Jerry Orbach departed his iconic role as Detective Lennie Briscoe on *Law & Order* after the 2004 season. His exit was part of a planned transition to a new spinoff series, *Law & Order: Trial by Jury*.
The actor’s final episode aired in May 2004. He was set to reprise the character in the spinoff, which focused on courtroom proceedings from the perspectives of prosecutors and defense attorneys.
Orbach’s tenure on the original series lasted 12 seasons, making his character one of the franchise’s most enduring figures. His departure marked a significant shift for the long-running procedural.
Production on *Trial by Jury* began shortly after his exit from the main series. However, Orbach’s involvement was cut short due to his declining health. He passed away in December 2004 from prostate cancer.
The spinoff premiered in 2005, featuring episodes with Orbach that were filmed before his death. His performance as Briscoe remains a defining element of the *Law & Order* franchise.