Richard Belzer's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Detective J… The Flash (1990) Joe Kline Homicide: Life on the Street Det. John M… Later with Bob Costas Richard Bel… Celebrity Blackjack Richard Bel… Lords of the Revolution Narrator - … Minding The Store Roast Comic… The Beat Det. John M…

Main Movie Roles

BIOGRAPHY:

A social misfit, was kicked out of every school he ever attended, due to his uncontrollable wit. His mother (Frances) died of breast cancer when Richard was 18. His father (Charles) committed suicide when he was 22. A dedication is written to him in Richard Belzer's "UFO's, JFK, and Elvis: Conspiracies You Don't Have To Be Crazy To Believe" (Ballantine Books, 1999).


TRIVIA:

• As of 2007, he is the only actor to play the same character in nine different series. He has played Detective John Munch in _"Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993)_ (qv), _"Law & Order" (1990)_ (qv), _"The X Files" (1993)_ (qv), _"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999)_ (qv), _"The Beat" (2000)_ (qv), _"Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005)_ (qv), _"Arrested Development" (2003)_ (qv), _"The Wire" (2002)_ (qv), and _"Paris enquêtes criminelles" (2007)_ (qv). He followed 'John Ratzenberger' (qv) and 'George Wendt (I)' (qv), who played Cliff Clavin and Norm Peterson respectively in six series: _"Cheers" (1982)_ (qv), _"St. Elsewhere" (1982)_ (qv), _"The Tortellis" (1987)_ (qv), _"Wings" (1990)_ (qv), _"The Simpsons" (1989)_ (qv) and _"Frasier" (1993)_ (qv).
• His aunt and uncle ('Henry Winkler' (qv)'s parents) were survivors of the Holocaust.
• Testified on behalf of a low-level criminal who ran onto the set of _"Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993)_ (qv) while fleeing actual Baltimore police and surrendered to the actors; Belzer said the look on the guy's face was sufficient punishment
• His character Detective John Munch, whom he has played continuously on _"Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993)_ (qv) and _"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999)_ (qv) since January 1993, is currently the longest-running character on U.S. prime-time drama television.
• 'Robert De Niro' (qv) studied Belzer for his role in _The King of Comedy (1982)_ (qv).
• Survived testicular cancer in 1984.
• Appeared on the 25 March 1978 episode of _"Saturday Night Live" (1975)_ (qv) with 'Christopher Lee (I)' (qv) as the host and musical guest, 'Meat Loaf' (qv).
• Was one of the original emcees at 'Rick Newman' (qv)'s Catch a Rising Star, along with 'Elayne Boosler' (qv), in the mid to late 1970s.