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Jerry Orbach

Jerry Orbach

Actor · Died December 28, 2004, aged 69 · New York City, New York, USA

Screen Actors Guild Award winner · Primetime Emmy nominee · 1 other major award body

Jerome Bernard Orbach (October 20, 1935 – December 28, 2004) was an American actor and singer. He is best known for his role as Detective Lennie Briscoe in the series Law & Order (1992–2004) and as the voice of Lumière in Disney's Beauty and the Beast (1991), as well as for being a noted musical theatre star; his prominent roles included originating the character of El Gallo in The Fantasticks, the longest-running musical play in history, as Chuck Baxter in the original production of Promises, Promises (for which he won a Tony Award), Julian Marsh in 42nd Street, and Billy Flynn in the original production of Chicago. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jerry Orbach, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 20, 1935
Died
December 28, 2004 (aged 69)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
53 on MovieCove · 86 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Down 35% in 30 days

What are Jerry Orbach's films like?

Across their 33 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Animation6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
32%
Bonds
23%
Self
17%
Survival
8%
Power
7%
Society
6%
Ideas
6%
Justice12 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 32 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 17 · Serious 9 · Dark 6

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 22 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 6

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 13 · Charged 11 · Intense 8

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 16 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 18 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 3

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 26 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

22 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 8 of 22 analyzed roles.

Ally
8 of 22
Shadow
7 of 22
Threshold guardian
3 of 22
Hero
2 of 22
Herald
2 of 22
Show the 22 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Joyful
11
Warm
8
Romantic
8
Melancholic
7
Other
29

How their films linger

Feel-good18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy19
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jerry Orbach's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 31 of their 53 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jerry Orbach's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

86 credits, 53 with a MovieCove page; 19 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The New Yorker Presents(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Lennie Brisco

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Disney Princess Sing Along Songs, Vol. 2 - Enchanted Tea Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Lumiere (voice)

  • Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Chuck Baxter (segment "Promises, Promises") (archive footage)

  • Law & Order: Trial by Jury(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lennie Briscoe

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Broadway's Lost Treasures II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Host (segment "Revivals and Record Breakers") / Billy Flynn (segment "Chicago")

  • Law & Order: Corruption Empire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Broadway's Lost Treasures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Host (segment "Broadway Divas") / Julian Marsh (segment "42nd Street")

  • Manna from Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Waltz Contest Announcer

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Lennie Briscoe

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Disney's House of Mouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 8 episodes · as Lumiere (voice)

  • Prince of Central Park(2000)

    as Businessman

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Chinese Coffee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Jake Manheim

  • Encounters With the Unexplained (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 53 episodes · Actor

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 3 episodes · as Detective Lennie Briscoe

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Belle's Tales of Friendship(1999)

    as Lumiere (voice)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Serial Killers: Profiling the Criminal Mind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Narrator

  • Exiled(1998)

    as Detective Lenny Briscoe

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Belle's Magical World(1998)

    as Lumiere (voice)

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas(1997)

    as Lumiere (voice)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Aladdin and the King of Thieves(1996)

    as Sa'Luk (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Mitch (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Cemetery Club(1993)

    as Jake Rubin (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Homicide: Life on the Street(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lennie Briscoe

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Mastergate(1992)

    as Clifton Byers

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Mr. Saturday Night(1992)

    as Phil Gussman

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Universal Soldier(1992)

    as Dr. Christopher Gregor

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Straight Talk(1992)

    as Milo Jacoby

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Quiet Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Dr. Vincent Califano

  • Broadway Bound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Jack Jerome

  • Beauty and the Beast(1991)

    as Lumiere (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Delirious(1991)

    as Lou Sherwood

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • A Gnome Named Gnorm(1990)

    as Stan Walton

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Toy Soldiers(1991)

    as Albert Trotta (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Out for Justice(1991)

    as Ronny Donziger

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Delusion(1991)

    as Larry

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter(1991)

    as Vic St. John

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • California Casanova (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Constantin Rominoffski

