One of her greats has died. Jerry Orbach has died at age 69 of prostate cancer. Known to most people for his portrayal of the veteran cop on the long-running television series Law and Order, he was the star of nine Broadway shows over the period of the last 40 years. He created the part of El Gallo in the off-off-Broadway musical, The Fantasticks, the longest-running musical in the world (picture at right).
He created the part of the puppeteer in Carnival; he created the part of Billy Flynn, the lawyer (played in the movie by Richard Gere) in the musical Chicago. He was nominated three times for Tonies and won once, for Promises, Promises in 1969.
I suspect that the man was much like the parts he played: world-weary, cynical and very, very charming. He’s had few equals over the last 40 years and no superiors. The stage is poorer tonight.
Deep in December, it’s nice to remember,
Altho’ you know the snow will follow.
Deep in December, it’s nice to remember,
Without a hurt the heart is hollow.
Deep in December, it’s nice to remember,
The fire of September that made us mellow.
Deep in December our hearts should remember and follow.
Here are his Broadway credits:
- 42nd Street
- Chicago
- 6 Rms Riv Vu
- Promises, Promises
- The Natural Look
- Annie Get Your Gun (revival)
- Guys and Dolls (revival)
- Carnival!
- Threepenny Opera (revival)
UPDATE: ABC News has reported that Broadway marquee lights were dimmed for Jerry Orbach on Wednesday night. From the ABC article:
“People adored him,” said Merkerson, who plays Lt. Van Buren [ed. on Law and Order]. She recalled sharing lunch one day with Orbach and co-star Benjamin Bratt, when several fans approached the table. “Jerry stopped eating to talk to them. But after a while, I whispered to him, `Your food is getting cold.’
“`Kid,’ he replied with a big smile, ‘these are the people that keep us going!'”
from the New York Times obit:
Mr. Orbach may have been the last of a breed: no male star since has matched the breadth and continuity of his career in musicals. Though he originated the part of the corrupt, silver-tongued lawyer Billy Flynn in Bob Fosse’s 1975 production of the musical “Chicago,” Mr. Orbach was at his best as a tough cookie with a melting center.
It’s the end of an era.
