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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Richard Belzer has died at the age of 78.
The actor started out as a comedian but rose to fame for his role as Detective John Munch, first on Homicide Life on the Streets and then on SVU. He also appeared in the original Law and Order and Trial by Jury.
In total, Belzer played Munch in 11 different shows over the course of 22 years.
He died at his home early Sunday morning in Bozouls, in southwestern France, after battling a series of health problems.
“His last words were, ‘Fuck you, you son of a bitch,'” said writer Bill Scheft. the hollywood reporter.
Richard Belzer, known for playing Det. John Munch in 11 different shows, has died at the age of 78
He played the role of Det. John Munch on 11 different shows over 22 years, including Law and Order: SVU. He appears here on set with Mariska Hargitay.
His death was first announced by Saturday Night Live alumnus Laraine Newman, who tweeted: “So saddened by the passing of Richard Belzer. I loved this boy so much.
“He was one of my first friends when I came to New York to do SNL,” she revealed. We used to go out to dinner every week in Sheepshead Bay for lobster.
Newman said that Belzer was “one of the funniest people ever” and a “master at working with crowds”.
Comedian Billy Crystal tweeted: “Richard Belzer was just hilarious. A genius at handling a crowd. So sad he passed away.
Marc Maron added to the outpouring of tributes, writing: ‘Richard Belzer died. He was an original. One of the greats, baby. I loved the boy. RIP.’
Belzer was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where saying he began his foray into comedy trying to make his physically abusive mother laugh.
“I had to make my mom laugh or I’d get my ass kicked,” he told People magazine in 1993.
But before making his career in Hollywood, Belzer held a series of odd jobs, including as a reporter for the Bridgeport Post and as a census taker.
He eventually moved to New York City, where he was known to take his dog everywhere, after his first divorce, and began his career in Manhattan comedy clubs.
In 1972, Belzer was a featured performer on the National Lampoon Radio Hour with his co-stars John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, and Gilda Radner.
Several of the parodies were later released on albums, including several parts in which Belzer played a talk show host named Dick Ballentine.
He also had small roles in movies and made three guest appearances on Saturday Night Love from 1975 to 1980.
Eventually, he became good friends with actor Jerry Lewis, from whom he apparently sought career advice.
Belzer has attributed his comedy career to trying to make his abusive mother laugh.
After getting divorced, Belzer moved to New York City and began his career as a comedian.
But Belzer’s real success came on television.
He started out with minor roles in the 1990s, appearing as a newscaster on The Flash and Inspector William Henderson on several episodes of Lois & Clark and the New Adventures of Superman.
His big break came in 1993 when he starred in Homicide: Life on the Street as Det. John Munch, who later reprized the role in Law and Order and Law and Order: SVU.
In total, Belzer played the acerbic detective for 22 consecutive seasons, surpassing the previous prime-time record of 20 consecutive seasons held by James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke from 1955 to 1975, and Kelsey Grammer, who played Dr. Frasier Crane. on cheers then on frasier
That record has since been broken by his Law and Order: SVU co-star Mariska Hargitay.
Belzer’s character was recently mentioned in an episode of Law and Order: SVU, when ICE T’s character talked about his old partner, Munch.
ICE T, who plays Fin on the show, said Munch had returned to Baltimore, where Homicide Life on the Streets took place, opened a bar and was happily married.
Belzer was last seen on the show in 2016.
Belzer, left, played the role of Detective John Munch for 22 consecutive seasons.
In his personal life, Belzer was a well-known conspiracy theorist, writing four different books about his beliefs. He was also a regular on The Alex Jones Show, once referring to the Boston Marathon bombing as a false flag event.
He was married three times in his life and sued professional wrestler Hulk Hogan.
The actor had requested that the professional wrestler appear on his show in 1985, just days before WrestleMania opened.
When he asked Hogan to show him one of his signature moves, Hogan put Belzer in a chin lock, causing him to pass out. Then when Hogan finally let go. Belzer hit his head on the ground and suffered a scalp laceration that required a brief hospital stay.
He sued Hogan for $5 million and settled out of court.
Belzer has also previously survived testicular cancer.
He retired from acting in 2016 and has been living in the south of France for the past few years.
The actor predeceased his mother in 1964, his father in 1966, and his brother, Leonard, who committed suicide in 2014.