Television is in mourning, as we have the sad news of the death at age 78 of Richard Belzerone of the most present faces in detective fiction thanks to a role he has played for more than twenty years: the Detective John Munch from the ‘Law & Order’ franchise.
Although a whole generation associates him more with ‘Law and Order: Special Victims Unit’, Munch was the co-star during his seven seasons of ‘Homicide’, the policeman created by Paul Attanasio based on the book by David Simon (‘The Wire’ ). After the end of the series, Dick Wolf He signed him to inaugurate the new spin-off of his police franchise.
Belzer began his career as a comedian and improviser, working in the 1970s on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in what was beginning to take its first steps in film and radio. His busiest time was undoubtedly during the 90swhen he began to have recurring roles on ‘The Flash’ before being hired by Barry Levinson for ‘Homicide’.
A record character
Munch’s character was so iconic that he is the unique television fiction that has appeared in eleven different series and programs being played by himself. This count includes other series like ‘Law and Order’, ‘The X-Files’, ‘The Wire’ and comedies like ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ or ‘Arrested Development’.
After his retirement in season 15 of ‘Law and Order: SVU’, although he would appear as a guest in a later season, Munch surpasses (for now) another multi-series character such as Frasier Crane by Kelsey Grammer and its 20 seasons of existence, which prepares its return.