Sad news for fans of NBC’s ‘Law & Order’ franchise as news has just arrived that Jerry Orbach, who portrayed Lennie Briscoe since 1992, has died at age 69. It is believed he passed due to complications related to his recent battle with prostate cancer. It was only earlier this month that he revealed he had begun a battle with the disease, and at the time he and his management were optimistic about his chances or recovery. He had previously announced he would be leaving his role on ‘Law & Order’ to take a spot on the upcoming ‘Law & Order: Trial By Jury’, a job that would take less of his time while still allowing him to portray the character he loved. Prior to ‘Law & Order’ Orbach had been a star of stage and screen, including Lumiere in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and Glen O’Brien in ‘The Golden Girls’, a role that had earned him an Emmy nomination. Orbach is survived by a wife and two children and leaves an incredible library of 65 films and television programs and almost 40 television guest appearances behind.