Richard Belzer

Richard Belzer, known for his long run as Det. John Munch on 'Law & Order: SVU' and other shows, died at 78.

Belzer, who began his career on the National Lampoon Radio Hour, also made appearances on Alex Jones’ InfoWars radio show in the 2010s. But Belzer’s most curious contribution to the culture was what began as a gig on Homicide: Life on the Street, where he played the wisecracking Baltimore Police Department Det. Out-of-character, Belzer, who retired from acting in 2016, was known for some out-there claims about the U.S. In the 1970s, Belzer served as the warm-up comedian for SNL, and appeared multiple times on its early seasons in bit parts. Belzer moved onto a short-lived gig as the host of the cable TV talk show Hot Properties, where he John Munch, a tough and versatile Jewish cop, has died at the age of 78.

Richard Belzer -- known for playing Detective John Munch on 'Law & Order' -- has passed away at the age of 78.

A prolific comic for many years, Belzer was well known for playing Detective John Munch on the series “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Homicide: ...

[tweeted](https://twitter.com/larainenewman/status/1627327574572662786), “I‘m so sad to hear of Richard Belzer’s passing. He was one of my first friends when I got to New York to do SNL. [He discussed the incident with Bob Costas.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en2zNGnGL6c) I loved the guy. One of the greats, babe. The report said a source told THR, “He had lots of health issues.”

Actor and comedian Richard Belzer has died at the age of 78.

[noted](https://twitter.com/search?q=%22Richard%20Belzer%22&src=trend_click&vertical=trends): "Richard Belzer played Det. [Laraine Newman](https://www.upi.com/topic/Laraine_Newman/) [said](https://twitter.com/search?q=%22Richard%20Belzer%22&src=trend_click&vertical=trends): "I'm so sad to hear of Richard Belzer's passing. In addition to the Law & Order franchise and Homicide: Life on the Street, Belzer also appeared in Fame, Scarface, Author! #TheBelzBabe," comedian "Aw goddamit, RIP Richard Belzer. "Richard Belzer was the first actor to welcome me when I started at SVU. [Patton Oswalt](https://www.upi.com/topic/Patton_Oswalt/) [added](https://twitter.com/pattonoswalt/status/1627354718908616704). "Richard Belzer was simply hilarious. So sad he's passed away," [posted](https://twitter.com/BillyCrystal/status/1627370051333672960) [Billy Crystal](https://www.upi.com/topic/Billy_Crystal/). [said](https://twitter.com/EllenBarkin/status/1627351349653303297). He was one of my first friends when I got to New York to do SNL.

Richard Belzer, the quick-witted stand-up comedian who became one of the most beloved detectives on television, has died at the age of 78.

(On a lighter note, Belzer did pen the how-to guide How to Be a Stand-Up Comic.) In total, Belzer’s Munch appeared on nearly a dozen different TV shows over six different networks, including the Baltimore-set The Wire, an episode of The X-Files (where he encountered that series’ “Lone Gunmen”), and a few visits for Law & Order: Trial by Jury. One of the greats, babe. Much like the Munch character, Belzer was an avid conspiracy theorist in real life, and he wrote prolifically — perhaps a bit too prolifically, as he sometimes wandered into Alex Jones’ territory — wrote on the subject. Belzer’s perpetually-sunglassed Munch was so beloved that, upon the series’ cancellation in 1998, the Munch character was shipped as-is up to New York City, where he found a home with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. “It was a bit of a miracle how I got the part. “He had lots of health issues, and his last words were, ‘Fuck you, motherfucker,'” Scheft said, adding that Belzer died Sunday morning at his home in southwest France, where the actor moved to after his tenure on Law & Order: SVU. Belzer’s Munch spent 15 seasons on Law & Order: SVU, with the majority of that time serving as the perfect foil to his junior detective played by Ice-T. He was one of my first friends when I got to New York to do SNL. When you get that many in a creative field, you’re going to get a lot of lesser models. For seven seasons of NBC’s Baltimore-set police procedural Homicide: Life on the Street, Belzer brought a blend of dry humor, acerbic wit and cynicism to the critically acclaimed show. The character is very close to how I’d be.

Richard Belzer, a comedian who also starred in "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Law & Order: SVU," has died. He was 78.

