Richard Belzer, who started his career as a stand-up comic but later found fame as detective John Munch on Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, has died. He was 78.
“I never asked anyone to be on their show. So it’s doubly flattering to me to see me depicted in a script and that I’m so recognizable and lovable as the sarcastic detective and smart-ass,” Belzer said in a 2008 interview. “Much to my delight, because he is a great character for me to play, it’s fun for me. So I’m not upset about being typecast at all.”
According to a close friend, Bill Scheft, Belzer died early Sunday at his home in Bozouls in southwest France. “He had lots of health issues, and his last words were, ‘Fuck you, motherfucker,’” Scheft said.