In his thirty-plus years on the force, Briscoe has seen it all. Jaded by his work and personal life -- he's been divorced twice -- Briscoe brings to the job a wry sense of humor, which punctuates the seriousness of investigating Manhattan's toughest homicide cases. No longer a youthful detective, Briscoe often has a chip on his shoulder about his age and his status as a recovering alcoholic. The murder of his own daughter hardened his stoic veneer as well as his resolve to bring criminals to justice.

Long before he was cast in the role of the wise-cracking detective, Bronx-born Orbach made a name for himself on Broadway where he earned a Tony Award for his starring role in Promises, Promises. In 1999, he was inducted into the Broadway Hall of Fame. Orbach's film credits include Beauty and the Beast, Postcards From The Edge, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Dirty Dancing, Someone To Watch Over Me, F/X, Brewster's Millions, Prince of the City and The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight. Orbach also completed the yet to be released film Chinese Coffee co-starring Al Pacino. As star of Law & Order, Orbachhas portrayed Detective Lenny Briscoe for the last nine seasons.