He co-hosted the show “Brink & Belzer” on New York City’s 660AM WNBC in the late 1970s; he hosted a morning drive program on WJFK-FM in Washington, D.C., in 1987; after Randi Rhodes exited Air America Radio in 2008, Belzer guest-hosted the afternoon program on the network. According to Time magazine, Hogan was “demonstrating a front chin-lock on Belzer, who went limp and fell unconscious to the floor. In 1975, Lorne Michaels, producer of “Saturday Night Live” and a personal friend, offered Belzer a spot as warm-up comic for the “SNL” studio audience. Belzer, like many people in show business, did a lot of drugs in the 1970s, and according to People, one of his drug buddies was John Belushi, “who visited Belzer at his L.A. According to People magazine, “Belzer says Michaels also promised him a spot in the cast but later reneged. He also recurred on “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” as Inspector Henderson in 1994. In a 1993 article, People magazine declared that “Belzer has had comedy-club cult status since the ’70s, when he was the best and brightest regular at New York City’s Catch a Rising Star. The gangly actor became synonymous with the quirky gumshoe who began as a character created by Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson for NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street” in 1993. After moving to New York City in 1972, Belzer began working as a stand-up comic known for biting humor at Pips, the Improv and Catch a Rising Star. “Richard Belzer’s Detective John Munch is one of television’s iconic characters,” “Law & Order” and “SVU” creator Dick Wolf said in a statement to Variety. Belzer bowed out as a series regular on “SVU” in Oct. “I first worked with Richard on the ‘Law & Order’/’Homicide’ crossover [episode in 1997] and loved the character so much, I told Tom (Fontana) that I wanted to make him one of the original characters on ‘SVU.’ The rest is history.

Richard Belzer played Detective John Munch on crime drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit from 1999 to 2016.

Barry Levinson heard me on the Howard Stern Show and brought me in to read for the character." [Marc Maron](https://people.com/movies/marc-maron-thinks-about-sudden-death-of-girlfriend-lynn-shelton-every-day-grief-comes-and-goes/) wrote in a tribute post: "Richard Belzer died. "So the dog is actually going to make me live longer. Off-screen, Belzer had a beloved comedy career, and was vocal about his belief in various conspiracy theories. [He was an original](https://twitter.com/marcmaron/status/1627338017836011521?s=20). " After originating the role on NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street in 1993 and reprising the character in the Law & Order parent series, he appeared in nearly 330 episodes of SVU between 1999 and 2013, with two additional cameos in 2014 and 2016. "I first worked with Richard on the Law & Order/Homicide crossover and loved the character so much, I told Tom (Fontana) that I wanted to make him one of the original characters on SVU. The character is very close to how I would be. "We used to go out to dinner every week at Sheepshead Bay for lobster. Belzer died at his home in Bozouls in southwest France "peacefully with family at his side," Scheft added. "I loved this guy so much.

Belzer died Sunday at his home in Bozouls in southern France, his long-time friend Bill Scheft told The Hollywood Reporter. Comedian Laraine Newman first ...

In 1985, Belzer had Hogan as a guest on his cable TV talk show Hot Properties to perform a chin-lock on him. “Munch was based on a real guy in Baltimore who was a star detective, in a way. As one of the most influential comedians of the ‘70s, Belzer was a master of crowd work. “I first worked with Richard on the Law & Order/Homicide crossover and loved the character so much,” Wolf said. That fall, Law & Order: SVU premiered, with Belzer starring alongside Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni in a storyline written as though Munch had transferred from Baltimore to New York. He made his big-screen debut in Ken Shapiro’s 1974 film The Groove Tube, a TV satire co-starring Chevy Chase, a film that grew out of the comedy group Channel One that Belzer was a part of. Belzer often played a stand-up comic in film, including in 1980s’ Fame and 1983′s Scarface. But Belzer became one of the era’s top stand-ups. He later said SNL creator Lorne Michaels reneged on a promise to work him into the show. “My kitchen was the toughest room I ever worked,” Belzer told People magazine in 1993. 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. For more than two decades and across 10 series – including even appearances on 30 Rock and Arrested Development – Belzer played the wise-cracking homicide detective prone to conspiracy theories.

Richard Belzer was best known for playing wisecracking detective John Munch on numerous TV series, including 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.'

