Richard Belzer: cause of death unclear; health problems identified

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Richard Belzer’s cause of death was not immediately released.

Richard Belzer, best remembered as Detective John Munch in Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, has died at the age of 78. His manager confirmed this to CNN.

His official cause of death was not released. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Belzer died early Sunday, February 19, 2023, “at his home in Bozouls, south-west France.”

The Hollywood Reporter credited this detail to writer Bill Scheft, Belzer’s friend, who told the publication, “He had many health issues and his last words were, ‘F*** you, mother******’.”

Tributes flowed for Belzer as news of his death spread. “Richard Belzer was just hilarious. A genius at dealing with a crowd. So sad that he died.” Comedian Bill Crystal tweeted.

Here’s what you need to know:

Richard Belzer “passed away peacefully,” says his manager

GettyRichard Belzer

Belzer “died peacefully” early Sunday morning at his French home, Eric Gardner, his manager, told CNN.

“Goodbye, My Dear, Dear Friend,” actress and former co-star Mariska Hargitay wrote on Instagram. “I will miss you, your unique light and perspective on this strange world. I feel blessed to have known and adored you and worked side by side with you for so many years.”

Former co-star Chris Meloni tweeted, “Goodbye My friend. I love you.”

Years ago, Richard Belzer was diagnosed with testicular cancer

Belzer was a testicular cancer survivor. “The diagnosis of testicular cancer was like a cosmic slap in the face,” he told the Washington Postwhich reported in 1992 that Belzer discovered the cancer while taking a bath eight years earlier at the age of 40.

“My reaction was, ‘How do I get rid of it and can I have sex?'” he told the Post.

He survived cancer and spent decades garnering fans on TV screens.

“I would never be a detective, but if I were, I would be like this,” he said in an interview with The Boomer Tube. “The character is very close to me. They write about all my paranoia and anti-establishment dissidences and conspiracy theories, so I had a lot of fun. Actually it was a dream.”

Saturday Night Live alumna Laraine Newman tweeted, “I am so sad to hear of the passing of Richard Belzer. I loved this guy so much. He was one of my first friends when I came to New York to do SNL. We used to go to Sheepshead Bay for dinner every week for lobster. One of the funniest people ever. A master of crowd work. RIP love.”

Richard Lewis tweeted, “Old friends are disappearing. Belzer passed today. love for his family. In happier times, that’s us a few days before the sold-out town hall. We started our careers in New York practically at the same time. He’s made me laugh a billion times. RIP Belz❤️”

According to Belzer’s IMDB profile, which lists his cause of death as “health complications,” Belzer was born on August 4, 1944 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. “His mother (Frances) died of breast cancer when Richard was 18. His father (Charles) committed suicide when he was 22,” the profile reads.

Belzer had a successful career and was “the only actor in television history to play the same character (Detective John Munch) on 11 different live-action series,” reported IMDb.

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