Jerry Orbach brought joy to so many people in his life. He was more than a fantastic actor; he was a wonderful person, too, which makes him even more likable. (There's nothing worse than actors or actresses who you like until you learn something...
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Jerry Orbach brought joy to so many people in his life. He was more than a fantastic actor; he was a wonderful person, too, which makes him even more likable. (There's nothing worse than actors or actresses who you like until you learn something of their real personalities.) I still love to watch Orbach's appearances in Murder, She Wrote. His character there was similar to his Law and Order persona, Lennie Briscoe, with hints of the sarcastic lines that would characterize Briscoe appearing in his role as Harry McGraw. Orbach had that rare ability to bring to life a character who is both pitiful and admirable (Briscoe's alcoholism vs. his attempts to fix things with his daughter). As an actor, Orbach gave the world many gifts, and when he passed away, he donated his eyes and gave two grateful New Yorkers an even better gift - sight. He always took time to talk to his fans, recognizing that without them, he would be nothing. Above all, he entered a world in which he couldn't walk around without being recognized and approached by people who loved him, but he still managed to maintain a very down-to-earth perspective. He never forgot where he came from, and he never forgot that it was his fans who helped get him where he was. He was, without a doubt, a man worthy in all senses of his fans' love, and he will be missed by them for a long time to come.