Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh, so mellow.[1]
Many people only know Jerry Orbach as Detective Lennie Briscoe from his 12 years on the TV series Law & Order and its several spin-offs. What they may not know is that Orbach was also a Tony Award-winning actor who first came to fame in musical theater. He got his start on Broadway where he originated the roles of Billy Flynn in Chicago, Julian Marsh in 42nd Street, Chuck Baxter in Promises, Promises, and El Gallo in The Fantasticks, which opened with him singing the American standard “Try to Remember.”
If you only knew Jerry Orbach as a dramatic actor, you’re not alone. According to Orbach:
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?”
Disney must have known he could both act and sing because even as he was starting his association with the Law & Order franchise (first cast as defense attorney Frank Lehrman) he was tapped to provide the voice of Lumiere, the butler-cum-candelabra in Disney’s animated Beauty and the Beast (1991).
In recognition of his many years of stage work, Orbach was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1999. He was also named a New York City “living landmark” by the New York Landmarks Conservancy in 2002. During his life, he held records for portraying the longest running character in American primetime live-action television and for the most musical stage performances of any living actor. On December 29, 2004, the day after Orbach’s death at 69 following a decade-long battle with prostate cancer, the lights of Broadway were dimmed in his honor.
Over the course of his career, Jerry Orbach amassed an impressive filmography covering some 173 different film, television, and video game projects – all of which we’re happy to say are identified within the EIDR Content ID Registry.
Jerry Orbach’s Filmography
| Title | Type | Year | EIDR ID |
| 10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards | TV | 2004 | 10.5240/E29F-1000-DDDD-B06E-5F64-O |
| 11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards | TV | 2005 | 10.5240/7A7D-ADD6-01B8-2A5E-C53C-T |
| 1995 Miss North America Pageant | TV | 1995 | 10.5240/84A1-124F-2043-5ECD-3D77-Y |
| 4th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards | TV | 1998 | 10.5240/EF90-685A-1270-1106-E67F-J |
| 5th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards | TV | 1999 | 10.5240/FE49-7FEB-434C-004B-724E-G |
| A Different Look at ‘Law & Order’ | Supp. | 2006 | 10.5240/322B-3BE4-1D2B-DC09-C215-W |
| A Fan’s Notes | Movie | 1972 | 10.5240/85EB-8673-E447-D6B6-0CFF-6 |
| A Gnome Named Gnorm | Movie | 1990 | 10.5240/79B9-5AF8-AFAF-D991-1905-E |
| Aladdin and the King of Thieves | TV | 1996 | 10.5240/0083-5D37-F387-0E67-DD2D-9 |
| Alex and the Doberman Gang | TV | 1980 | 10.5240/E491-8324-FDAE-B916-D142-N |
| American Experience | Series | 1988 | 10.5240/7B3D-8865-5AB3-3B00-FAC3-C |
| America’s Top Sleuths | TV | 2006 | 10.5240/E6DF-7594-3ED1-7338-E91F-S |
| An Invasion of Privacy | TV | 1983 | 10.5240/61E3-CD73-9A7B-6A49-1D96-Q |
| Annie Get Your Gun | TV | 1967 | 10.5240/8DE1-724C-FD0A-E0DA-F532-Y |
| Badge of Courage: Police Officer of the Year | TV | 2000 | 10.5240/80FA-A524-282A-7531-8965-N |
| Beauty and the Beast | Movie | 1991 | 10.5240/5FBC-710D-032C-675C-C432-R |
| Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas | TV | 1997 | 10.5240/B139-26E5-3A3F-67C2-EC6F-G |
| Belle’s Magical World | TV | 1997 | 10.5240/2FC3-0889-F13A-959F-50AB-5 |
| Belle’s Tales of Friendship | TV | 1999 | 10.5240/2BD3-7398-4897-6FA0-266B-6 |
| Biography | Series | 1987 | 10.5240/3F6C-2476-3987-6190-7E2D-V |
| Black Death | TV | 1992 | 10.5240/D8FB-B5B9-9DCB-79F7-E2B7-A |
| Brewster’s Millions | Movie | 1985 | 10.5240/591A-D856-8B47-940D-54B8-0 |
| Broadway Bound | TV | 1992 | 10.5240/860F-FF2D-FBC5-B44A-3B2C-C |
| Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age | TV | 2018 | 10.5240/E2D5-F647-5F67-D914-0F0A-E |
| Broadway: The American Musical | Series | 2004–2004 | 10.5240/F18C-B228-351A-181F-3644-3 |
| Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There | TV | 2004 | 10.5240/6166-3008-86F3-4637-D489-N |
| Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Series | 1979–1981 | 10.5240/2917-D97A-3B70-388D-9325-Q |
| Bye Bye Birdie | Movie | 1963 | 10.5240/ED79-5219-84C5-D7B1-D395-5 |
| California Casanova | Movie | 1991 | 10.5240/31DC-E312-298D-BAED-8306-9 |
| Camera Three | Series | 1956–1979 | 10.5240/26AF-84A2-A3BF-7550-46FA-N |
| Chinese Coffee | Movie | 2000 | 10.5240/F05D-7F8F-3981-8306-EB9A-J |
| Cop Hater | Movie | 1958 | 10.5240/F793-5E17-FF49-D562-D302-N |
| Crimes and Misdemeanors | Movie | 1989 | 10.5240/C570-3B3A-F665-8EDB-8ECA-Q |
| Dead Women in Lingerie | Movie | 1991 | 10.5240/9598-CD7A-2DDC-3A3F-0DFF-R |
| Deadly Nightmares | Series | 1983 | 10.5240/4D5A-633C-5D08-6F54-808D-A |
| Delirious | Movie | 1991 | 10.5240/DDF6-53DB-5FAC-47F1-7827-X |
| Delusion | Movie | 1991 | 10.5240/0F07-EBA7-4C4B-EF56-9038-G |
| Diana | Series | 1973–1974 | 10.5240/C589-C43A-867C-0FD4-62B2-Y |
| Dirty Dancing | Movie | 1987 | 10.5240/D6FC-3C2D-4ECA-3E60-53C8-E |
| Disney Sing-Along-Songs: Be Our Guest | TV | 1992 | 10.5240/274D-603A-E8B3-0EB1-23B9-O |
| Disney Sing-Along-Songs: Friend Like Me | TV | 1993 | 10.5240/8661-33C2-813F-09C6-F986-V |
| Disney Sing-Along-Songs: Very Merry Christmas Songs | TV | 1988 | 10.5240/9FE5-19DF-5E0B-0506-53D1-J |
| Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: Magical Ballroom | Game | 2000 | 10.5240/0749-82C1-FBF1-8DDE-F44D-T |
| Dream West | Series | 1986 | 10.5240/F406-8F32-FC47-7B68-5F8B-A |
| E! True Hollywood Story | Series | 1996 | 10.5240/935A-D783-8F40-7476-F572-W |
| Empty Nest | Series | 1988–1995 | 10.5240/6EC4-5206-7F3F-C119-8DD6-9 |
| Encounters with the Unexplained | Series | 2000–2002 | 10.5240/0F60-5D3C-AC89-DEAB-6708-G |
| Exiled | TV | 1998 | 10.5240/74F8-AB27-014C-6FEA-2508-H |
| F/X | Movie | 1986 | 10.5240/E0E0-8B61-2C86-E5B5-185F-9 |
| Foreplay | Movie | 1975 | 10.5240/6C16-2EAD-4812-C43D-F63F-3 |
| Fox and Friends | Series | 1998 | 10.5240/E168-D8BA-F152-3532-CAA9-3 |
| Frasier | Series | 1993–2004 | 10.5240/8D06-C49C-719B-E47D-EE0C-Q |
| From Stage to Screen: The History of Chicago | TV | 2005 | 10.5240/43C9-9BB6-CFAD-7E61-076E-K |
| Great Performances | Series | 1972 | 10.5240/9219-D8A2-7E01-D3C9-6DED-M |
| Greenwich Village: A World Apart | Short | 2015 | 10.5240/3B1A-840F-5F2E-8AA8-8D14-6 |
| Homicide: Life on the Street | Series | 1993–1999 | 10.5240/161B-EFA4-4038-9BF8-8A18-3 |
| House of Mouse | Series | 2001 | 10.5240/480A-EA7B-875A-C044-783F-6 |
