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

Main Movie Roles 1999 - Man on the Moon 1998 - Species II 1996 - A Very Brady Sequel 1994 - The Puppet Masters 1994 - North 1993 - Mad Dog and Glory 1990 - The Bonfire of the Vanities 1989 - Fletch Lives 1988 - The Wrong Guys 1983 - Scarface 1982 - Night Shift 1982 - Author! Author! 1980 - Fame 1974 - The Groove Tube

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:

• Was going to appear in 'Chevy Chase' (qv)'s movie, _Modern Problems (1981)_ (qv), but scheduling conflicts could not be worked out. The date for the shooting of his scene was postponed twice and the day his scene was supposed to be shot, Belzer had a lucrative club date in New York, which was postponed at the last minute.
• 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).
• 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
• 'Robert De Niro' (qv) studied Belzer for his role in _The King of Comedy (1982)_ (qv).
• Is a frequent guest on _"The Howard Stern Radio Show" (1998)_ (qv).
• Friend of 'Richard Lewis (II)' (qv)'.
• Appeared on the 2 October 1976 episode of _"Saturday Night Live" (1975)_ (qv) with 'Eric Idle' (qv) as the host and musical guests 'George Harrison (I)' (qv), 'Joe Cocker' (qv), and 'Stuff' (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.