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Comedian and actor Richard Belzer, known for playing detective John Munch on Law & Order: SVU, has died at the age of 78. Belzer’s long-time friend, writer Bill Scheft, told The Hollywood Reporter that Belzer died Sunday morning at his home in Bozouls in southwest France. Scheft went on to say, “He had lots of health issues, and his last words were, ‘F**k you, motherf**ker.'” Belzer began portraying Munch in 1993 with the series Homicide: Life on the Street. The character moved to Law & Order: SVU in 1999, and Belzer portrayed him until 2016. Belzer portrayed Munch in eight other series, giving the character a longer run than Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) on Gunsmoke and Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) on Cheers and Frasier.
Comedian and Actor Richard Belzer’s Life and Career
Richard Belzer’s career as a sarcastic and edgy comedian was born out of hardship and tragedy. According to the New York Post, Belzer was born in 1944 to an abusive mother in Connecticut. His mother died of cancer in 1964. His father made a suicide attempt three years later. Belzer managed to find and save him, but his father took his own life a year later. Belzer’s brother committed suicide in 2014. In the midst of all that sadness, Belzer’s humor was his means of survival. Referring to his mother’s abuse, Belzer once said, “My kitchen was the toughest room I ever worked. I had to make my mom laugh, or I’d get my ass kicked.” Belzer also battled testicular cancer in 1983, which inspired his 1997 HBO special, Another Lone Nut.
Losing his father was the push Belzer needed to start his comedy career. In 1971, he earned a gig with Channel One, an East Village comedy troupe. They created a show called The Groove Tube, which satirized TV conventions like clowns on kids’ shows and anchormen. The well-reviewed show led to a film deal, and Belzer made his debut as a screen actor in 1974. Belzer also worked as the warm-up comedian in Saturday Night Live’s early days.
Richard Belzer’s Legendary ‘Law & Order’ Character
Given the character’s cynical but hardworking nature, Belzer considered detective John Munch a perfect character for him. He considered the character a perfect representation of what he’d be like as a detective. Belzer once said, “They write to all of my paranoia, anti-establishment dissonance, and conspiracy theories, so it’s a lot of fun for me. It’s like a dream, actually.” Aside from Homicide and Law & Order, the character appeared on The X-Files, The Beat, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, and The Wire. Munch even appeared in comedy shows such as Arrested Development, 30 Rock, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Belzer said of his recognition for the character, “I never asked anyone to be on their show. So it’s doubly flattering to me to see me depicted in a script and that I’m so recognizable and lovable as the sarcastic detective and smart-ass. Much to my delight, because he is a great character for me to play, it’s fun for me. So I’m not upset about being typecast at all.”
Richard Belzer carved out quite a career as an actor, comedian, and even an author. He is survived by his third wife, actress Harlee McBride, and stepdaughters Jessica and Bree.