Jerry Orbach, Prince of the City

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 ELaw and OrderE. 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 EThe Threepenny OperaE he distinguished himself as a major performer in popular musicals and plays including EThe FantasticksE ECarnivalE EScuba DubaE EPromises PromisesE E6 RMS RIV VUE EChicagoE and E42nd StreetE.THTHJerry Orbach also appeared in over 40 films with ECrimes and MisdemeanorsE; EPrince of the CityE; EDirty DancingE; and the voice of the candlestick Lumire in Disney's EBeauty and the BeastE topping the list. From the '60s through the '90s he was a guest or featured actor on major TV hits like EThe DefendersE; ELove American StyleE; EMurder She WroteE; EThe Golden GirlsE; and EFrasierE. EJerry Orbach Prince of the CityE is the story of this versatile performer a 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.THListen to John Anthony Gilvey live at Book Expo America on the BEA Podcast.