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Fan-favorite histrion and comedian Richard Belzer has passed away.
The star, best known for playing detective John Munch connected NBC shows Homicide: Life connected the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, died Feb. 19 astatine property 78. Belzer passed away at his location successful Bozouls successful southwest France, writer Bill Scheft, a longtime person of the actor, told The Hollywood Reporter.
"He had tons of wellness issues," Scheft said of the actor, "and his past words were, 'F--k you, motherf--ker.'"
NBC and Universal Television besides issued a connection astir Belzer's death. "Anyone who ever had the pleasance of watching Richard Belzer represent Det. John Munch—whether connected Homicide or Law & Order: SVU—over 4 decades volition ne'er hide however overmuch helium inhabited that beloved quality to marque it his own," it read. "His professionalism, talents and dedication to the trade made him a pillar successful the industry, but it was his humor, compassion and loving bosom that made him family."
The connection continued, "Our condolences spell retired to his loved ones arsenic we articulation them successful mourning his loss, but besides successful celebrating his memory."
Belzer is survived by his third wife, histrion Harlee McBride, and stepdaughters Jessica and Bree.
Belzer was calved successful 1944 in Bridgeport, Connecticut and began his amusement vocation as a stand-up comedian successful New York City. He was the warm-up comic connected the archetypal play of Saturday Night Live and took portion successful the Channel One drama radical that parodied TV shows and inspired the 1974 film The Groove Tube, which marked the actor's onscreen debut.
Belzer besides made appearances in SNL sketches, and starred in other TV shows specified arsenic The Flash, arsenic good as films specified arsenic Night Shift and Scarface, earlier making his debut arsenic Munch on Homicide: Life connected the Street in 1993.
Kristina Bumphrey/Starpix/Shutterstock
He played the relation for each 7 seasons of the series, arsenic good arsenic in its 2000 TV film, a afloat 15 seasons of Law & Order: SVU and episodes of eight different shows—episodes of Law & Order, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, The X-Files, The Wire, UPN's The Beat, 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Arrested Development.
In 1985, helium hosted his ain speech show, Hot Properties. On 1 episode, helium challenged wrestling fable Hulk Hogan to show 1 of his signature wrestling moves connected him. He obliged, putting Belzer in front chin lock, causing him to walk retired and deed his caput connected the floor. Belzer sued Hogan, and the brace reached a fiscal settlement, which the histrion utilized for a down outgo connected his location successful France, The Hollywood Reporter said.
In summation to his drama and acting career, Belzer was besides the writer of 4 conspiracy mentation books, including UFOs, JFK, and Elvis: Conspiracies You Don't Have to Be Crazy to Believe and Hit List: An In-Depth Investigation into the Mysterious Deaths of Witnesses to the JFK Assassination.
Many of Belzer's colleagues paid tribute to the prima pursuing quality of his passing.
Mariska Hargitay wrote connected her Instagram, "Goodbye my dear, beloved friend. I volition miss you, your unsocial light, and your singular instrumentality connected this unusual world. I consciousness blessed to person known you and adored you and worked with you, broadside by side, for truthful galore years. How fortunate the angels are to person you. I tin perceive them laughing already. I emotion you truthful precise much, present and forever."
Comedian and actor Marc Maron tweeted, "Richard Belzer died. He was an original. One of the greats, babe. I loved the guy. RIP"
Laraine Newman, an original Saturday Night Live formed member, wrote, "I'm truthful bittersweet to perceive of Richard Belzer's passing. I loved this feline truthful much. He was 1 of my archetypal friends erstwhile I got to New York to bash SNL. We utilized to spell retired to meal each week astatine Sheepshead Bay for lobster. One of the funniest radical ever. A maestro astatine assemblage work. RIP dearest."
Meanwhile, erstwhile Law & Order: SVU showrunner Warren Light tweeted, "Richard Belzer was the archetypal histrion to invited maine erstwhile I started astatine SVU. Open, warm, acerbic, whip smart, amazingly kind. I loved penning for Munch, and I loved being with Belz. We sensed this would beryllium his parting scene. Godspeed Belz..."
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