Comments on: Not just a detective.

Not just a detective.

grabbingsand — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 07:57:51 -0800

Jerry Orbach, 1935-2004. Goodnight, Lennie Briscoe. Farewell, Lumiere.
(And Billy Flynn and Mack the Knife and Sky Masterson and ...)

By: Juicylicious

Juicylicious — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 07:58:34 -0800

By: robocop is bleeding

robocop is bleeding — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:00:17 -0800

By: ParisParamus

ParisParamus — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:03:54 -0800

Loved him in Crime and Misdemeanors. This is really sad.

By: lola

lola — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:05:19 -0800

By: jonmc

jonmc — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:06:56 -0800

damn.

By: emjaybee

emjaybee — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:08:55 -0800

He was the first celebrity I ever spotted when I moved to NYC, walking in front of a Gristede's on the upper west side. He will always be my favorite L&O character. Bye bye Jerry. .

By: fenriq

fenriq — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:15:11 -0800

I'm bummed, he was a good guy, one of those kinds of guys you could hang out with and shoot the shit. Another good guy gone.

By: sbutler

sbutler — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:16:22 -0800

By: Lola_G

Lola_G — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:16:31 -0800

. Too sad. The man who put "baby in the corner." Dirty Dancing, notwithstanding, he has left behind a great legacy of work that we will enjoy for a long time.

By: miss lynnster

miss lynnster — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:17:20 -0800

Sad. I always liked him.

By: schmedeman

schmedeman — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:20:10 -0800

This was my desktop for several months. RIP, Jerry.

By: DyRE

DyRE — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:20:24 -0800

Gothamist loved Jerry Orbach. Their coverage is here. Orbach fans might want to check out their links if they haven't already. I never knew too much about him aside from Law & Order but I always liked him there.

By: Sidhedevil

Sidhedevil — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:29:41 -0800

So sad. What a talented actor. Note to NeoFites--the "." is a convention indicating one or all of the following: a) the end of something lovely; b) no words to express one's sadness; c) a depiction of the stones left at gravesites in many cultures.

By: cookie-k

cookie-k — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:30:59 -0800

By: bcwinters

bcwinters — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:31:43 -0800

. :(

By: squeak

squeak — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:31:45 -0800

By: PinkStainlessTail

PinkStainlessTail — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:32:09 -0800

There's was no one else quite like him.

By: PinkStainlessTail

PinkStainlessTail — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:33:00 -0800

(Ugh. There. Guess I haven't quite accepted this.)

By: LairBob

LairBob — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:37:13 -0800

I was surprised by how much I was moved by the news when I heard it this morning. RIP.

By: sophie

sophie — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:37:54 -0800

Thanks for the links DyRE. I'm gonna miss him.

By: Samizdata

Samizdata — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:43:49 -0800

We're going to miss him here too. He had always been a house favorite, and his role as Lumiere would always be good for a quick snort of amused disbelief while we were loyally watching for "the body shot" on Law and Order... .

By: nj_subgenius

nj_subgenius — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:44:21 -0800

A Hirschfeld or two to remember him by.

By: oh posey

oh posey — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:44:59 -0800

He said he didn't know "where I stop and Lennie starts, really. ... I know he's tougher than me and he carries a gun. And I'm not an alcoholic. I know I wouldn't want to be him," Orbach sumed up. "I guess THAT'S where I stop and he starts." Losing Lennie is what makes me sad cause I never had a chance to know Jerry.

By: sugarfish

sugarfish — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:46:04 -0800

:((( .

By: digaman

digaman — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:49:05 -0800

By: Uther Bentrazor

Uther Bentrazor — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:52:54 -0800

How terrible. My fandom of L&O aside, I just read an article last week about his revealing to his fellow castmates that he had cancer, about how everyone 'knew' he could beat it, how touched Jerry was at the outpouring of love and support he got from the cast and crew, and how even after breaking the news, managed to break up the mood and make everyone laugh. R.I.P.

By: mazola

mazola — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:53:17 -0800

Why couldn't it have been Elisabeth Röhm? .

By: dragstroke

dragstroke — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:56:58 -0800

He was also one of very few celebrity enthusiasts for the sport of pool. He loved the game, its players and stories, and did pro-am events fairly regularly, charming the socks off the audiences. I've a feeling he'll be missed in many, many ways -- he seemed like a genuine good guy.

By: merlinmann

merlinmann — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:06:59 -0800

Great old-school character actor and—in the few interviews I'd seen—a funny, warm guy. Also, Lenny's sardonic remark at the end of each L&O opening has become a regular ritual in our house; as they fade to opening credits, we still turn to each other, incline our heads, and gently say "Oh, Lenny...." I'll miss him.