| Hunter | Series | 1984–1991 | 10.5240/D6F7-4BF7-88FD-E1DA-23BA-X |
| I Love N.Y. | Movie | 1987 | 10.5240/7621-405A-673E-8626-8702-G |
| In Defense of a Married Man | TV | 1990 | 10.5240/942E-7A97-54FA-C8E4-399A-V |
| In Performance at the White House: A Salute to Broadway – The Shows | TV | 1988 | 10.5240/6C03-9D21-CF31-2CC3-7322-Y |
| Irving Berlin’s 100th Birthday Celebration | TV | 1988 | 10.5240/B39E-4749-DA7B-8AA5-FF75-Y |
| Jeopardy! | Series | 1984 | 10.5240/0EAC-1D09-09B6-75D7-86C1-P |
| Jerry Orbach Tribute | Supp. | 2005 | 10.5240/92E8-0E23-F16B-EA20-D45E-B |
| John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! | Movie | 1964 | 10.5240/800D-91A7-6045-1048-C38F-X |
| Kojak | Series | 1973–1978 | 10.5240/591F-4433-65BC-6C24-428F-U |
| Kojak: None So Blind | TV | 1990 | 10.5240/E40E-5D25-E004-8DC4-A68A-N |
| Larry King Live | Series | 1985–2010 | 10.5240/9D86-2610-95E2-BB46-B4E3-F |
| Last Exit to Brooklyn | Movie | 1990 | 10.5240/80B6-D716-3FB3-0337-AF97-7 |
| Late Night with Conan O’Brien | Series | 1993–2009 | 10.5240/C385-A13D-4012-C5A3-0816-I |
| Late Night with Conan O’Brien: 10th Anniversary Special | TV | 2003 | 10.5240/0FFE-60B0-1078-A593-61CB-W |
| Later with Bob Costas | Series | 1988–1994 | 10.5240/65A8-ABC9-1E9A-288C-E6E8-N |
| Law & Order | Series | 1990–2010 | 10.5240/B270-AFE2-581F-6684-975B-5 |
| Law & Order II: Double or Nothing | Game | 2003 | 10.5240/15BC-CE9B-DD30-5D2A-CCF5-I |
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Series | 2001 | 10.5240/8C9E-4AA3-0A85-F81B-9CB4-F |
| Law & Order: Dead on the Money | Game | 2002 | 10.5240/B51A-63FB-F1A3-E995-C642-8 |
| Law & Order: Justice Is Served | Game | 2004 | 10.5240/86B2-421E-A036-A3C6-A336-M |
| Law & Order: Set Tour with Jerry Orbach | Supp. | 2004 | 10.5240/4291-144A-5E95-FE6B-E9AD-S |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Series | 1999 | 10.5240/04BC-E052-52C8-5131-7B5F-J |
| Law & Order: The First 3 Years | TV | 2004 | 10.5240/A8CF-8E40-5034-2CE3-06FA-V |
| Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Series | 2005–2006 | 10.5240/DDD6-5AD4-7CEC-D462-9472-F |
| Love Among Thieves | TV | 1987 | 10.5240/BCDA-7124-2322-5C2F-47A5-8 |
| Love, American Style | Series | 1969 | 10.5240/6FC2-80F6-D67F-791A-D452-Q |
| Macy’s 54th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade | TV | 1980 | 10.5240/DA1C-5A3E-0AC4-EEA9-07D2-V |
| Mad Dog Coll | Movie | 1961 | 10.5240/5FFB-5C94-9590-D199-A69A-Y |
| Manna from Heaven | Movie | 2002 | 10.5240/44D5-1F8D-3B29-C13E-AAC3-E |
| Mastergate | TV | 1992 | 10.5240/1D6D-1374-B825-B083-FFA1-1 |
| Medical Center | Series | 1969 | 10.5240/8363-3176-3A07-67AA-7B87-R |
| Mickey’s PhilharMagic | Short | 2003 | 10.5240/19C8-243A-DFEC-DD91-B282-F |
| Mitzi… A Tribute to the American Housewife | TV | 1974 | 10.5240/801B-3D9D-E422-1F5C-98D5-L |
| Mr. Saturday Night | Movie | 1992 | 10.5240/3FA2-58E6-08C1-12F4-4E4C-U |
| Murder, She Wrote | Series | 1984–1996 | 10.5240/FA26-74E4-6C72-65D4-651D-7 |
| Night of 100 Stars | TV | 1982 | 10.5240/B5D2-37AA-1482-0C50-7EDF-A |
| Night of 100 Stars II | TV | 1985 | 10.5240/CD8B-62E7-A423-6A39-25BF-Y |
| One Life to Live | Series | 1968 | 10.5240/E5C0-6BF8-A0B4-5F4A-A54D-3 |
| Our Family Honor | Series | 1985 | 10.5240/ABBD-1452-4255-D8B5-C467-Q |
