Actor Henry Winkler is amongst these paying tribute to actor and comic Richard Belzer, who has reportedly died at age 78. Former Saturday Evening Reside star Laraine Newman was the primary to interrupt the information of Belzer’s demise, calling him “one of many funniest individuals ever.”
Winkler, who was Belzer’s cousin, re-posted Newman’s publish and added, “Relaxation in peace Richard.”
Author Invoice Scheft advised The Hollywood Reporter that his longtime pal died early Sunday at his house in Bozouls in southwest France. “He had plenty of well being points, and his final phrases had been, ‘F*** you, motherf*****,’” Scheft advised the outlet.
The beloved actor, who began out on the standup circuit, discovered mainstream audiences together with his roles on NBC’s Murder: Life on the Road and Regulation & Order: Particular Victims Unit, turning into immediately identifiable together with his character, police detective John Munch. Like his onscreen alter ego, Belzer had a fascination with conspiracy theories, and wrote 4 books — two of them New York Instances bestsellers — about what he noticed as “controversial cover-ups.”
On social media, pals and followers had been fast to have a good time the lifetime of the actor. SVU star Mariska Hargitay stated she would miss Belzer’s “distinctive mild, and your singular tackle this unusual world.”
Christopher Meloni, who portrayed Det. Elliot Stabler reverse Belzer on SVU, posted a pair throwback photographs in Belzer’s honor. “Good bye mon ami. I like you,” he captioned one, which confirmed him planting a kiss on Belzer’s cheek, as Hargitay appeared on within the background. One other confirmed Hargitay feeding Belzer an apple on set.
Jon Stewart known as Belzer “a grasp” at stand-up comedy.
Marc Maron hailed the comedian as “one of many greats.”
“A real unique,” Patton Oswalt stated of Belzer.
In her tribute, Newman — mom of Hacks actress Hannah Einbinder — recalled how Belzer was one in every of her “first pals” when she arrived in New York. She described him as “a grasp at crowd work.” When somebody speculated that information of Belzer’s demise had been a part of a hoax, Newman replied, “I want it was a hoax.”
SVU showrunner Warren Leight spoke of how a lot he beloved working with Belzer, sharing that the actor was “surprisingly type.”
Jeffrey Ross known as Belzer “the good cat within the room.”
Ellen Barkin, Billy Crystal and Richard Lewis had been amongst these additionally sharing tributes.
Common Tv and NBC additionally commented on Belzer’s demise in an announcement. “Anybody who ever had the pleasure of watching Richard Belzer painting Det. John Munch — whether or not on Murder or Regulation & Order: SVU— over 4 a long time will always remember how a lot he inhabited that beloved character to make it his personal,” it learn.
“Richard Belzer’s Detective John Munch is one in every of tv’s iconic characters,” Regulation & Order creator Dick Wolf stated in an announcement to Selection. “I first labored with Richard on the Regulation & Order/Murder crossover and beloved the character a lot, I advised Tom [Fontana] that I wished to make him one of many unique characters on SVU. The remaining is historical past. Richard introduced humor and pleasure into all our lives, was the consummate skilled and we are going to all miss him very a lot.”
In 2013, it was introduced that Belzer could be leaving the enduring crime collection after 15 seasons. he went on to return to SVU in 2016, bringing again his beloved character for a visitor look. Belzer’s demise additionally comes on the heels of his onscreen accomplice, Ice-T, being honored with a star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame in a ceremony on Friday attended by Wolf and Hargitay.
Following his retirement from SVU, Belzer moved to the south of France. He married his third spouse, former actress Harlee McBride, in 1985 and had two stepdaughters.