I told Tom (Fontana) that I wanted to make him one of the original characters on ‘SVU.’ The rest is history. “I first worked with Richard on the ‘Law & Order’/‘Homicide’ crossover and loved the character so much. I love you” in honor of his late co-star. He also served as a warm-up act on “Saturday Night Live” in the early days of the sketch comedy program. I love you so very much, now and forever.” He had “been dealing with circulatory and respiratory issues for years,” according to Scheft, a longtime friend of “I feel blessed to have known you and adored you and worked with you, side by side, for so many years. “Yes, I am sad. Yes, it’s bittersweet. “I am truly blessed to have been in the company of so many remarkable people for such a long time!” Belzer wrote in 2013. After Munch retired on a landmark episode of “SVU” in 2013, Belzer penned a heartfelt essay bidding farewell to his onscreen alter ego for the [the beloved character of John Munch](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-xpm-2013-oct-17-la-et-st-richard-belzer-john-munch-law-order-20131010-story.html) on the 1990s crime drama “Homicide: Life on the Street” before reprising the role for “Homicide: The Movie” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” His sarcastic portrayal of Munch was so popular, Belzer also made cameos and guest appearances as the witty investigator in a number of other shows, including “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “30 Rock,” “The Wire,” “Arrested Development” and “The X-Files.”

Richard Belzer, comedian known for "Saturday Night Live" and actor in "Law & Order" franchise shows, has died at age 78.

](https://twitter.com/warrenleightTV/status/1627348519211216899)I loved writing for Munch, and I loved being with Belz," Light tweeted. Godspeed, Belz…" In 1985, Belzer had Hogan as a guest on his cable TV talk show “Hot Properties” to perform a chin-lock on him. In addition to his work as a comedian, Belzer played the role of Detective John Munch for 23 years. "We sensed this would be his parting scene. [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/Chris_Meloni/status/1627384295005339649)kissing the late star on the cheek. He also posted a photo of [Mariska Hargitay feeding Belzer an apple](https://twitter.com/Chris_Meloni/status/1627384361694765062). Belzer never auditioned for the role of Detective John Munch. "One of the funniest people ever. [announced his death on Twitter](https://twitter.com/larainenewman/status/1627327574572662786). " [I'm so sad to hear of Richard Belzer's passing](https://twitter.com/larainenewman/status/1627327574572662786)," Newman wrote. Scheft, a writer who had been working on a documentary about Belzer, told The Associated Press there was no known cause of death, but that Belzer had been dealing with circulatory and respiratory issues.

Standup comedian played police role in Homicide: Life on the Streets, Law & Order: SVU and other series.

He later said the SNL creator, Lorne Michaels, reneged on a promise to work him into the show. In 2008, with Michael Ian Black, Belzer published the novel I Am Not a Cop! He made his big-screen debut in Ken Shapiro’s 1974 film The Groove Tube, a satire co-starring Chevy Chase that grew out of the comedy group Channel One. Belzer never auditioned for the role. A dream, really.” So it’s been a lot of fun for me.

Richard Belzer, the longtime stand-up comedian who became one of TV's most indelible detectives as John Munch in ``Law & Order: SVU,'' has died.

For more than two decades and across 10 series — including appearances on “30 Rock” and “Arrested Development” — Belzer played the wise-cracking homicide detective prone to conspiracy theories. Belzer never auditioned for the role. The actor Henry Winkler, Belzer’s cousin, wrote “Rest in peace Richard.”

Richard Belzer, the comedian and actor best known for playing the acerbic Detective John Munch across a number of NBC crime dramas, including "Law & Order: ...

He later worked as the warm-up act for “Saturday Night Live” and appeared in a few sketches in its early seasons. Later film roles came in 1982’s “Night Shift” followed by the Al Pacino-starring “Scarface” one year later. And in the 1990s, he appeared on the superhero shows “The Flash” and “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.” Despite his crime-solving career, the Connecticut-born actor’s early focus was on comedy and rooted in New York City. “Richard brought humor and joy into all our lives, was the consummate professional, and we will all miss him very much.” “Now, everybody moves up one.” Belzer was famed for his role as Detective Munch, first appearing on NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street” from 1993 to 1999. I feel blessed to have known you and adored you and worked with you, side by side, for so many years.” “I first worked with Richard on the ‘Law & Order’ / ‘Homicide’ crossover and loved the character so much. They write to all my paranoia and anti-establishment dissidence and conspiracy theories, so it’s been a lot of fun for me. His scrawny, wisecracking, glasses-wearing investigator became over time one of the most recognizable cops in TV crime show history. It’s been a dream actually.”

'I will miss you, your unique light, and your singular take on this strange world,' Mariska Hargitay wrote of her late 'SVU' co-star Richard Belzer.

