The "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005) episode "Baby Boom" was dedicated to his memory. At the end, a message was shown that said "For Jerry".

He is one of only two actors to play the same character (Detective Lennie Briscoe) on five different television series: "Law & Order" (1990), "Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999), "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2001) and "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005). His sometime co-star Richard Belzer is the other one, having appeared on six different television shows as Detective John Munch.

Appeared in episodes of four different series with Sam Waterston: "Law & Order" (1990), "Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999) and "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005).

Was the voice of Lumiere, the candelabra, in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast".

Along with Chris Noth, Dann Florek and Fred Dalton Thompson, he is one of four "Law & Order" (1990) cast members who later joined the regular cast of one of the spin-off series. He played Detective Lennie Briscoe in "Law & Order" (1990) from 1992 to 2004 and was a member of the original cast of "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005).

On "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005), when he was so ill that he couldn't speak above a whisper, they rewrote the scene so that he and the other characters around him all had reason to whisper (outside of a courtroom door).

Is one of four cast members from "Law & Order" whose character became a regular on a "Law & Order" spin-off. He played Det. Lennie Briscoe in both "Law & Order" and "Law & Order: Trial By Jury." Although he was signed as a regular cast member in L&O:TBJ, he died unexpectedly after shooting only two episodes.

Along with S. Epatha Merkerson, and Annie Parisse, one of only 3 "Law & Order" (1990) cast members to play a different character in an episode before joining the cast in a later season. (Michael Imperioli and J.K. Simmons also played multiple roles, but were not permanent additions to the cast.).

Jesse L. Martin performed the song "Razzle Dazzle" from the musical Chicago at the 2005 Tony Awards just as the "In Memoriam" section of the show was finishing. The last photo shown during the memorial was that of Jerry Orbach, who was both Martin's costar on Law and Order and the first person to perform "Razzle Dazzle" in the original Broadway production of Chicago.

Made his Broadway stage debut as Smith, the Police Constable, in "The Threepenny Opera".

Received the Edith Oliver Award for Sustained Excellence at the 1999 Lucille Lortel Awards.

Along with Jesse L. Martin, Fred Dalton Thompson and Leslie Hendrix, he is one of only four actors to play the same character (Detective Lennie Briscoe) on all four "Law & Order" series ("Law & Order" (1990), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999), "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2001) and "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005)).

His character "Law & Order" (1990) and "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005) character, Detective Lennie Briscoe, was the longest running character on American prime time live action television from May 2004, when "Frasier" (1993) ended, to March 2005. Kelsey Grammer had played Dr. Frasier Crane in "Cheers" (1982) and "Frasier" (1993) since November 1984. Richard Belzer, who has played Detective John Munch in "Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999) since January 1993, is the current holder of the title.

Although he and Steven Hill appeared in 177 episodes of "Law & Order" (1990) and the "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999) episode "Entitled" together, the only time that they ever appeared on screen together was during one brief scene in the "Law & Order" (1990) Season Seven episode "Corruption".

Before joining the cast of "Law & Order" (1990) in 1992, he played a defense attorney named Frank Lehrman in the Season Two episode "The Wages of Love". Detective Lennie Briscoe, the character he later played on the series for twelve seasons, hated defense attorneys for defending "the scum of the earth."

Appeared in episodes of three different series with Richard Belzer: "Law & Order" (1990), "Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999).

Appeared in episodes of three different series with Jesse L. Martin: "Law & Order" (1990), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999) and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2001).

Was an organ donor and upon his death he gave his eyes as a gift of sight.

According to his book "Hollywood Animal", Joe Esterhaus said that when he was down and out, Jerry Orbach would fill his station wagon with groceries and deliver them to his house.

Played the uncle of his real-life son, Chris Orbach, in "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999).

Father was German-Jewish whose ancestry was Spanish Sephardic and Mother was Polish Catholic.

Had been battling prostate cancer for 10 years.

His manager, Robert Malcolm, announced in December 2004 that he has prostate cancer. However, Malcolm said, "We expect he`ll be fine. He`s been playing golf, shooting his episodes (of "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005)) and doing real well".

The New York Landmark Conservancy declared him a Living Landmark.

Was one of the first in a long series of actors who have played multiple characters on "Law & Order" (1990). Before he played Det. Lennie Briscoe, Orbach guest-starred as defense attorney Frank Lehrman in the 2nd season episode "The Wages of Love".

In 1969, he won the Tony Award for Best Actor (Musical) for his 1968 role of Chuck Baxter in the Burt Bacharach/Hal David musical "Promises, Promises", a stage adaptation of Billy Wilder`s The Apartment (1960). This was preceded by a 1965 Tony nomination as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical) for a revival of "Guys and Dolls," and followed by a 1976 Best Actor (Musical) nomination for the original production of "Chicago."

Announced on March 26, 2004, that he would be leaving "Law & Order" (1990) after 12 years on the series.

In 1976, he was nominated for the Tony AwardŽ for "Best Actor in a Musical" for his performance in "Chicago."

Had read for the roles of Max Greevey and Phil Cerreta on "Law & Order" (1990) before finally being cast as Det. Lennie Briscoe.

Worked as a chauffeur for Mae West.

He was an only child.

Was partying at the Copacabana with famed New York mobster Joey Gallo hours before Gallo was shot dead at Umberto`s Clam House in New York City

Father of Chris Orbach and Anthony Orbach.

Created the roles of El Gallo in "The Fantasticks," Billy Flynn in "Chicago" and Julian Marsh in "42nd Street" on the New York stage.

Spent part of his childhood in Nanticoke Pa.

On Monday, 20th March 2000 he sued on-line auctioneer eBay Inc. in Manhattan (New York) federal court for displaying his Social Security number on the Internet. The suit alleges that eBay began broadcasting the confidential information on its Web site on Wednesday 15th March 2000 when it advertised the sale of two of Orbach`s contracts from 1958.