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:12:04 -0800

The guy was a hell of a singer, too. Here's to you, Mr. Orbach.

By: t r a c y

t r a c y — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:13:08 -0800

this sucks :-(

By: LeeJay

LeeJay — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:16:00 -0800

By: menace303

menace303 — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:20:23 -0800

By: jasper411

jasper411 — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:24:30 -0800

I believe he was also the originator of the amazing role of El Gallo in the musical The Fantasticks, way back when it started at the Sullivan Street Playhouse. I heard a story that when Jesse L Martin started playing the other detective, he was so in awe of Orbach that he told him he'd welcome any acting tips Orbach could give him. Orbach supposedly said, "You want a tip? Stay out of my light!"

By: Daddio

Daddio — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:28:14 -0800

mazola, you owe me a new keyboard! Everyone at my house hates Elizabeth Röhm, too. And, what everyone else said about Mr. Orbach. He will be missed.

By: exlotuseater

exlotuseater — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:31:05 -0800

"Maybe some guy didn't wear his aluminum hat and some rays told him to knock on doors and kill people." Lenny Briscoe Quotes (sorry, aol home page)

By: Smart Dalek

Smart Dalek — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:34:41 -0800

By: Coffeemate

Coffeemate — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:42:10 -0800

By: enrevanche

enrevanche — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:43:29 -0800

By: Four-Eyed Girl

Four-Eyed Girl — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:49:17 -0800

By: sdrawkcab

sdrawkcab — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:51:29 -0800

By: mdeatherage

mdeatherage — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:53:10 -0800

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:57:43 -0800

By: MegoSteve

MegoSteve — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:57:55 -0800

Thank you for the Gothamist link with the L&O stuff, DyRE.

By: yerfatma

yerfatma — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 10:00:00 -0800

A favorite around the household. My dad's appreciation grew when he found out Jerry drove a Ford LTD. Anyone remember the old L&O where Orbach played a defense attorney?

By: bodabutton

bodabutton — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 10:03:49 -0800

"...You looked wonderful out there."

By: thejoshu

thejoshu — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 10:06:20 -0800

By: Sk4n

Sk4n — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 10:12:12 -0800

By: arse_hat

arse_hat — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 10:20:54 -0800

By: Stunt

Stunt — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 10:26:32 -0800

By: lilboo

lilboo — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 10:26:46 -0800

By: Asparagirl

Asparagirl — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 10:37:23 -0800

Noooooo! *sobs* Does anyone know if they'll dim the lights on 42nd Street tonight for him? He was an amazing talent and one of Broadway's biggest stars. I'll be listening to my "Fantasticks" cast album all day today in his memory--when I'm not listening to him breaking everyone's hearts as the lonely, depressed Paul in "Carnival". Those shows, and many others, simply would not have been the same without him and his wonderful voice. "Deep in December / our hearts should remember / and follow"

By: stefnet

stefnet — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 10:42:39 -0800

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 10:44:31 -0800

By: NoMich

NoMich — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 11:04:48 -0800

Briscoe [to homeless man]: "You hear anything?" Man: "Yeah. St. Francis of Assisi told me to keep up the good work." Briscoe pats the man on the shoulder: "Been there, pal." /stopped watching L&O after Orbach left the show.

By: Luther Blissett

Luther Blissett — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 11:08:06 -0800

By: DonnieSticks

DonnieSticks — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 11:25:07 -0800

I first knew him as the "Naughty, bawdy, gaudy, sporty 42nd Street!" singer. Boy, was he great on that recording. He should have gotten the tough guy who can sing/dance accolades like Walken does.

By: orange swan

orange swan — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 11:25:39 -0800

Chris Noth's character: I drove a taxi to put myself through police college. Some nights when I got lonely, I'd go over to my girlfriend's house, park the cab, leave the meter running, go in, have my fun, then pay off the fare myself. Lennie: Yeah, but that would have only cost what, two or three dollars?

By: oaf

oaf — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 11:33:35 -0800

By: bradlands

bradlands — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 11:38:42 -0800

Does anyone know if they'll dim the lights on 42nd Street tonight for him? They will, according to his obit in Playbill. "Deep in December, it's nice to remember without a hurt the heart is hollow..." Indeed.

By: inky

inky — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 11:40:06 -0800

By: TwelveTwo

TwelveTwo — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 12:02:18 -0800

:O :( :'(

By: of strange foe

of strange foe — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 12:09:15 -0800

PBS's recent film on Broadway, hosted by Julie Andrews, touched upon him briefly.

By: armage

armage — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 12:36:57 -0800

RIP, Detective.

By: paddbear

paddbear — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 12:37:02 -0800

. sigh...

