Hudson Valley Man Who Inspired ‘Law & Order’ Dies

A Hudson Valley man who inspired the hit television show Law & Order died just 10 days before he would have turned 100.

Robert Morgenthau died at the age of 99 on Sunday at Lenox Hill Hospital after a battle with a short illness, his wife Lucinda Franks told the New York Times. He was just 10 days from his 100th birthday.

Morgenthau worked as a practicing lawyer and philanthropist through his final days. He was Manhattan's longest-serving District Attorney and oversaw around 3.5 million cases as DA.

He grew up with his family in New York City and his family's farm in East Fishkill. He became friends with the Kennedys and Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt in Hyde Park.

While working as Manhattan District Attorney, he spent his weekend working on the 272-acre Fishkill Farms, WCBS reports.

Apples from the farm, which is now run by Robert's son, Josh, is used to make hard cider, according to WCBS.

Law & Order prosecutor Adam Schiff, played by actor Steven Hill, was based off Morgenthau, according to the Huffington Post.

He is survived by his Pulitzer Prize-winning author wife and five children.

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