Elaine Cancilla Orbach (January 19, 1940 â April 1, 2009) was an American stage and musical theatre actress and dancer.
Orbach, known professionally as Elaine Cancilla, appeared on Broadway and Off Broadway in productions including: Fiorello!, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Here's Love, Flora the Red Menace, Sweet Charity and Cry for Us All.
In 1979 she married actor Jerry Orbach, a star on stage and later of film and television (Law & Order). They met several years earlier while appearing together in the original Broadway theatre production of the Kander & Ebb musical, Chicago. They also co-starred in a touring production of Neil Simon's play, Chapter Two.
Following his death in 2004, she petitioned to have a portion of 53rd Street at Eighth Avenue, in New York City's Theater District (and near his long-time home), renamed "Jerry Orbach Way"; it was rechristened in 2007.
She died on April 1, 2009, at age 69, from pneumonia in a hospital in New York City. She was survived by her stepsons Tony Orbach and Chris Orbach whom she was estranged from due to disagreements over Jerry's will.