This article describes a work or element of fiction in a primarily in-universe style. (May 2013) |
Det. Lennie Briscoe | |
---|---|
Law & Order character | |
First appearance | "Point of View" (L&O) |
Last appearance | "41 Shots" (TBJ) |
Portrayed by | Jerry Orbach |
Voiced by | Michael Bennett |
In-universe information | |
Family | Unnamed brother |
Spouse | Two ex-wives |
Children | Julia Briscoe (daughter) Cathy Briscoe (daughter; deceased) |
Relatives | Harry (uncle; deceased) Ken Briscoe (nephew) At least two unnamed grandchildren |
Partner | John Flynn Mike Logan Rey Curtis Ed Green Hector Salazar |
Seasons | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 (L&O) 1 (TBJ) |
Leonard W. Briscoe is a fictional character on NBC's long-running police procedural and legal drama television series Law & Order.[1] He was created by Walon Green and René Balcer and portrayed by Jerry Orbach.[1][2] He was featured on the show for 12 seasons, from 1992 to 2004, making him one of the longest-serving main characters in the series' history, as well as the longest-serving police detective on the show. He also appeared in three Law & Order spin-offs and was part of the original cast of Law & Order: Trial by Jury,[3] appearing in the first two episodes prior to his death. He appears in 282 episodes (273 episodes of Law & Order, two episodes of Law & Order: Trial by Jury, one episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, three episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and three episodes of Homicide: Life on the Street), the TV movie Exiled and the Law & Order video games Law & Order: Dead on the Money, Law & Order: Double or Nothing, Law & Order: Justice Is Served and Law & Order: Legacies.
Orbach's performance as Briscoe on the New York–based series was so popular that it resulted in him being declared a "Living Landmark" by the New York Landmarks Conservancy, along with fellow longtime series cast member Sam Waterston (who portrayed the prosecutor Jack McCoy on the show from 1994 to 2024).[4]