Actor and comic Richard Belzer, recognized for his roles in Murder: Life on the Avenue and Regulation & Order: Particular Victims Unit, has handed away on the age of 78. He died at his dwelling in Bozouls in southwest France on Sunday after battling with a number of well being points.
Belzer was a standup comic earlier than venturing into movies in 1974 with The Groove Tube. Over his lengthy profession, he appeared in a number of tv exhibits and movies. Learn on to know extra about his life and profession.
Actor Richard Belzer Dies at 78
The information of Belzer’s demise was confirmed by his longtime pal and author Invoice Scheft. “He had numerous well being points, and his final phrases have been, ‘F*** you, motherf***er,” Scheft informed the media. The actor confronted various well being scares in his life.
In 1983, he battled testicular most cancers and got here out stronger. Belzer is survived by his wife, Harlee McBride, who he married in 1985. The couple didn’t have any kids; nonetheless, McBride is a mom of two daughters from her earlier relationship.
Born in Connecticut in 1944, Belzer grew up in a Jewish household. He graduated from Fairfield Warde Excessive Faculty and later attended Dean School however was expelled. He then took up completely different sorts of jobs earlier than beginning his profession as a humorist in New York Metropolis.
Belzer Shot to Fame with Murder: Life on the Avenue
The actor visitor starred in various movies within the Nineteen Seventies and ’80s, together with Fame, Café Flesh, Scarface, and Evening Shift. Nevertheless, it was his position as Det. John Munch in NBC’s Murder: Life on the Avenue, which acquired him extensive recognition. Belzer starred in 122 episodes of the present from 1993 to 1999.
He additionally appeared within the movie based mostly on the present in 2000 and later reprised his position in one other present, Regulation & Order: Particular Victims Unit. Reflecting on the enduring character, he had stated in an interview, “I might by no means be a detective, but when I have been, that’s how I’d be.”
“The character may be very near how I might be. They write to all of my paranoia, anti-establishment dissonance and conspiracy theories, so it’s numerous enjoyable for me. It’s like a dream, truly,” he added. Belzer additionally made visitor appearances on Saturday Evening Stay from 1975 to 1980.
Trade Pals Pay their Condolences
Belzer’s pals and colleagues from the business took to social media to specific their grief over his passing. “Richard Belzer’s detective John Munch is one in all tv’s iconic characters,” wrote Dick Wolf, the creator and government producer of Regulation & Order: SVU.
“I first labored with Richard on the Regulation & Order/Murder crossover and beloved the character a lot, I informed Tom (Fontana) that I needed to make him one of many authentic characters on SVU. The remainder is historical past. Richard introduced humor and pleasure into all our lives, was the consummate skilled, and we’ll all miss him very a lot,” he added.
Former Saturday Evening Stay solid member Laraine Newman tweeted, “I’m so unhappy to listen to of Richard Belzer’s passing. I beloved this man a lot. He was one in all my first pals once I acquired to New York to do SNL. We used to exit to dinner each week at Sheepshead Bay for lobster. One of many funniest folks ever. A grasp at crowd work. RIP dearest.”
Our condolences to Richard Belzer’s household and pals. Could his soul relaxation in peace!
