All my life, since I was 16, I've been wondering where that next job was gonna come from.
Big feature films are another world.
Home Alone was a movie, not an alibi.
I don't like to dwell all day over one scene as you do in a big feature.
I know I wouldn't want to be him.
I like to work fast.
I think the choice of actors that we have is a little more varied and rich here in New York than in L.A.
I used to say when I was working in the theater that if I ever had five seasons of a hit TV show I'd never have to worry about money and wouldn't have to do anything I didn't want to do.
It's a lot more fun for actors to cry and rant and rave, or have a drug problem or a drinking problem.
Now I take the summer off, relax, and I know that at the end of July we're gonna start another season.
There's a pace in TV I like.
He is one of only four actors to play the same character (Det. Lennie Briscoe) in all four Law & Order series: "Law & Order," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Law & Order: Trial by Jury." The others are Jesse L. Martin (Det. Ed Green), Fred Dalton Thompson (D.A. Arthur Branch), and Leslie Hendrix (Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers).
Although he and Steven Hill appeared in 177 episodes of Law & Order and the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Entitled" together, the only time that they ever appeared on screen together was during one brief scene in the Law & Order Season Seven episode "Corruption".
The "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" episode "Baby Boom" concluded with the message "For Jerry".
His father was German-Jewish of Spanish Sephardic ancestry and his mother was Polish Catholic. His ethnic background was incorporated into the role of Det. Lennie Briscoe on "Law & Order." Briscoe also had a Jewish father and a Catholic mother. Briscoe stated in an episode that he was raised Catholic.
He appeared as defense attorney Frank Lehrman in the episode "The Wages of Love" (episode 2-2) during the second season of "Law & Order." He joined the regular cast as Detective Lennie Briscoe the following season.
In 1965, he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical) for his role in the revival of "Guys and Dolls."
On March 26th, 2004, he announced that he would be leaving Law & Order after 12 years on the series as Detective Lennie Briscoe.
He auditioned for the roles of Detective Max Greevey and Detective Phil Cerreta on "Law & Order" before being cast as Detective Lennie Briscoe.
He was an only child.
He was the first to perform the role of Billy Flynn in "Chicago" on the New York stage.
He lived in Nanticoke, Pa., during part of his childhood.
His first wife was Marta Curro, whom he married in June 1958, at the age of 22. They divorced in 1975.
He moved around to many different cities with his parents as a child.
His mother, Emily, was a radio singer.
He was born in the Bronx, New York, on October 20, 1935.
He appeared in a grand total of 272 episodes of Law & Order. S. Epatha Merkerson, who plays Lt. Anita Van Buren on the series, is the only actor to have appeared in more episodes.
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