Photo: Duffy-Marie Arnoult/WireImage
Mariska Hargitayis honoring her lateLaw & Order:Special Victims UnitcostarRichard Belzer, who died Sunday at the age of 78.
“How lucky the angels are to have you. I love you so very much, now and forever,” the post concluded.
CostarChristopher Melonialso shared aphoto of Hargitay feeding Belzeron theLaw & Order: SUVset.
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Belzer, an actor, comedian and author, died at his home in Bozouls in southwest France. The official cause of death has not yet been revealed.
FormerLate Show with David Lettermanwriter Bill Scheftconfirmed the newstoThe Hollywood Reporter. “He had lots of health issues, and his last words were, ‘F— you, motherf—er,'” Scheft toldTHR.
Belzer was best known for his role as Detective John Munch onLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit. After originating the role on NBC’sHomicide: Life on the Streetin 1993 and reprising the character in theLaw & Orderparent series, he appeared in nearly 330 episodes ofSVUbetween 1999 and 2013, with two additional cameos in 2014 and 2016.
NBC and Universal Television said in a statement: “Anyone who ever had the pleasure of watching Richard Belzer portray Det. John Munch — whether onHomicideorLaw & Order: SVU– over four decades will never forget how much he inhabited that beloved character to make it his own.
“His professionalism, talents and dedication to the craft made him a pillar in the industry, but it was his humor, compassion and loving heart that made him family. Our condolences go out to his loved ones as we join them in mourning his loss, but also in celebrating his memory.”
Law & Order: SVUcreator and executive producer Dick Wolf also released a statement in response to the news of Belzer’s death.
“Richard Belzer’s Detective John Munch is one of television’s iconic characters. I first worked with Richard on theLaw & Order/Homicidecrossover and loved the character so much, I told [screenwriter] Tom [Fontana] that I wanted to make him one of the original characters onSVU.”
“The rest is history. Richard brought humor and joy into all our lives, was the consummate professional and we will all miss him very much.”
Of hisSVUrole, Belzer noted, “I would never be a detective, but if I were, that’s how I’d be. The character is very close to how I would be. They write to all of my paranoia, anti-establishment dissonance and conspiracy theories, so it’s a lot of fun for me. It’s like a dream, actually.”
source: people.com