By: John Kenneth Fisher

John Kenneth Fisher — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 12:39:28 -0800

By: Robot Johnny

Robot Johnny — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 13:10:51 -0800

By: y2karl

y2karl — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 13:16:21 -0800

I liked him, too. So, add my period to the roster. . And let me add that this custom of the ''.'' here, at which I sometimes used to sneer, now brings to mind the something Shevek said in Ursula K. LeGuin's The Dispossessed-- I'm trying to say what I think brotherhood is. It begins--it begins in shared pain. ...The bond that binds us is beyond choice. We are brothers. We are brothers in what we share.... We know that there is no help for us but from one another, that no hand will save us if we do not reach out our hand.... All you have is what you are, and what you give.. Shared pain is diminished, shared joy increased. And that is what we are here to do: share. ObitFilter has its place in the scheme of things here, I think.

By: mr.marx

mr.marx — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 13:28:25 -0800

By: everichon

everichon — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 13:53:26 -0800

By: zpousman

zpousman — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 13:58:52 -0800

. Me no likee ObituaryFilter, but I enjoyed the links and especially the quotes, and the Broadway references. I missed that while he was alive.

By: blasdelf

blasdelf — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 14:43:51 -0800

. I just realized a few weeks ago that Dirty Dancing can be pretty good if you suspend disbelief concerning Patrick Swayze's sleaze.

By: interrobang

interrobang — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 14:52:38 -0800

Sad.

By: monkeyhead

monkeyhead — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 15:40:28 -0800

By: Aster

Aster — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 15:52:07 -0800

Aww, damn. Uniform: Drove up the block, like a bat out of h-e-double hockey sticks. Lennie: What precinct are you from, Sesame Street? .

By: billsaysthis

billsaysthis — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 16:05:48 -0800

The three years that NBC did crossovers between L&O and Homicide were probably the greatest examples of what's usually a crap *cough Las Vegas/Crossing Jordan cough* promotional stunt.

By: dirtynumbangelboy

dirtynumbangelboy — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 16:28:13 -0800

. I think tonight I'll drink a club soda in Lenny's honour-- and a large Scotch in Jerry's. billsaysthis, that was unnecessary.

By: bluedaniel

bluedaniel — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 16:28:53 -0800

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 17:17:38 -0800

Nobody puts Baby's dad in the coroner's.

By: bodabutton

bodabutton — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 17:24:09 -0800

That was excellent mr_crash_davis. Very funny.

By: tomcosgrave

tomcosgrave — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 17:52:06 -0800

By: foonie

foonie — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 18:10:28 -0800

By: Snyder

Snyder — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 18:50:38 -0800

Briscoe and Logan walk into an office to arrest the suspect, who's on a the phone. Briscoe grabs the phone from him, says into it "He'll call you back in 25 years," hangs up, and helps Logan cuff him. One of the most funny and Lennie-esque moments of the show. .

By: unrepentanthippie

unrepentanthippie — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 19:18:55 -0800

. "I grieve with thee."

By: semmi

semmi — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 19:50:00 -0800

Life...

By: maggieb

maggieb — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 22:28:39 -0800

By: Bdave

Bdave — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 23:16:33 -0800

. I really like that show. It's on tonight. I will be watching.

By: davidmsc

davidmsc — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 23:54:51 -0800

L&O just ain't L&O without Lenny. He *made* the "Law" part of it, for me...Waterston is the "Order." And his voice as Lumiere: PERFECT. What a great personality Orbach leaves us to remember.

By: ajpresto

ajpresto — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 02:23:18 -0800

By: The God Complex

The God Complex — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 02:46:29 -0800

By: jennak

jennak — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 06:12:30 -0800

These two pages out of the L&O coloring book always made me giggle. I'll miss ya, Jerry. Thanks for all the laughs.

By: fiend angelical

fiend angelical — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 07:21:52 -0800

I had the pleasure of working with him once on L&O. (I played a detective on one episode last year.) He didn't have to, but he made me, an unknown/non-famous actor who was there only for the day, feel comfortable and welcome on the set. He was a warm and gracious man. He will be missed.

By: matildaben

matildaben — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 08:29:23 -0800

Slate remembrance of Orbach.

By: palancik

palancik — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 10:32:31 -0800

First film in which I noticed him was F/X. ("Don't screw up.") Good mobster portrayal, set a good standard for up until The Sopranos. (Film also had Mason Adams, who used to be the voice on margarine commercials.) I think that, after Steven Hill, he was the longest running actor in Law 'n' Order. Enough with the . already!

By: pluma moos

pluma moos — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 12:58:27 -0800

By: billsaysthis

billsaysthis — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 15:27:48 -0800

Palancik, not to quibble, but from this page I think Orbach was on a few more episodes than Hill. Not to mention he had a much larger role (screen time, one liners).

By: bangalla

bangalla — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 04:08:02 -0800