Richard Belzer was an american actor, humoristAnd author. He was well known for his role as BPD Detective, NYPD Detective/Sergeant and DA Investigator John Munch, whom he described as a regular cast member of the NBC crime drama series “Homicide: life on the streets” And “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit“. He played the character for 23 years, from 1993 until his retirement in 2016. He played John Munch in eight other television shows, including “The Wire”, “Arrested Development” and “The X-Files”. Unfortunately, he died on February 19, 2023 at the age of 78.
Belzer began his entertainment career as a stand-up comedian, performing at various venues in New York City during the 1970s. His first acting role was a guest appearance in the 1974 film The Groove Tube. From 1975 to 1980 he appeared on Saturday Night Live for three episodes. Richard was also an author. Some of his books include Hit List: An In-Depth Investigation into the Mysterious Deaths of Witnesses to the JFK Assassination; UFOs, JFK and Elvis; and Dead Wrong: Straight Facts on the Country’s Most Controversial Cover-Ups. He has also written books that are not focused on conspiracy theories. They include How to be a stand-up comedian, I’m not a psychic! and I’m not a cop!
What was the nationality of Richard Belzer?
Richard Belzer was born with the birth name of Richard Jay Belzer on August 4, 1944, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States. He held American citizenship while his ethnicity was mixed. He was the son of Frances Belzer And Charles Belzer. He described his mother as often physically abusive, and he said his acting career began by trying to make his mother laugh to distract her from abusing him and his brother. His father was a tobacco and candy merchant. He grew up in a Jewish family. For the last time, the actor celebrated his 78th birthday.
Richard Welzer graduated from Fairfield Warde Secondary School. Then he attended Dean College, then known as Dean Junior College, in Franklin, Massachusetts, but was expelled for leading protests for really stupid causes.
How did Richard Belzer start his career?
- Richard Belzer first started working as a stand-up comedian with Pips, The Improv and Catch a Rising Star. After that, he participated in the comedy group Channel One which satirized television and became the basis for the cult film “The Groove Tube”. Likewise, he was the audience warm-up comedian for “Saturday Night Live”. Additionally, he also opened for musician Warren Zevon on his tour supporting the release of his “Excitable Boy” album.
- He then became an occasional film actor between the end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s. He made his appearance in “Sesame Street” in an episode of season 9 in 1978. He is known for small roles in “Fame “, “Café Flesh”, “Night Shift” and “Scarface”. In addition to that, he appeared in the music videos for the Mike + The Mechanics song “Taken In” and the Pat Benatar song “Le Bel Age”, as well as the Kansas video “Can’t Cry Anymore”. . He next appeared in “A Very Brady Sequel” as an LAPD detective.
- Apart from his acting and comedian career, he was also active in radio work. He was a featured actor on the National Lampoon Radio Hour, a half-hour comedy show that aired on over 600 U.S. stations from 1973 to 1975. He co-hosted Brink & Belzer on 660AM WNBC radio in New York City at the late 1970s. In addition, he was a frequent guest on the Howard Stern Show. After Randi Rhodes left Air America Radio, he hosted the network’s afternoon show.
- In the 1990s, he was a regular on “The Flash” as a news anchor and reporter. He played Inspector William Henderson in several episodes of “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” followed by Homicide: Life on the Street (1993–1999), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–2013), The X-Files (Fox), The Beat (UPN), Law & Order: Trial by Jury (NBC), Cheers (1982–93), St. Elsewhere (1985), The Tortellis (1987), Wings (1990), The Simpsons (1994), Frasier (2002), Arrested Development (Fox), The Wire (HBO), 30 Rock (NBC) and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix).
- He voiced the character of Loogie for most of the episode “South Park” titled “The Tooth Fairy Tats 2000”.
- As an author, Richard Belzer has written five books – UFOs, JFK, and Elvis: Conspiracies You Don’t Have to Be Crazy to Believe (2000), Dead Wrong: Straight Facts on the Country’s Most Controversial Cover-Ups, Hit List: An In-Depth Investigation into the Mysterious Death of JFK Assassination Witnesses, Corporate Conspiracies: How Wall Street Took Over Washington and Someone Is Hiding Something: What Happened to Flight 370 Malaysia Airlines? In 2008 Belzer published a novel, I Am Not a Cop!
- He announced his retirement from acting in 2016, citing health issues.
Who was Richard Belzer married to?
Richard Belzer was married three times during his life. His first two marriages were to Gail Susan Ross (1966-1972) and store manager Dalia Danoch (1976 – circa 1978). Both of his marriages ended in divorce. In 1981 in Los Angeles, he met at age 31, Harlee McBride, a divorce with two daughters, Bree Benton and Jessica. Belzer and Harlee then married in 1985. They remained together until Richard’s death in 2023.
Richard Belzer has no biological children. He had been an advocate for children’s rights and was involved in various organizations supporting the welfare of children. In all his marriages he became a foster parent and took care of several children. He had spoken publicly about his experience as an adoptive parent, notably in his book “I Am Not a Cop!” in which he discusses the joys and challenges of raising children.
How did Richard Belzer die?
Richard Belzer, the comedian and actor best known for playing acerbic detective John Munch on a number of NBC crime dramas, including “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” died at age 78 on February 19, 2023. He is died at his home in Beaulieu-sur-Merl. His cause of death was complications of unspecified circulatory and respiratory conditions. Belzer “passed away peacefully” early Sunday morning local time at his home in France, according to Eric Gardner, his manager. Writer Bill Scheft, a longtime friend of the actor, told The Hollywood Reporter that Belzer had “a lot of health issues.”
‘SVU’ star Mariska Hargitay posted a heartfelt message on Instagram. “Goodbye my dear, dear friend. I will miss you, your unique light and your singular vision of this strange world,” she wrote in a press release. She added, “I feel blessed to know you, to adore you and to work with you, side by side, for so many years. How lucky the angels are to have you. I can hear them laughing already.”
What Was Richard Belzer’s Net Worth?
Richard Belzer was a successful and talented actor, best known for playing Detective John Munch in the television series “Homicide: Life on the Street”. He started his career as an actor. Before becoming a famous stand-up comedian, Richard Belzer held many jobs, including a teacher, census taker, jewelry salesman, and dock worker.
Richard Belzer had an estimated net worth of $16 million at the time of his death. Part of his wealth came from his work as an author. He wrote many books focusing on the conspiracies surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy. He lived a lavish life thanks to his career earnings.
How tall was Richard Belzer?
Richard Belzer had a standing height of 6 feet 1 inch. He had a slim body with a radiant face and a charming smile that attracted many people to him. He wore black glasses which suit him very well. He had a salt-pepper hair color and his eye color was dark brown. On February 19, 2023, at age 78, Richard passed away due to complications from unspecified circulatory and respiratory disorders.