[#TheBelz.” ](https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheBelz?src=hashtag_click)Meloni, who plays detective Elliot Stabler in “SVU,” also shared [a behind-the-scenes picture](https://twitter.com/Chris_Meloni/status/1627384361694765062?s=20) of Hargitay and Belzer goofing around on the set of “SVU.” Hargitay and Meloni were among several members of the “Law & Order” family who paid tribute to Belzer on Sunday. I told Tom [Fontana] that I wanted to make him one of the original characters on ‘SVU.’ The rest is history. “I first worked with Richard on the ‘Law & Order'/'Homicide’ crossover and loved the character so much. [posted a photo](https://twitter.com/Chris_Meloni/status/1627384295005339649?s=20) of himself kissing Belzer on the cheek and wrote, “Good bye mon ami. I love you so very much, now and forever.”

Richard Belzer died Sunday, February 19, at his home in France. The actor was 78. Writer Bill Scheft, a longtime friend of Belzer, confirmed the news to The ...

In addition to his stand-up and acting careers, the Connecticut native was an author. [creator Dick Wolf ](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/dick-wolf-tv-shows-biggest-best-crossover-connections/)paid his respects to Belzer in a statement on Sunday. Belzer was married to Gail Susan Ross from 1966 to 1972 and then was wed to Dalia Danoch from 1976 to 1978. His character also made appearances on The X-Files, The Wire and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. He originated the role on Homicide: Life on the Street in 1993 and appeared in 119 episodes of the series until it ended in 1999. Belzer started his career as a stand-up comic before landing roles in films.

A stand-up comic, he called his hard-boiled character on the long-running TV drama “Lenny Bruce with a badge.”

Mr. Absent fame or fortune, Mr. Belzer came to own two homes in the south of France, and he built a basketball court at one of them. Belzer accused Mr. In 1971, Mr. But on the inside, he was “scared” — 37 years old and still struggling to afford meals. She died of cancer, and Charles died by suicide before Mr. In a 2010 interview with AARP The Magazine, Mr. He served in the army for a little under a year, then received a discharge on psychiatric grounds after repeatedly injuring himself. Scheft, who has been working on a documentary about Mr. The death was confirmed by Bill Scheft, a friend of Mr. He was the kind of cop who made casual references to Friedrich Nietzsche and the novelist Elmore Leonard.

Richard Belzer, a comedian and actor known for roles on shows such as Law & Order: SVU, has passed away. Learn more about his life and career.

[tweeted](https://twitter.com/warrenleightTV/status/1627348519211216899), "Richard Belzer was the first actor to welcome me when I started at SVU. [wrote](https://twitter.com/larainenewman/status/1627327574572662786), "I'm so sad to hear of Richard Belzer's passing. He was one of my first friends when I got to New York to do SNL. Belzer sued Hogan, and the pair reached a financial settlement, which the actor used for a down payment on his house in France, The Hollywood Reporter said. One of the greats, babe. I loved the guy. Belzer was born in 1944 in Bridgeport, Connecticut and began his entertainment career as a stand-up comedian in New York City. One of the funniest people ever. [Law & Order: Special Victims Unit](https://www.eonline.com/news/law_and_order_special_victims_unit), died Feb. [tweeted](https://twitter.com/marcmaron/status/1627338017836011521), "Richard Belzer died. 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," it read. Belzer passed away at his home in Bozouls in southwest France, writer Bill Scheft, a longtime friend of the actor, told [The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/richard-belzer-dead-homicide-law-order-1235329813/).

For more than two decades and across 10 series, Belzer played the wise-cracking, acerbic homicide detective prone to conspiracy theories.

In 1985, Belzer had Hogan as a guest on his cable TV talk show Hot Properties to perform a chin-lock on him. "Munch was based on a real guy in Baltimore who was a star detective, in a way. "I first worked with Richard on the Law & Order/Homicide crossover and loved the character so much," Wolf said. As one of the most influential comedians of the 1970s, Belzer was a master of crowd work. That fall, Law & Order: SVU premiered, with Belzer starring alongside Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni in a storyline written as though Munch had transferred from Baltimore to New York. Not only was he a dissident who said what was on his mind, he kind of had the gallows humour that's needed in a homicide squad." One of his favourite lines was: "I have a microphone. He was one of my first friends when I got to New York to do SNL. He made his big-screen debut in Ken Shapiro's 1974 movie The Groove Tube, a TV satire co-starring Chevy Chase, a film that grew out of the comedy group Channel One that Belzer was a part of. But Belzer became one of the era's top standup comics. He later said SNL creator Lorne Michaels reneged on a promise to work him into the show. 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.

