Dennis Farina Replaces Jerry Orbach.

Jerry Orbach will be leaving "Law & Order" at the end of this season to star in a new "Law & Order" franchise slated for mid-season 2005. Although known for his role as Lennie Briscoe, the 68-year-old multi-talented actor is also a long-time veteran of stage and film.

He appeared in "The Fantastics," "Carnival," "Promises, Promises," "Chicago" and "42nd Street." He won a Tony award for "Promises, Promises" in 1968. His screen performances include "Dirty Dancing" and "Beauty and the Beast." A New Yorker since birth, Orbach was an only child. His father was a vaudevillian actor and his mother a radio singer.

Dick Wolf, executive director of Law & Order, announced that Dennis Farina will replace Orbach as part of the two-detective team crucial to the show's format. The new character is still in development, but early reports say Farina will play an "iconoclastic" Italian cop who is a confirmed bachelor.

Born in Chicago, Farina, 60, has also had a long career in show business with many TV and film credits. Equally adept at drama and comedy, his filmography includes "The Hillside Stranglers," "Big Trouble," "Get Shorty" and "Sidewalks of New York." However, he's best known for playing a private investigator in the 1980s series "Crime Story."

"Law & Order" has been renewed through 2008. Over the years, it has survived the loss of many other popular actors such as Jill Hennsey, Chris Noth, Benjamin Bratt and Paul Sorvino who went on to other roles. "Law & Order" generated two successful spin-offs -- "Law & Order, SVU" and "Law & Order, Criminal Intent." Reports are that the new show, "Law & Order, Trial by Jury" will include another "Law & Order" veteran Carey Lowell.