musical Chicago of characters Mary Sunshine (played by Michael O'Haughey) and Billy Flynn (played by Jerry Orbac (1976) — Cheryl Sue Dolby of the Merlin Group, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Michael_O%27Haughey_and_Jerry_Orbach_in_Chicago_musical.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Jerry Orbach](https://film.one/media/person/78780/gallery-c0ce4668195c.jpg) Jerry Orbach — Image via TMDB - ![Jerry Orbach](https://film.one/media/person/78780/gallery-0d96b97c5ae2.jpg) Jerry Orbach — Image via TMDB - ![Jerry Orbach](https://film.one/media/person/78780/gallery-e434b3b1369f.jpg) Jerry Orbach — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Other awards — 1 won, 1 nominated - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical 1976: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (nominated) - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical 1969: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/jerry-orbach