| Out for Justice | Movie | 1991 | 10.5240/DD92-D08A-AF7D-8E28-63D6-3 |
| Out on a Limb | Series | 1987 | 10.5240/5012-694C-0A66-97F4-BBB8-T |
| Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder | TV | 1989 | 10.5240/CE0A-29E2-F033-CE21-A498-Y |
| Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter | TV | 1991 | 10.5240/87DD-52C9-5779-0092-13E8-M |
| Plaza Suite | TV | 1982 | 10.5240/87F6-0C64-5F25-D40E-7736-F |
| Prince of Central Park | Movie | 2000 | 10.5240/4EAE-E75C-6135-091F-AE6C-G |
| Prince of the City | Movie | 1981 | 10.5240/F1B0-B774-1F33-5881-056D-5 |
| Prince of the City: The Real Story | TV | 2007 | 10.5240/F37F-710F-7D7C-25D1-D7B8-2 |
| Protesters | TV | 2004 | 10.5240/A804-52E2-747A-AE15-C817-6 |
| Reading Rainbow | Series | 1983 | 10.5240/8ADD-9F6E-DA6C-F677-B63F-E |
| Ryan’s Hope | Series | 1975–1989 | 10.5240/2976-9C6C-0815-2B8D-2A3E-F |
| Sally Jessy Raphael | Series | 1983 | 10.5240/A713-9C4A-25D2-37FF-5646-G |
| Serial Killers: Profiling the Criminal Mind | TV | 1999 | 10.5240/48AB-8896-773F-1261-A9F6-C |
| Showbiz Today | Series | 1984–2002 | 10.5240/5302-6251-80E8-6619-3F29-0 |
| Simon & Simon | Series | 1981 | 10.5240/FF57-F356-9570-95D7-5600-V |
| Someone to Watch Over Me | Movie | 1987 | 10.5240/8C04-6064-E3C3-F22A-3256-C |
| Straight Talk | Movie | 1992 | 10.5240/1B07-C913-78D4-D265-FFAF-U |
| Super Password | Series | 1984–2014 | 10.5240/5908-0D8C-5A2A-653E-0171-6 |
| Tale as Old as Time: The Making of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ | Supp. | 1991 | 10.5240/8E5F-5AB5-1269-2944-781A-M |
| Tales from the Darkside | Series | 1984 | 10.5240/73AD-C8EF-452A-8745-D093-9 |
| Temps | Movie | 1999 | 10.5240/AAFD-456B-4C20-05A9-3102-Q |
| The 23rd Annual Tony Awards | TV | 1969 | 10.5240/D2E3-604C-EEDC-3138-DF16-4 |
| The 27th Annual Tony Awards | TV | 1973 | 10.5240/7308-2A67-F305-5C93-E8D1-R |
| The 30th Annual Tony Awards | TV | 1976 | 10.5240/EDA3-F824-74BC-4BF9-8F58-H |
| The 35th Annual Tony Awards | TV | 1981 | 10.5240/4832-4EC5-958E-82F3-15FC-W |
| The 37th Annual Tony Awards | TV | 1983 | 10.5240/55C0-5EC9-B76C-B6A4-AEDE-M |
| The 44th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | TV | 1992 | 10.5240/3792-62BB-E080-814D-28C0-4 |
| The 45th Annual Directors Guild Awards | TV | 1993 | 10.5240/CF8D-990D-0FA9-9EEA-9891-9 |
| The 45th Annual Golden Globe Awards | TV | 1988 | 10.5240/2A6B-B2B0-7532-0B95-7B6F-2 |
| The 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | TV | 2002 | 10.5240/4658-F7B7-B86A-F3DB-DC8A-C |
| The 56th Annual Tony Awards | TV | 2002 | 10.5240/1B48-9B79-E858-0814-3DF6-3 |
| The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | TV | 2005 | 10.5240/49ED-3B1D-5681-CB21-D9D9-R |
| The 64th Annual Academy Awards | TV | 1992 | 10.5240/43EA-C52C-5C5E-114D-3839-O |
| The 77th Annual Academy Awards | TV | 2005 | 10.5240/C20D-40A9-249C-1442-1CE8-P |
| The Acting Class | Movie | 2000 | 10.5240/AAB7-73C0-A767-47B9-521D-J |
| The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers | Series | 1986 | 10.5240/CABE-7DD1-0F47-DC6C-B2F5-6 |
| The Best of Everything | TV | 1983 | 10.5240/2EBB-9CCE-0948-602B-31DE-H |
| The Bob Braun Show | Series | 1967–1984 | 10.5240/14B2-0685-61A0-A384-FD88-U |