  • Dead Women in Lingerie(1991)

    as Mr. Bartoli

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • In Defense of a Married Man(1990)

    as Alan Michelson

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 273 episodes · as Frank Lehrman · as Lennie Briscoe

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Kojak: None So Blind(1990)

    as Tony Salducci

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Crimes and Misdemeanors(1989)

    as Jack Rosenthal

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Last Exit to Brooklyn(1989)

    as Boyce

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder(1989)

    as Blaine Counter

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Someone to Watch Over Me(1987)

    as Lt. Garber

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Law & Harry McGraw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 16 episodes · as Harry McGraw

  • Dirty Dancing(1987)

    as Jake Houseman

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • I Love N.Y.(1987)

    as Leo

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Love Among Thieves(1987)

    as Spicer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Out on a Limb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Mort Viner

  • The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 65 episodes · as Zachary Foxx (voice)

  • F/X(1986)

    as Nicholas DeFranco

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Imagemaker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Byron Caine

  • The Golden Girls(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Glen

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Brewster's Millions(1985)

    as Charley Pegler

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 6 episodes · as Harry McGraw

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Tales from the Darkside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Roberts

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Sal Scarlatti

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • The Streets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Sgt. Max Grozzo

  • The Hitchhiker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Cameron

  • The Special Magic of Herself the Elf(1983)

    as King Thorn (voice)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • An Invasion of Privacy(1983)

    as Sam Bianchi

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Plaza Suite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Roy Hubley / Jesse Kiplinger / Sam Nash

  • Simon & Simon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Prince of the City(1981)

    as Gus Levy

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Underground Aces(1981)

    as Herbert Penlittle

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Alex and the Doberman Gang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Rogers

  • Trapper John, M.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Lars Mangros

  • The Sentinel(1977)

    as Michael Dayton

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Fore Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Jerry Lorsey

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 2 episodes · as Brubaker

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • A Fan's Notes(1972)

    as Fred Exley

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight(1971)

    as Kid Sally

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Homer 'Arsenal' Andrews

  • Medical Center (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Annie Get Your Gun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Charles Davenport

  • John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!(1965)

    as Pinkerton

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Bye Bye Birdie(1963)

    as Bob (Ed Sullivan Show Producer) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Defenders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as J.P. Loring

  • Mad Dog Coll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Joe Clegg

  • 24 Hours in a Woman's Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Cristof

  • Cop Hater(1958)

    as Mumzer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Guys and Dolls(1955)

    as Barbershop Patron (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Marty(1955)

    as Ballroom Patron (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 86 titles from 1955 to 2016; peak year 1991.

Biggest box office

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

$451M worldwide

Highest rated

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Law & Order (1990)

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutAward win
19552016

Peak 1991 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 6 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting86 of 86: 86 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score51st

By decade

1950s3 · acting1960s8 · acting1970s7 · acting1980s26 · acting1990s29 · acting2000s12 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 20 roles
5590

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

a Screen Actors Guild Award from 14 major nominations, 1990–2005.

WinNomination
  1. 2005
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
  2. 2004
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  3. 2002
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  4. 2001
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  5. 2000
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  6. 1999
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  7. 1998
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  8. 1997
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Show 5 earlier years
  1. 1996
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  2. 1995
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  3. 1993
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Album of the Year
  4. 1992
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special
  5. 1990
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Jerry Orbach's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 42; across their 32 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 47th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Reach · how many have seen their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Midcredits score across 53 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 53 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

An Invasion of Privacy (1983)

92nd percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 26 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 42. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Jerry Orbach's work okay for kids?

Across up to 13 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles32–94 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity13 titles21–61 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles24–95 · median 49 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles29–61 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles38–77 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Jerry Orbach work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jerry Orbach's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; David Ogden Stiers shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers