FILE - Richard Belzer attends the premiere of "Mistaken For Strangers" during the opening night of the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival on April 17, 2013, in New York. Belzer, the longtime stand-up comedian who became one of TV's most indelible detectives as John Munch in "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Law & Order: SVU," has died at age 78. Belzer died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, at his home in Bozouls in southern France, his longtime friend Bill Scheft told The Hollywood Reporter. (Photo by Charles Sykes / Invision / AP, File)
FILE - Richard Belzer attends the premiere of "Mistaken For Strangers" during the opening night of the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival on April 17, 2013, in New York. Belzer, the longtime stand-up comedian who became one of TV's most indelible detectives as John Munch in "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Law & Order: SVU," has died at age 78. Belzer died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, at his home in Bozouls in southern France, his longtime friend Bill Scheft told The Hollywood Reporter. (Photo by Charles Sykes / Invision / AP, File)
FILE - Richard Belzer attends the premiere of "Mistaken For Strangers" during the opening night of the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival on April 17, 2013, in New York. Belzer, the longtime stand-up comedian who became one of TV's most indelible detectives as John Munch in "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Law & Order: SVU," has died at age 78. Belzer died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, at his home in Bozouls in southern France, his longtime friend Bill Scheft told The Hollywood Reporter. (Photo by Charles Sykes / Invision / AP, File)
FILE - Richard Belzer attends the premiere of "Mistaken For Strangers" during the opening night of the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival on April 17, 2013, in New York. Belzer, the longtime stand-up comedian

Culture

Film & TV

Richard Belzer, Law & Order actor and comedian, dies aged 78

The comic-turned-television star played John Munch in Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: SVU

Associated Press

February 20, 2023

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Richard Belzer, the longtime stand-up comedian who became one of television's most indelible detectives as John Munch in Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: SVU, has died. He was 78.

The actor's longtime friend Bill Scheft said Belzer died Sunday at his home in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, in southern France. Scheft, a writer who had been working on a documentary about the actor, said there was no known cause of death, but that Belzer had been dealing with circulatory and respiratory issues. Actor Henry Winkler, Belzer's cousin, tweeted, “Rest in peace Richard.”

For more than two decades and across 10 series — even including appearances on 30 Rock and Arrested Development — Belzer played the wise-cracking, acerbic homicide detective prone to conspiracy theories. Belzer first played Munch on a 1993 episode of Homicide and last played him in 2016 on Law & Order: SVU.

Belzer never auditioned for the role. After hearing him on The Howard Stern Show, executive producer Barry Levinson brought the comedian in to read for the part.

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“I would never be a detective. But if I were, that's how I'd be," Belzer once said. "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.”

From that unlikely beginning, Belzer's Munch would become one of television's longest-running characters and a sunglasses-wearing presence on the small screen for more than two decades.

In 2008, Belzer published the novel I Am Not a Cop! with Michael Ian Black. He also helped write several books on conspiracy theories, about incidents such as President John F Kennedy's assassination and the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

Belzer is survived by his third wife, actress Harlee McBride, who he married in 1985. For the past 20 years, they lived mostly in France, in homes he purchased partially from the proceeds of a lawsuit with Hulk Hogan. In 1985, Belzer had Hogan as a guest on his cable TV talk show Hot Properties, to perform a chin-lock on him. Belzer passed out, hit his head and sued Hogan for $5 million. They settled out of court.

