Actor and comedian Richard Belzer passed away on Sunday at the age of 78. Belzer was known for his iconic roles on NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”, for which he played the beloved character Detective John Munch. Friends, family, and fans alike have taken to social media to remember the actor and comedian, and to celebrate his long career.
Belzer began his career as a stand-up comedian, and eventually made a name for himself in the entertainment industry with his unique style of comedy and his roles on television. He was a master of crowd work, and brought humor and joy into the lives of the people he worked with. Belzer was also an author, writing four books, two of which became New York Times bestsellers.
Fellow actor Henry Winkler, who was Belzer’s cousin, paid tribute to the actor and comedian on social media, re-posting former “Saturday Night Live” star Laraine Newman’s post and adding, “Rest in peace Richard.”
Writer Bill Scheft told The Hollywood Reporter that Belzer’s last words were, “F*** you, motherf*****.”
“SVU” star Mariska Hargitay said she would miss Belzer’s “unique light, and your singular take on this strange world,” while Christopher Meloni, who portrayed Det. Elliot Stabler opposite Belzer on “SVU”, posted throwback photos of the two in Belzer’s honor.
Jon Stewart called Belzer “a master” at stand-up comedy, and Marc Maron hailed him as “one of the greats.”
Universal Television and NBC also commented on Belzer’s death in a statement, saying that “anyone who ever had the pleasure of watching Richard Belzer portray Det. John Munch—whether on ‘Homicide’ or ‘Law & Order: SVU’—over four decades will never forget how much he inhabited that beloved character to make it his own.”
“Law & Order” creator Dick Wolf said that Richard Belzer’s Detective John Munch was one of television’s iconic characters.
In 2013, it was announced that Belzer would be leaving the iconic crime series after 15 seasons. He went on to return to “SVU” in 2016, bringing back his beloved character for a guest appearance.
Following his retirement from “SVU”, Belzer moved to the south of France. He married his third wife, former actress Harlee McBride, in 1985 and had two stepdaughters.
The beloved actor and comedian left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, and will be remembered for years to come.
