Orbach gets first Emmy nod for 'Law & Order'

Jerry Orbach began his career in the theater but is now more known for his big and small screen roles, such as his portrayal of a police detective in "Law and Order"

From Bill Tush
CNN Entertainment Correspondent

NEW YORK (CNN) -- After nine seasons on "Law & Order," Jerry Orbach finally has received his first Emmy nomination for the role of the no-nonsense Detective Lennie Briscoe. This pits him against co-star Sam Waterston, who plays the prosecutor on the NBC crime drama.

"I've been arm wrestling Sam in preparation for this," Orbach joked. "I think we're going up against some pretty tough competition."

That competition also includes: Dennis Franz, "NYPD Blue" (NBC); James Gandolfini "The Sopranos" (HBO); and Martin Sheen, "West Wing" (NBC).

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"I don't have any high hopes of winning it, but we'll see," Orbach said.

Long before he signed onto "Law & Order," the 64-year-old Orbach was a star in musical theater. His big break came in the off-Broadway musical "The Fantasticks."

"I created the role of El Gallo -- the narrator, the bandit," he said. "(I) sang 'Try To Remember.' I think Polygram just ... reissued an album I did of songs from off-Broadway shows, which included "Try To Remember" and, of course, "Mack the Knife," which I sang in "The Threepenny Opera."

Breaking out of theater

After stage work came TV and movie roles, but not right way, Orbach said.

"For many years, people sort of thought of me as a musical comedy song-and-dance guy and said, 'Oh he's not a really serious actor.' It all turned around with films like 'Prince of the City' (1981), 'Crimes and Misdemeanors' (1989) and 'F/X' (1986)."

He also appeared in "Dirty Dancing" (1987) as Jake Houseman, the father of Baby (Jennifer Grey). Little did he know how much the movie would catch on.

"I had no idea that it was going to become the cult classic that it is today," Orbach said. "I've talked to people, especially young women, who watched it a hundred times."

But it's still "Law & Order" that made Orbach a household name.

Jerry Orbach, playing Detective Lennie Briscoe on "Law and Order," is nominated for his first Emmy as Lead Actor in a drama

"'Law & Order is just a phenomenon," he said. "I just looked at the ratings this morning. The summer re-runs are coming in the top 10. ... It's just wonderful."

And he says he has no plans to leave the show any time soon.

"We have an old saying: 'Don't leave a hit.' ... It's more than a paycheck -- it's interesting, good work that I really enjoy."

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Jerry Orbach ('Law & Order')
NBC

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