Show will go on despite death of actor

NBC will go ahead with plans to introduce its new series Law & Order: Trial by Jury, despite the death of actor Jerry Orbach, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The 69-year-old veteran of stage, TV and film died last week at New York's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, where he was being treated for prostate cancer.

A spokeswoman for the show confirmed that episodes already taped with Orbach would air.

"The producers are deeply saddened," she said "While Jerry is irreplaceable, Law & Order: Trial by Jury is an ensemble and will continue in production. A new member will join the company."

Six episodes have been taped, with Orbach having appeared in about half of them. His character, Detective Lennie Briscoe, will be replaced by a new character, but NBC has yet to comment on Orbach will be written out of the show.