Richard Belzer
Biography
Richard Jay Belzer (August 4 1944 – February 19 2023) was an American stand‑up comedian, author and actor born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Over a career that spanned several decades he accumulated 105 acting credits, most prominently portraying the detective John Munch as a regular on NBC’s police dramas Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He also headlined the 1986 series The Richard Belzer Show. In addition to television, Belzer is associated with titles such as The Wire, Zjizvená tvář and The Midnight Special. He was occasionally credited as “Richa” throughout.
Career overview
Richard Belzer was born on August 4, 1944 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA, and died on February 19, 2023 at the age of 78. He worked as a stand‑up comedian, author and actor, accumulating more than one hundred credited performances; the TMDB record lists 105 known acting credits. Belzer is most widely recognized for his portrayal of the character John Munch, a role he carried as a regular cast member on the NBC police drama Homicide: Life on the Street and later on the series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In addition to his long‑running television work, he headlined his own series, The Richard Belzer Show, which premiered in 1986. His film work includes appearances in titles such as The Wire – Špína Baltimoru, Zjizvená tvář and The Midnight Special, as noted in Czech‑language film databases. Throughout his career Belzer was credited primarily as an actor, and his extensive body of work spans both television and film.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
112 titles- Alive in France (2018) as Self
- Gilbert (2017) as Self
- Where Have You Gone, Lou DiMaggio? (2017) as Self
- The Comedian (2016) as Himself
- The Best Democracy Money Can Buy (2016) as Self
- Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead (2015) as Self - Actor / Producer
- Eat Drink Laugh: The Story of The Comic Strip (2014) as Self
- Santorini Blue (2013) as Richard
- Santorini Blue (2013) Executive Producer
- The Improv: 50 Years Behind the Brick Wall (2013) as Self
- Inside Comedy (2012) as Self
- Bright Day (2012) as Richard Belzer
- Cooking with Christopher Walken (2012) as Himself
- Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis (2011) as Self
- The 'Scarface' Phenomenon (2011) as Self
- Polish Bar (2010) as Hershel
- The Green Room with Paul Provenza (2010) as Self
- My Dog: An Unconditional Love Story (2009) as Self
- Surviving the Holidays with Lewis Black (2009) as Self
- The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn't (2008) as Self
- 30 Rock (2006) as Sergeant John Munch
- 30 Rock (2006) as Richard Belzer
- Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005) as John Munch
- Real Time with Bill Maher (2003) as Self
- Arrested Development (2003) as Detective Munch
- The Very Best of America's Funniest Comedians (2003) as Self (archive footage)
- The Belzer Connection (2003)
- The Wire (2002) as John Munch
- The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase (2002) as Self - Roaster
- Laughing Out Loud: America's Funniest Comedians (2001) as Self (archive footage)
- The Beat (2000) as John Munch
- Homicide: The Movie (2000) as John Munch
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as John Munch
- Man on the Moon (1999) as Richard Belzer
- Yesterday's Tomorrows (1999) as Self
- Jump (1999) as Jerry
- Hollywood Squares (1998) as Self - Panelist
- Species II (1998) as U. S. President
- Sesame Street: Elmopalooza! (1998) as Self
- Totally Bill Hicks (1998) as Self
- The Bar Channel (1998) as Seth
- South Park (1997) as Loogie (voice)
- The View (1997) as Self
- When Cars Attack (1997) as Himself - Host
- When Cars Attack (1997) Writer
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) as Richard Belzer
- Girl 6 (1996) as Caller #4 - Beach
- Get on the Bus (1996) as Rick
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
- Deadly Pursuits (1996) as Mariano
- A Very Brady Sequel (1996) as LAPD Detective
- Not of This Earth (1995) as Jeremy Pallin
- The Invaders (1995) as Randy Stein
- Prince for a Day (1995) as Bernie Silver
- North (1994) as Barker
- The Puppet Masters (1994) as Neil Jarvis
- Bandit: Bandit, Bandit (1994) as Big Bob Bentley
- Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart (1994) as Frank Giordano
- The X-Files (1993) as John Munch
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993) as Inspector Henderson
- Homicide: Life on the Street (1993) as John Munch
- Mad Dog and Glory (1993) as M.C. / Comic
- Dangerous Game (1993) as Cameo
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
- Mad About You (1992) as Detective Sharp
- The Larry Sanders Show (1992) as Richard Belzer
- Human Target (1992)
- The Flash III: Deadly Nightshade (1992) as Joe Kline
- Missing Pieces (1992) as Baldesari
- The Please Watch the Jon Lovitz Special, Live! (1992) as Self
- Good Sports (1991) as Richard Belzer
- Off and Running (1991) as Milt Zoloth
- Law & Order (1990) as John Munch
- The Flash (1990) as Joe Kline
- The Howard Stern Show (1990) as Self
- The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) as Television Producer
- The Flash (1990) as Joe Kline
- The Big Picture (1989) as Video Show Host
- Fletch Lives (1989) as Phil
- Monsters (1988) as Buzz Hunkle
- Freeway (1988) as Dr. David Lazarus
- Negligee and Underpants Party (1988) as Self
- The Wrong Guys (1988) as Belz
- Jackie Gleason: The Great One (1988) as Self (uncredited)
- Funny, You Don't Look 200: A Constitutional Vaudeville (1987) as Self
- The Tommy Chong Roast (1986) as Himself
- Charlie Barnett's Terms of Enrollment (1986) as Man Reading Paper
- The Young Comedians All-Star Reunion (1986) as Self
- America (1986) as Gypsy Beam
- Moonlighting (1985) as Leonard
- Miami Vice (1984) as Captain Hook
- Scarface (1983) as M.C. at Babylon Club
- Flicks (1983) as Stoner
- Belzer Behind Bars (1983) as Self
- Belzer Behind Bars (1983) Writer
- Author! Author! (1982) as Seth Shapiro
- Catch A Rising Star: 10th Anniversary Special (1982) as Self
- Night Shift (1982) as Pig
- The Facts (1982)
- Café Flesh (1982) as Audience Member (uncredited)
- Likely Stories Vol. 1 (1981)
- Fame (1980) as M.C. at Catch a Rising Star club
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Chevy Chase
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Juror (uncredited)
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Museum Visitor (uncredited)
- The Groove Tube (1974) as Rodriguez / Leo Batfish / The President / The Hooker
- Sesame Street (1969)
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Richard Belzer best known for?
Richard Belzer is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Constant Husband (1955), Contamination (1980), 30 Rock (2006), 30 Rock (2006).
When and where was Richard Belzer born?
Richard Belzer was born on August 4, 1944 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA. They passed away on February 19, 2023.
How many credits does Richard Belzer have?
Richard Belzer has accumulated over 112 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1961 to 2018.
What is Richard Belzer's background in cinema and television?
Richard Jay Belzer (August 4 1944 – February 19 2023) was an American stand‑up comedian, author and actor born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Over a career that spanned several decades he accumulated 105 acting credits, most prominently portraying the detective John Munch as a regular on NBC’s police dramas Homicide: Life...