Richard Belzer, the longtime stand-up comedian who became one of TV's most indelible detectives, has died. He was 78.

“My kitchen was the toughest room I ever worked,” Belzer told People magazine in 1993. 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. Belzer never auditioned for the role. For more than two decades and across 10 series – including even appearances on 30 Rock and Arrested Development – Belzer played the wise-cracking homicide detective prone to conspiracy theories. [Bill Scheft told The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/richard-belzer-dead-homicide-law-order-1235329813/). Article content

Richard Belzer, the stand-up comedian who played the character of Det. John Munch, a tough and versatile Jewish cop, died at 78.

Belzer, who began his career on the National Lampoon Radio Hour, also made appearances on Alex Jones’ InfoWars in the 2010s. In the 1970s, Belzer served as the warm-up comedian for SNL, and appeared multiple times on its early seasons in bit parts. Out-of-character, Belzer, who retired from acting in 2016, was known for some out-there claims about the U.S. But Belzer’s most curious contribution to the culture was what began as a gig on Homicide: Life on the Street, where he played the ever-cynical Baltimore Police Department Det. His death was first reported on social media by his friend, [the actor Laraine Newman](https://twitter.com/larainenewman/status/1627327574572662786?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet), of Saturday Night Live fame. [stand-up comedian](https://stljewishlight.org/arts-entertainment/how-jewish-comedy-found-religion-from-philip-roth-to-broad-city/#photo)who left an indelible mark on television in the character of Det.

A stand-up comic, he called his hard-boiled character on the long-running TV drama “Lenny Bruce with a badge.”

Mr. Absent fame or fortune, Mr. Belzer came to own two homes in the south of France, and he built a basketball court at one of them. Belzer accused Mr. In 1971, Mr. But on the inside, he was “scared” — 37 years old and still struggling to afford meals. She died of cancer, and Charles died by suicide before Mr. In a 2010 interview with AARP The Magazine, Mr. He served in the army for a little under a year, then received a discharge on psychiatric grounds after repeatedly injuring himself. Scheft, who has been working on a documentary about Mr. The death was confirmed by Bill Scheft, a friend of Mr. He was the kind of cop who made casual references to Friedrich Nietzsche and the novelist Elmore Leonard.

L'acteur américain, connu pour ses rôles dans les séries "Homicide" et "New York, unité spéciale", est mort à l'âge de 78 ans ce dimanche dans le sud de la ...

: Nadège Abomangoli dénonce le "racisme latent"… "Quelle chance les anges ont de t'avoir. Ta lumière unique et ta vision singulière de ce monde étrange vont me manquer.

Richard Belzer incarnait le détective John Munch dans les séries "Homicide" et "New York, unité spéciale". L'acteur américain est décédé ce dimanche 19 ...

Richard Belzer s’est lancé en 1972 dans une vie de stand-up à New York. Belzer a joué Munch pour la première fois dans un épisode de "Homicide" en 1993 et l'a joué pour la dernière fois en 2016 dans "Law & Order: SVU". C'est dans cette petite commune que l'acteur américain s'est installé en 2013, comme il l'avait indiqué sur son profil Facebook, à la fin de la célèbre séire 'New York, unité spéciale".

Âgé de 78 ans, l'acteur américain était devenu indissociable de son personnage de détective cynique, apparu dans plusieurs séries.

Vous ne pourrez donc pas lire nos vidéos qui ont besoin de cookies tiers pour fonctionner. 1er janvier - Fred White Né en 1955, Fred White a été le batteur de Earth, Wind and Fire de 1974 à 1984. Malgré les excuses du catcheur et après plusieurs points de suture à l’arrière de la tête, Richard Belzer poursuivra Hogan en procès, demandant 5 millions de dollars en dommages et intérêts pour ses blessures corporelles. Alors animateur de l’émission Hot Properties en 1985, l’acteur demande une démonstration de catch à son interlocuteur. L’annonce de son décès par le Hollywood Reporter indique que le comédien originaire du Connecticut est décédé dimanche matin à son domicile en France, dans la commune de Bozouls (Aveyron). Son personnage était également apparu dans un épisode de The Wire.

Inoubliable inspecteur John Munch dans la série "New York Unité Spéciale", qu'il avait même incarné à plusieurs reprises dans d'autre séries, ...

