This tall, sleepy-eyed character actor and leading man from the Broadway musical stage who, whether sinister or sympathetic, often was cast in roles that connoted a slightly seedy "New Yorkness," eventually finding widespread recognition on television as a cynical police detective on the long-running crime series "Law & Order." Although Jerry Orbach made his first film in 1958 (a B flick called "Cop Hater"), film roles were sporadic during the 1960s and 70s while he appeared onstage in such efforts as "6 Rms Riv Vu", "Scuba Duba" and the original cast of the long-running Off-Broadway sensation
Moved from the Bronx, New York to Mount Vernon, New York as a child; later moved to Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, Pennsylvania, Springfield, Massachusetts and Waukegan, Illinois
1952
Began acting in summer stock at age 16; made stage debut in a production of the farce, "Room Service"
1956
Made NYC stage debut at age 21 in a revival of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's "The Threepenny Opera"; played Mack the Knife
1958
Played first notable film role in "Cop Hater"
1960
Created the role of El Gallo in the long-running Off-Broadway musical, "The Fantasticks"