| The Cemetery Club | Movie | 1993 | 10.5240/DB4E-FA0A-D10C-B2A6-D34F-U |
| The David Frost Show | Series | 1969–1972 | 10.5240/8D65-0673-173B-BE43-487B-2 |
| The Defenders | Series | 1961–1965 | 10.5240/D0B1-3DE0-D94E-8CCB-5ED8-T |
| The Ed Sullivan Show | Series | 1948–1971 | 10.5240/1AE2-1545-E59E-FF05-4382-Q |
| The Flamingo Kid | TV | 1989 | 10.5240/37B4-80E9-0D19-9572-8200-Q |
| The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight | Movie | 1971 | 10.5240/6F81-B3BF-8441-5474-DA27-O |
| The Golden Girls | Series | 1985–1992 | 10.5240/A1F2-F3E8-974D-53B2-8C72-T |
| The Howard Stern Radio Show | Series | 1998–2001 | 10.5240/2309-4CC4-18E2-3550-7CF9-K |
| The Hunt | TV | 2001 | 10.5240/4DB2-6D4F-C05F-AAC2-3909-4 |
| The Hustler: The Inside Story | Supp. | 2002 | 10.5240/B1D9-FB94-B403-EA45-3D78-D |
| The Imagemaker | Movie | 1986 | 10.5240/76B2-468F-734D-B586-790D-2 |
| The Kraft Music Hall | Series | 1967–1971 | 10.5240/868D-566A-D87F-3521-09DD-H |
| The Law and Harry McGraw | Series | 1987 | 10.5240/AF5F-1140-D2B8-E109-1B06-B |
| The Les Crane Show | Series | 1964–1965 | 10.5240/896C-9812-9BDC-AEFE-697C-S |
| The Lynne Gordon Show | Series | 1977–1979 | 10.5240/DAEE-E861-3D76-2B22-9386-C |
| The Making of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ | Supp. | 1991 | 10.5240/7746-3479-3877-B720-49DB-X |
| The Merv Griffin Show | Series | 1965 | 10.5240/8292-C5CF-A965-EDC5-1772-Q |
| The Mike Douglas Show | Series | 1961–1982 | 10.5240/794F-A4E3-8A7E-23B9-4EF0-9 |
| The Nurses | Series | 1962–1965 | 10.5240/B51C-DA76-F8FB-B832-478A-O |
| The Paul Ryan Show | Series | 1977–1992 | 10.5240/A09E-319A-7C0B-51D3-BA5A-C |
| The Sentinel | Movie | 1977 | 10.5240/7F68-5A1B-4376-7EB2-3803-R |
| The Shari Lewis Show | Series | 1960–1963 | 10.5240/1EFF-D977-25A8-95DF-7EF5-8 |
| The Special Magic of Herself the Elf | Short | 1983 | 10.5240/78DA-F1C2-C003-D997-B31B-3 |
| The Streets | TV | 1984 | 10.5240/B983-4760-547A-E995-F08B-X |
| The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Series | 1962–1992 | 10.5240/B4D9-8CF3-4E69-6315-78BA-G |
| The Way They Were | TV | 1981 | 10.5240/2FC1-584E-8DBD-D194-E991-9 |
| Tonight Starring Jack Paar | Series | 1957–1962 | 10.5240/7914-98C0-FD7F-14A3-0CFF-0 |
| Toy Soldiers | Movie | 1991 | 10.5240/A0AA-7F33-B0E8-8B1E-DBED-7 |
| Trapper John, M.D. | Series | 1979–1986 | 10.5240/A4B8-5D8B-ED1D-77B2-A94B-L |
| Try to Remember: The Fantasticks | TV | 2003 | 10.5240/E001-AB8C-77C8-C384-E60B-A |
| TV Guide’s 50 Best Shows of All Time: A 50th Anniversary Celebration | TV | 2002 | 10.5240/B9A3-16A0-41DA-E173-1BB2-A |
| Twenty-Four Hours in a Woman’s Life | TV | 1961 | 10.5240/C3CD-3C5D-4D1E-2202-D091-2 |
| Underground Aces | Movie | 1980 | 10.5240/4699-B008-3F2F-BE3A-9341-Z |
| Universal Soldier | Movie | 1992 | 10.5240/D866-D4A8-D026-EFD5-0A71-D |
| VH-1 Where Are They Now? | Series | 1999–2004 | 10.5240/22E4-7519-851E-C18B-7770-5 |
| What’s My Line? | Series | 1968–1975 | 10.5240/84C6-ED5F-FCEE-32F1-E0B9-9 |
| Who’s the Boss? | Series | 1984 | 10.5240/96D2-4277-A513-E05A-F1E3-L |
| Working in the Theatre | Series | 1976 | 10.5240/8C3E-A4F8-F34E-6B78-32C1-4 |
| You Be the Judge | Series | 1999 | 10.5240/C89A-4FA8-267E-1E89-B38F-R |
[1] Lyrics by Tom Jones. “Try to Remember” from the musical play The Fantasticks.