The beloved actor, Richard Belzer, has passed away at 78 years old. The actor who famously portrayed Detective Munch in the long-running hit crime drama series “Law and Order” died peacefully in his home last Sunday.
A look back in time: Richard Belzer’s fantastic acting career
Richard Belzer was best known for his role as Detective John Munch who appeared in “Homicide: Life on the Street”, “Law and Order”, and “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”. Munch also made cameos in other TV shows like 30 Rock, The X-Files, Arrested Development, and the most recent one, “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”. His role even got a Muppet version on “Sesame Street”. Because of its popularity, the iconic character has been around on television for about 23 years.
OTHER NEWS: “Days of Our Lives” actor Cody Longo dies at 34 – Cause of death explained
Aside from being the witty and charismatic cop, Belzer was also part of Saturday Night Live back in 1975. Before he was known as the wisecracking detective, Richard Belzer was a stand-up comedian. According to executive producer Barry Levinson, Richard Belzer never auditioned for the part. When he heard Belzer in an episode of “The Howard Stern Show”, he immediately knew that Belzer is the perfect guy for Detective John Munch. And then, the rest is history.
Richard Belzer’s cause of death
Richard’s final moments were spent with his family in his home in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France. Comedy writer and Belzer’s long-time friend, Bill Sheft, confirmed about the veteran actor’s passing. According to Sheft, Richard Belzer has already been having several health problems in the past. He told Los Angeles Times that the 78-year-old actor “had been dealing with circulatory and respiratory issues for years” which could be the primary reason for Belzer’s death. However, the family of the deceased hasn’t made an announcement about the true cause of death so far.
OTHER NEWS: Los Angeles Bishop’s cause of death – Is it homicide?
Bill Sheft also added, that even in Richard’s last breath, as the comedian he is, he still had some incredible and funny words to say. “His last words were, ‘F— you, mother—-“. Sheft told Los Angeles Times.
In addition, one of his close friends, Laraine Newman, took the chance to grieve Belzer’s passing on Twitter. Newman was the first person to confirm the actor’s death. The two celebrities worked together in SNL back in the day and have been connected ever since.
I'm so sad to hear of Richard Belzer's passing. I loved this guy so much. He was one of my first friends when I got to New York to do SNL. We used to go out to dinner every week at Sheepshead Bay for lobster. One of the funniest people ever. A master at crowd work. RIP dearest. pic.twitter.com/u23co0JPA2
— Laraine Newman (@larainenewman) February 19, 2023
His family, friends, fans, and everyone whom he has worked with described Richard Belzer as a fun, kind, warm, and loving human being. It’s unfortunate that he has to go but everyone will be missing him, not just for his role as detective Munch, but as the funny and kind Richard Belzer.
We at Spiel Times offer our prayers to the great Richard Belzer. We, along with her bereaved family, friends, and fans, are hoping that Richard’s soul may rest in eternal peace. Did you find what you were looking for in this article? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. For more content, stay with us, here at Spiel Times.
OTHER NEWS: Los Angeles Bishop’s cause of death – Is it homicide?
Make sure you subscribe to our push notifications. Stay posted and never miss an update from video games, cinema, and sports. Follow us on Twitter @spieltimes for the latest PS5 restock and drop. Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Gaming!
