‘Law & Order: SVU’ star Richard Belzer passes away at 78
Richard Belzer has passed away. He was 78.
His manager Eric Gardner confirmed the news on Monday, Feb. 20, saying that he “passed away peacefully” at his home in Bozouls in southwest France.
According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, his good friend, writer Bill Scheft revealed to the entertainment outlet that he had “lots of health issues.”
The actor debuted in film in 1974 via The Groove Tube.
Best known for his portrayal of Detective John Munch, he made his first TV appearance in the first episode of Homicide: Life on the Street, which premiered in 1993 and was concluded in 1999. His last one was in Law & Order: SVU, where he appeared in various episodes from 1999 to 2016.
The Hollywood Reporter stated that he played the same role in eight other series in between the NBC shows, “and his hold on the character lasted longer than James Arness’ on Gunsmoke and Kelsey Grammer’s on Cheers and Frasier.”
Rest in peace.