Richard Belzer: 5 Facts About ‘Law & Order’ Star’s Death at 78

• Richard Belzer was a famous comedian who made his film debut in 1974. the grooved tube
• The actor played Det. John Munch in “Homicides” and “Law & Order: SVU”
• He died at the age of 78 at his home in France.

Richard Belzer was a beloved comedian and actor who passed away on February 19, 2023 at his home in France at the age of 78. Good friend and colleague of his in the early days of Saturday night live, Laraine Newmanshared a touching tribute to her Twitter, writing, “I loved this guy so much. He was one of my first friends when I came to New York to do SNL. He’s one of the funniest people out there. A master of mass work. Rest in peace, dear. Another old friend, writer I countsummed up Richard’s biting wit when he said the Hollywood reporter“He had a lot of health problems and his last words were: ‘Fuck you, shit’.”

I am very saddened to learn of the passing of Richard Belzer. I loved this boy so much. He was one of my first friends when I came to New York to do SNL. We went out to dinner every week in Sheepshead Bay for lobster. One of the funniest people out there. A master of mass work. tear dear. pic.twitter.com/u23co0JPA2

—Laraine Newman (@larainenewman) February 19, 2023

Read on to find out all about Belzer, below.

How did Belzer get started?

Richard Jay Belzer was born on August 4, 1944 in Bridgeport, Connecticut and quickly learned that his comedic skills would help him throughout his life, especially with an abusive mother. “He always had a reason to hit us,” Belzer said. People in 1993. “My kitchen was the hardest room I’ve ever worked in. I had to make my mother laugh or they would have kicked my ass.”

Before settling on his preferred career, Belzer tried a variety of odd jobs, “including a census taker, a stevedore and a jewelry salesman,” according to the Hollywood reporter. For a time she also worked at bridge pole newspaper.

His father’s suicide led him to take up comedy.

Three years after her mother died of breast cancer, Belzer’s father attempted suicide in 1967, but Belzer found it before it was too late. DAY. However, his father ended up being successful in attempting him a year later. Notably, Belzer’s brother would end up jumping off his building until his death in 2014 following the death of his wife.

After his father’s death, Belzer decided to focus on his purpose and signed up for an East Village comedy troupe called Channel One. the grooved tubewhich was the film debut of Chevrolet chase Also.

“We were very excited: when we wrote it, when we shot it, when we opened it, and when we realized we made a movie,” Belzer said in a 2010 interview with the AV club. “It was really underground in the sense that before it was a film, we had a little theater and we showed it grooved tube on three monitors in a 90-seat cinema. So, people would pay for the hottest celebrity news.