# Jerry Orbach dead at 69 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 29, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-orbach-dead-at-69/282095 "2004-12-29T14:48:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-orbach-dead-at-69/282095/61 "2004-12-30T19:06:35Z")
He also created the unforgettable character [Lars Mangros](http://www.buckrogers.org/episode.cfm?episode=21). Nothing quite as camp as Jerry Orbach in a space-age jumpsuit. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2004, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-orbach-dead-at-69/282095/62 "2004-12-31T21:27:38Z")
[Article on Jerry Orbach’s funeral](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=494&ncid=762&e=2&u=/ap/20041231/ap_en_tv/orbach_funeral) ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2004, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-orbach-dead-at-69/282095/63 "2004-12-31T23:46:47Z")
Thanks for the link **Annie** , the story gave me chills. And I want to cry again. I didn’t even know the guy! But in a way, maybe I did. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-orbach-dead-at-69/282095/64 "2005-01-01T01:26:56Z")
This thread’s here because Jerry was a celebrity. I am feeling more and more lucky that I met the guy and spent time not working, just talking with him. People who grab ahold of life and enjoy every moment they’re awake are a real treat to be around…that was what he was. You know people like that in your life? You’re lucky too. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-orbach-dead-at-69/282095/65 "2005-01-01T03:14:39Z")
From [this article](http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,15611,00.html) on EOnline: > [@](#): > > Upon news of his passing Wednesday, a publicist for Trial by Jury confirmed to E! that NBC would continue production on the series and will air episodes featuring Orbach. The actor appeared in three of the six episodes shot so far. Good. I was afraid they would pretend the new show never existed. ---
**Author:** ![Q.N.Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3da27b/32.png) [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-orbach-dead-at-69/282095/66 "2005-01-01T06:36:21Z")
I never care when actors or actresses pass. They just don’t touch me that way. But when my sister told me Jerry Orbach died, she caught me off-guard, and I started to cry. I didn’t realize this, but I sort of thought of him as a family friend after watching 12 years of “Law & Order.” Weird. Although maybe not–turns out everyone else in my family secretly felt this way too. This seems so unexpected, too. These days, most people recover from prostate cancer (or live a long time with it). I find myself wondering if he had an aggressive case, or if he ignored it too long, or if he was sick much longer than anyone admitted? In any case, it’s a reminder to all of us not to ignore nagging health problems just because they’re “embarrassing” or because going to the doctor is a bother. Nuts, now I’m crying again. R.I.P., Jerry. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-orbach-dead-at-69/282095/67 "2005-01-01T07:57:24Z")
I can’t belive the guy played Sky Masterson in _Guys and Dolls_. I’ve always seen him as a griity cop or tough guy that I can’t see him singing. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-orbach-dead-at-69/282095/68 "2005-01-01T13:26:55Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > I can’t belive the guy played Sky Masterson in _Guys and Dolls_. > > I’ve always seen him as a griity cop or tough guy that I can’t see him singing. This, of course, is a testament to what a wonderful _actor_ he was! > [@Q.N. Jones](#): > > I didn’t realize this, but I sort of thought of him as a family friend after watching 12 years of “Law & Order.” Weird. I never really felt like I knew Jerry Orbach, but I definitely felt like Lennie Briscoe was something like a family member! So I know exactly what you mean. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-orbach-dead-at-69/282095/69 "2005-01-03T06:01:48Z")
Tonight’s episode of CI was concluded with a screen that simply said: “For Jerry.” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-orbach-dead-at-69/282095/70 "2005-01-03T12:57:06Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > I can’t belive the guy played Sky Masterson in _Guys and Dolls_. > > I’ve always seen him as a griity cop or tough guy that I can’t see him singing. When Jerry Orbach started auditioning for tough guy roles, he wasn’t taken seriously. “You mean that song-and-dance guy?” It wasn’t until “Prince of the City” that the industry recognized his versatility. Then it was “He can sing and dance? That tough grity guy?” ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-orbach-dead-at-69/282095/71 "2005-01-03T15:41:58Z")
I have been wondering if Jerry was married. In none of the articles I’ve read did it mention a wife or kids. Is his wife still alive? Thanks, Cartooniverse. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-orbach-dead-at-69/282095/72 "2005-01-03T17:30:07Z")
In addition to the PBS Broadway series, Jerry also was featured in the wonderful documentary [Broadway: The Golden Age](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0303797/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9YnJhb2R3YXkgZ29sZGVufGh0bWw9MXxubT1vbg__;fc=1;ft=1;fm=1) release theatrically last year. Hunt it down if you can; he shares many wonderful memories (as do an amazing assortment of other famous actors, several have also left us ☹ ). RIP, J.O. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-orbach-dead-at-69/282095/73 "2005-01-03T21:33:45Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > I have been wondering if Jerry was married. In none of the articles I’ve read did it mention a wife or kids. Is his wife still alive? > > Thanks, Cartooniverse. From the (Bergen County, New Jersey) Record: In real life, Mr. Orbach had two songs, Chris and Tony, from his first marriage, and was married since 1979 to second wife Elaine, whom he met doing “Chicago.” ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-orbach-dead-at-69/282095/74 "2005-01-04T03:54:21Z")
An editorial in today’s San Francisco Chronicle noted that Orbach died of _ **prostrate** _ cancer. :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-orbach-dead-at-69/282095.md?page=3)