Richard Belzer, comedian and ‘Law & Order’ actor, dies at 78
Richard Belzer, the beloved standup comedian and actor who portrayed curmudgeonly Detective John Munch for decades in the “Law & Order” franchise, has died, according to multiple reports. He was 78.
Belzer’s longtime manager, Eric Gardner, confirmed to CNN that he “passed away peacefully” early Sunday morning. A longtime friend, writer Bill Scheft, told The Hollywood Reporter that the actor died at his home in Bozouls in France after dealing with several health issues. He was surrounded with family at the time of his death, Scheft told Fox News Digital.
Belzer’s cause of death was not immediately released.
News of the actor’s death was first shared on social media Sunday by Laraine Newman, an original cast member on “Saturday Night Live” who worked with Belzer from the mid-’70s through the ‘80s, according to TMZ.
“I’m so sad to hear of Richard Belzer’s passing,” Newman wrote. “I loved this guy so much.”
She remembered Belzer as “one of the funniest people ever” and “a master at crowd work.”
Belzer’s cousin, Henry Winkler, also paid tribute to the actor on Twitter.
“Rest in peace Richard,” he wrote.
Belzer was legendary in the New York comedy scene in the ‘70s and ‘80s, Rolling Stone reported. He was the first warm-up act chosen for the audience of “Saturday Night Live,” according to AARP.
In the early 1990s, he landed the role of Munch. The character first appeared on NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street” in January 1993 and went on to appear in several “Law & Order” spin-offs and other shows, including “The X-Files,” “The Wire,” “Arrested Development” and “30 Rock,” according to CNN.
In a statement obtained by Variety, “Law & Order” creator Dick Wolf called Munch “one of television’s iconic characters.”
“I first worked with Richard on the ‘Law & Order’/’Homicide’ crossover and loved the character so much, I told Tom (Fontana) that I wanted to make him one of the original characters on ‘SVU.’ The rest is history,” he told Variety. “Richard brought humor and joy into all our lives, was the consummate professional and we will all miss him very much.”
Belzer never auditioned to play Munch but was brought in to read for the part after executive producer Barry Levinson heard him on “The Howard Stern Show,” The Associated Press reported.
“I would never be a detective. But if I were, that’s how I’d be,” he once said, according to the AP. “They write to all my paranoia and anti-establishment dissidence and conspiracy theories. So it’s been a lot of fun for me. A dream, really.”
Belzer retired the role in 2013, CNN reported, though he reprised it for an appearance in “Law & Order: SVU” in 2016, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Friends and fans took to social media to remember Belzer.
Belzer is survived by his wife, Harlee McBride, and his stepdaughters, Jessica and Bree, according to ET Online.
1978: Richard Belzer during a guest performance on "Saturday Night Live" on March 25, 1978.
1982: Joe Piscopo, David Brenner, Richard Belzer, Pat Benatar, Robin Williams and Rick Newman post for a photo.
1985: Actors/Comedians Richard Belzer and Robin Williams at the Richard Belzer Radio Show at DIR Studios in New York City on Oct. 16, 1985.
1985: Richard Belzer poses for a promotional photo for Lifetime’s "Hot Properties."
1986: Comedian Richard Belzer poses for a portrait in Hollywood, California, in 1986.
1987: Dick Gregory, Arsenio Hall and Richard Belzer during HBO’s Comic Relief ’87 at Universal Ampitheater in Universal City, California.
1993: (l-r) Ned Beatty as Detective Stan Bolander and Richard Belzer as Detective John Munch on the set of "Homicide: Life on the Street."
1995: (l-r) Jerry Orbach as Detective Lennie Briscoe, Andre Braugher as Det. Frank Pembleton, Kyle Secor as Det. Tim Bayliss, Richard Belzer as Det. John Munch, Jill Hennessey as Claire Kincaid and Benjamin Bratt as Detective Rey Curtis on the set of "Law & Order" in 1995.
1995: (l-r) Yaphet Kotto, Jay Leno and Richard Belzer on the set of "Homicide: Life on the Street" in October 1995.
1995: (l-r) Harlee McBride as M.E. Alyssa Dyer and Richard Belzer as Det. John Munch in an episode of "Homicide: Life on the Street" that aired on Dec. 8, 1995
1999: (l-r) Dean Winters as Detective Brian Cassidy, Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen, Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson, Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler, Michelle Hurd as Detective Monique Jefferies and Richard Belzer as Detective John Munch on the set of "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit."
2000: Richard Belzer and his wife at the Roast held at the New York Friars Club in honor of Rob Reiner on Oct. 6, 2000. The Roast was presented by Comedy Central.
2001: Al Franken and Richard Belzer during The Toyota 2001 Comedy Festival Lineup is Announced at The Friar’s Club in New York City.
2003: (l-r) Ice-T as Detective Odafin "Fin" Tutuola, Mateo Gomez as Father Castrillon and Richard Belzer as Detective John Munch on the set of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" in 2003.
2003: (l-r) Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler and Richard Belzer as Detective John Munch on the set of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."
2004: (l-r) Richard Belzer as Detective John Munch and Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson in an episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" that aired Nov. 16, 2004.
2006: (l-r) Chris "Ludacris" Bridges as Darius Parker, Richard Belzer as Detective John Munch and Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen on the set of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" in 2006.
2006: "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" star Richard Belzer plays with a puppy named Munch as he films a public service announcement called "Big Things Happen at Little Shelter" at the Little Shelter Animal Adoption Center in Manhattan in 2006.
2006: Milena Govich, Dick Wolf, Diane Neal, Richard Belzer and Alana De La Garza pose for a photo during the 46th Monte-Carlo Television Festival on June 30, 2006 in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
2007: Comedian Gilbert Godfried (L) and actor Richard Belzer attend the Friars Club’s 50th Anniversary Celebration on Nov. 8, 2007, in New York City.
2007: Harlee McBride, actor Richard Belzer and Meryl Streep attend "A Magical Evening" hosted by The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation at The Marriott Marquis on Nov. 12, 2007, in New York City.
2008: Actors Robin Williams (L) and Richard Belzer work on set in Bryant Park March 28, 2008 in New York City.
2009: Actor Larry David and Richard Belzer share a laugh on the New York Jets sideline before the Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets game at Giants Stadium on Oct. 18, 2009, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
2010: Jerry Lewis, Richard Belzer and Rob Schneider attend the after party for the Friars Club roast of Quentin Tarantino at the New York Friars Club on Dec. 1, 2010, in New York City.
2011: Richard Belzer performs at The Stress Factory Comedy Club on June 30, 2011 in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
2012: : (l-r) Ice-T as Detective Odafin ‘Fin’ Tutuola, Danny Pino as Detective Nick Amaro, Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins, Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen, executive producer Dick Wolf, Richard Belzer as Detective John Munch, Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson and executive producer Warren Leight pose for a photo while celebrating the 300th episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."
2013: Actor/author Richard Belzer signs copies of his book "Hit List" at Book Soup on April 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California.
2016: Jeff Ross, Jerry Lewis, Richard Belzer and Jim Carrey attend the 90th birthday of Jerry Lewis at The Friars Club on April 8, 2016, in New York City.
2018: Richard Belzer attends The Paley Center For Media Presents: "Homicide: Life On The Street: A Reunion" at The Paley Center for Media on May 24, 2018 in New York City.