Richard a apporté de l'humour et de la joie dans toutes nos vies; il était un professionnel accompli et il nous manquera beaucoup". [Tom Fontana](/personne/fichepersonne_gen_cpersonne=105328.html) que je voulais en faire l'un des personnages originaux de New York Unité Spéciale. L'annonce de son décès a été faite par son amie actrice, [Laraine Newman](/personne/fichepersonne_gen_cpersonne=2032.html), sur son [compte Twitter](https://twitter.com/larainenewman/status/1627327574572662786?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet). En 1993, il prend ce rôle dans la série Homicide jusqu'en 1999, puis dans New York, unité spéciale jusqu'en 2016. En 1975, il faisait ses débuts au cinéma dans un film de [Richard Belzer](/personne/fichepersonne_gen_cpersonne=21423.html), qui a incarné pendant 17 ans l'inspecteur John Munch dans la série, est décédé ce dimanche 19 février à Bozouls, dans l'Aveyron.

L'interprète du détective John Munch dans la série "New York, unité spéciale", s'est éteint dimanche 19 février dans le sud de la France, rapporte "The ...

Vous recevrez ponctuellement sous forme de notifciation des actualités RTL. Cliquez sur “Autoriser” pour poursuivre votre navigation en recevant des notifications. Par ailleurs, Richard Belzer avait rejoint épisodiquement les distributions des séries 30 Rock, Arrested Development, et The Wire.

The actor was a warm-up comedian on 'Saturday Night Live' before appearing as Detective Munch on the police procedural.

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Il incarnait le détective John Munch dans les séries Homicide et New York, unité spéciale, l'acteur Richard Belzer est décédé ce dimanche à 78 ans.

Je me sens chanceuse de t'avoir connu, de t'avoir adoré et d'avoir travaillé avec toi, côte à côte, pendant tant d'années. Tes dernières paroles nous aider à surmonter ta mort.» Richard Belzer aurait en effet adressé un «Va te faire foutre, connard», à son ami romancier Bill Scheft... Chris Meloni, son partenaire dans «New York, unité spéciale», lui a rendu hommage sur Instagram : «Richard 'The Belz' Belzer. L’acteur américain Richard Belzer est décédé à l’âge de 78 ans, ce dimanche, a annoncé The Hollywood Reporter. Ta lumière unique et ta vision singulière de ce monde étrange vont me manquer. Pour beaucoup, il restera à jamais John Munch («New York, unité spéciale», «Homicide», «New York, police judiciaire»...), l’un des plus célèbres détectives de la télévision.

Le comédien américain s'est éteint le 19 février à son domicile du sud de la France, il avait 78 ans.

Richard Belzer a souvent joué le rôle d’un comique de stand-up au cinéma, notamment dans Fame, pendant les années 1980, et Scarface, en 1983. Après avoir été renvoyé du Dean Junior College, dans le Massachusetts, Richard Belzer s’est lancé dans une série de stand-up à New York en 1972. Avant que « Saturday Night Live » (SNL) change la scène comique de New York, Belzer s’est produit avec John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray et d’autres sur la National Lampoon Radio Hour. A partir de ce début improbable, le Munch de Belzer, arborant ses lunettes de soleil sur le petit écran pendant plus de deux décennies, allait devenir l’un des personnages de télévision connaissant la plus grande longévité. Pendant plus de deux décennies et à travers dix séries – y compris des apparitions dans 30 Rock et Arrested Development –, Richard Belzer a joué le rôle d’un inspecteur de la criminelle, acerbe et plein de sagesse, enclin aux théories du complot. Après l’avoir entendu sur « The Howard Stern Show », le producteur exécutif Barry Levinson a fait venir le comédien pour lire le rôle.

Véritable légende du show business, le comédien américain a absolument tout fait au cours de ses quarante ans de carrière.

Il était aussi l’un des auteurs et intervenants de The National Lampoon Radio Hour avec Chase encore, mais aussi Bill Murray, John Belushi, Michael O’Donoghue, Gilda Radner, et Harold Ramis, la petite bande qui allait par la suite former le noyau dur du Saturday Night Live. C’est dans une comédie à sketchs au budget serré qu’il avait fait sa première apparition à l’écran, The Groove Tube (Faites-le avec les doigts en VF), un projet bien de son époque, aux côtés de Chevy Chase et du musicien Buzzy Linhart. « Il avait de nombreux problèmes de santé, et ses derniers mots ont été , “Va te faire foutre, enfoiré” », a expliqué au Hollywood Reporter Bill Scheft, son vieil ami écrivain et auteur pour la télé.