Jerry Orbach, 69, 1935-2004

At the time of his death, Jerry Orbach was described as one of the last leading Broadway musical men, versatile both as an actor and singer. Throughout his role in the highly acclaimed series Law & Order, which he began in 1994, he was battling cancer.

Orbach received radiation therapy and later hormone treatment after it had spread to a different area in his body. Following his departure from the series a decade later, he finally succumbed to the illness in 2004. Only then was the public made aware of the Tony Award-winning actor’s long battle with the disease.