<P> Leonard W. Briscoe is a fictional character on NBC 's long - running police procedural and legal drama television series Law & Order . He was created by Walon Green and René Balcer , and was portrayed by Jerry Orbach . 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 ' 20 - year - run 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 , appearing in only the first two episodes due to Orbach 's 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 . </P>
<P> Leonard W. Briscoe is a fictional character on NBC 's long - running police procedural and legal drama television series Law & Order . He was created by Walon Green and René Balcer , and was portrayed by Jerry Orbach . 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 ' 20 - year - run 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 , appearing in only the first two episodes due to Orbach 's 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 . </P>
when did lenny start on law and order
when did lenny start on law and order
1992
1992