Scroll through the gallery below to see other people we've lost in 2023 so far

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American comedian Kelly Monteith died on January 1 aged 80. Getty Images
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Child actor Adam Rich died on January 7 aged 54. AP
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British guitarist Jeff Beck died on January 10 aged 78. AFP
British guitarist Jeff Beck died on January 10 aged 78. AFP
German model Tatjana Patitz died on January 11 aged 56. Reuters
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Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley, died on January 12 aged 54. Reuters
Italian movie star Gina Lollobrigida, one of the last from the Golden Age of Hollywood, died on January 16 at 95. PA News
Italian movie star Gina Lollobrigida, one of the last from the Golden Age of Hollywood, died on January 16 at 95. PA News
Wrestlers and brothers Jay, right, and Mark Briscoe. Jay died on January 17 aged 38. jaybriscoe84 / Twitter
Wrestlers and brothers Jay, right, and Mark Briscoe. Jay died on January 17 aged 38. jaybriscoe84 / Twitter
American folk-rock star David Crosby died on January 18 aged 81. EPA
American folk-rock star David Crosby died on January 18 aged 81. EPA
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Cindy Williams, who played Shirley on the hit sitcom Laverne & Shirley, died on January 25 aged 75. AFP
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Barrett Strong, one of Motown’s founding artists, died on January 29 aged 81. AP
The Last of Us and 24 actress Annie Wersching died on January 29 aged 45. AP
The Last of Us and 24 actress Annie Wersching died on January 29 aged 45. AP
South Indian director and actor K Viswanath died on February 2 aged 92. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
South Indian director and actor K Viswanath died on February 2 aged 92. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Fashion designer Paco Rabanne died on February 3 aged 88. Reuters
Fashion designer Paco Rabanne died on February 3 aged 88. Reuters
Veteran Indian singer Vani Jayaram died in Chennai on February 4 aged 78. Photo: Twitter
Veteran Indian singer Vani Jayaram died in Chennai on February 4 aged 78. Photo: Twitter
Pop composer Burt Bacharach died on February 8 aged 94. AFP
Pop composer Burt Bacharach died on February 8 aged 94. AFP
South African rap sensation Kiernan Forbes, popularly known as AKA, died on February 10 aged 35. AFP
South African rap sensation Kiernan Forbes, popularly known as AKA, died on February 10 aged 35. AFP
David 'Trugoy the Dove' Jolicoeur of the US hip-hop band De La Soul died on February 12 aged 54. EPA
David 'Trugoy the Dove' Jolicoeur of the US hip-hop band De La Soul died on February 12 aged 54. EPA
Manga artist Leiji Matsumoto died on February 13 aged 85. AP
Manga artist Leiji Matsumoto died on February 13 aged 85. AP
American actress Raquel Welch died at the age of 82 on February 15. EPA
American actress Raquel Welch died at the age of 82 on February 15. EPA
Stella Stevens, pictured in New York in 1968, died on February 18 aged 84. AP
Stella Stevens, pictured in New York in 1968, died on February 18 aged 84. AP
Law & Order actor Richard Belzer died aged 78 on February 19. AP
Law & Order actor Richard Belzer died aged 78 on February 19. AP
Jansen Panettiere, who appeared in shows such as Major Crimes and The Walking Dead, died aged 28 on February 19. Getty
Jansen Panettiere, who appeared in shows such as Major Crimes and The Walking Dead, died aged 28 on February 19. Getty
Football commentator John Motson died on February 23 aged 77. PA
Football commentator John Motson died on February 23 aged 77. PA
Hollywood film producer Walter Mirisch died aged 101 on February 24. AP
Hollywood film producer Walter Mirisch died aged 101 on February 24. AP
Animator and director Burny Mattinson worked with Disney for nearly 70 years until his death aged 87 on February 27. WireImage
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French football player Just Fontaine died aged 89 on March 1. EPA
French football player Just Fontaine died aged 89 on March 1. EPA
Pulp bassist Steve Mackey, right, died aged 56 on March 2. Getty
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Wayne Shorter, an influential jazz musician, died aged 89 on March 2. AFP
Wayne Shorter, an influential jazz musician, died aged 89 on March 2. AFP
Architect Rafael Vinoly died aged 78 on March 2. Getty
Architect Rafael Vinoly died aged 78 on March 2. Getty
Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore died aged 61 on March 3. Reuters
Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore died aged 61 on March 3. Reuters
Gary Rossington, a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, died aged 71 on March 5. EPA
Gary Rossington, a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, died aged 71 on March 5. EPA
Pakistani actor Qavi Khan died aged 80 on March 5. Photo: Parveen Shah Productions
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Bollywood actor, comedian, writer and director Satish Kaushik died aged 66 on March 8. Jeff Topping / The National
Bollywood actor, comedian, writer and director Satish Kaushik died aged 66 on March 8. Jeff Topping / The National
Israeli actor Chaim Topol died aged 87 on March 8. AP
Israeli actor Chaim Topol died aged 87 on March 8. AP
British TV presenter and comedian Paul O'Grady died on March 28 at the age of 67. PA
British TV presenter and comedian Paul O'Grady died on March 28 at the age of 67. PA
Moonbin, a member of K-pop boy band Astra, died at the age of 25 on April 19. AFP
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Bodybuilding social media influencer Jo Lindner, popularly known as Joesthetics, died on July 1 at the age of 30. @joesthetics / Instagram
Bodybuilding social media influencer Jo Lindner, popularly known as Joesthetics, died on July 1 at the age of 30. @joesthetics / Instagram
Peter Hellyer, who moved to the UAE in the 1970s, died on July 2 at the age of 75. Pawan Singh / The National
Peter Hellyer, who moved to the UAE in the 1970s, died on July 2 at the age of 75. Pawan Singh / The National
British-French actress and singer Jane Birkin, who inspired the famous Hermes Birkin bag, died aged 76 on July 16. AFP
British-French actress and singer Jane Birkin, who inspired the famous Hermes Birkin bag, died aged 76 on July 16. AFP
American musician Tony Bennett died on July 21 at the age of 96. Reuters
American musician Tony Bennett died on July 21 at the age of 96. Reuters
Acclaimed Irish singer Sinead O’Connor died at the age of 56 on July 26. Sarah Dea / The National
Acclaimed Irish singer Sinead O’Connor died at the age of 56 on July 26. Sarah Dea / The National
Matthew Perry, one of the stars of TV sitcom Friends, died on October 28 aged 54. AFP
Matthew Perry, one of the stars of TV sitcom Friends, died on October 28 aged 54. AFP
Former US first lady Rosalynn Carter died at the age of 96 on November 19. AP
Former US first lady Rosalynn Carter died at the age of 96 on November 19. AP
South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in Parasite, died on December 27 aged 48. Reuters
South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in Parasite, died on December 27 aged 48. Reuters

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Updated: February 20, 2023, 4:45 AM`
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