Richard Belzer — 'SVU' Star And Bridgeport Native — Dies At 78

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Comedian and Bridgeport native Richard Belzer, made famous by his role as John Munch in “Homicide: Life on the Street” and “Law & Order: SVU,” is dead at 78.

Belzer died Sunday at his residence in Bozouls, France, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“I'm so sad to hear of Richard Belzer's passing,” tweeted comedian Laraine Newman. “I loved this guy so much. He was one of my first friends when I got to New York to do SNL. … One of the funniest people ever.”

Belzer’s cousin, actor Henry Winkler, tweeted, “Rest in peace Richard.”

Born in Bridgeport, Belzer was drawn to comedy, he said, during an abusive childhood in which his mother would beat him and his older brother.

"My kitchen was the toughest room I ever worked," he told People magazine in 1993.

Belzer was expelled from Dean Junior College in Massachusetts after organizing protests on-campus and worked several odd jobs, at one point pursuing a career in journalism with The Bridgeport Post, according to the Reporter. Belzer’s father took his own life in the years after his mother died of breast cancer, according to the Reporter, and Belzer decided to take a risk and pursue comedy. He embarked on a life of stand-up in New York in 1972.

Before "Saturday Night Live" changed the comedy scene in New York, Belzer performed with John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray and others on the National Lampoon Radio Hour. In 1975, he became the warm-up comic for the newly launched "SNL." While many cast members quickly became famous, Belzer's roles were mostly smaller cameos.

After hearing Belzer on "The Howard Stern Show," executive producer Barry Levinson brought the comedian in to read for the part of detective John Munch. Belzer first played Munch on a 1993 episode of "Homicide" and last played him in 2016 on "Law & Order: SVU.”

Belzer's Munch would become one of television's longest-running characters. For more than two decades and across 10 series — even including appearances on "30 Rock" and "Arrested Development" — Belzer played the wise-cracking, acerbic homicide detective prone to conspiracy theories.

"I would never be a detective. But if I were, that's how I'd be," Belzer once said. "They write to all my paranoia and anti-establishment dissidence and conspiracy theories. So it's been a lot of fun for me. A dream, really.”

In 2008, Belzer published the novel "I Am Not a Cop!" with Michael Ian Black. He also helped write several books on conspiracy theories, about things like President John F. Kennedy's assassination and Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

Belzer is survived by his third wife, actress Harlee McBride, and his stepdaughters, Jessica and Bree, according to the Reporter.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.