After decades of entertaining the world with his acting and comedic skills, Hollywood icon Richard Belzer passed away at 78. The news of his demise made the headlines on Sunday morning, and several celebrities paid tribute. Here are the details.
Richard’s Last Words
On February 19, 2023, Richard passed away at his home in Bozouls in southwest France, peacefully with his family at his side. Bill Scheft confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter , noting that the actor’s last words were, “F*** you, motherf***er.”
Laraine Newman Spreads The News
Not long after, Laraine Newman took to social media to spread the sad news. In a Twitter post, the actress expressed sadness about hearing of Richard’s passing, revealing she loved him.
Inside Laraine’s Tribute
Laraine further noted that the actor was one of her first friends when she got to New York to do Saturday Night Live . The star said they would go for a lobster dinner every week at Sheepshead Bay.
Laraine Hails Richard
Laraine concluded her tribute by calling Richard the funniest person ever and a master at crowd work, after which she wrote, “RIP dearest.” She added a photo of the late icon smiling from ear to ear.
Marc Maron Pays Tribute
Comedian Marc Maron also shared his thoughts, describing Richard as an original and one of the greats. Other tributes poured in from Ice T, Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni, and others.
Richard Had Health Scares
Richard may have enjoyed a thrilling career in the entertainment industry, but like many others, the icon encountered many challenges, especially healthwise.
He Suffered From Testicular Cancer
For example, in 1983, Richard battled and survived testicular cancer, which ultimately inspired his 1997 HBO comedy special Another Lone Nut .
Richard’s Most-Known Role
Richard appeared in numerous shows and movies throughout his career, but he gained worldwide recognition following his role as quick-witted and razor-sharp Detective John Munch.
When Did Richard Originate The Character
The actor originated the role on NBC’s Homicide: Life on the Street in 1993, starring opposite Ned Beatty, Daniel Baldwin, and many other big names for seven seasons until 1999.
Richard’s Time In ‘Law & Order’
Afterward, he reprised the character in the Law & Order parent series, appearing in nearly 330 episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit between 1999 and 2013, with two additional cameos in 2014 and 2016.
Richard Speaks About His Role
In July 2020, Richard opened up about his John Munch role. The actor explained that it was a miracle that he got the part as he didn’t audition for it.
How Did Richard Get The Role?
Detailing how it went down, Richard said filmmaker and actor Berry Levinson heard him on the Howard Stern Show and brought him in to read for the character.
Richard Shares More Details
Richard further spoke about his SVU role, noting that he would never be a detective, but if he were, he would be like Detective John Munch. Richard said the character was very close to how he would be.
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Richard’s Other Acting Credits
Richard’s acting career highlights include his roles in top productions like S carface, Species II, The Flash, Moonlighting, Miami Vice, Nurses, The X-Files, 30 Rock, American Dad, etc.
Richard’s Comedy Career
Off-screen, Richard had a beloved comedy career. He appeared on Saturday Night Live during its inception period and did many stand-up and sketch comedies, including some hosting duties.
Richard Believed In Conspiracy Theories
In addition to his comedy career, Richard was vocal about his belief in various conspiracy theories. Often diving into American culture and history, he shared his unique views everywhere, whether on stage or in books.
Richard Released A Book
In 2016, the icon released the book Hit List: An In-Depth Investigation into the Mysterious Deaths of Witnesses to the JFK Assassination .
More Of Richard’s Books
Other of Richard’s books include UFOs, JFK, and Elvis: Conspiracies You Don’t Have To Be Crazy To Believe , I Am Not a Psychic! A Novel , Corporate Conspiracies: How Wall Street Took Over Washington , and many more.
Who Did Richard Leave Behind?
Richard is survived by his wife Harlee McBride, whom he married in 1985. He has no biological children, though Harlee has two from a previous relationship — Jessica and Shannon Benton.
