Richard Belzer

Richard Jay Belzer (born August 4, 1944)[1] is an American retired actor, stand-up comedian, conspiracy theorist and author.[2] He is best known for his role as BPD Detective, NYPD Detective/Sergeant, and DA Investigator John Munch,[3] whom he has portrayed as a regular cast member on the NBC police drama series Homicide: Life on the Street[4] and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,[3] as well as in guest appearances on a number of other series. He portrayed the character for 23 years, from 1993 to 2016. Belzer retired from acting at age 71 in 2016.

Belzer was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Frances and Charles Belzer, a tobacco and candy retailer.[citation needed] He grew up in a Jewish family.[5] He described his mother as frequently physically abusive, and he declared that his comedy career began when trying to make his mother laugh in order to distract her from abusing him and his brother.[6] After graduating from Fairfield Warde High School, Belzer worked as a reporter for the Bridgeport Post.

Belzer attended Dean College, which was then known as Dean Junior College, in Franklin, Massachusetts, but was expelled.[7] He worked in a variety of jobs, including sales and as a census taker.