Richard Belzer

Richard Belzer: biography

Richard Belzer was an American actor, stand-up comedian and author.

Childhood and youth

Richard Belzer was born on August 4, 1944, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and was raised in a Jewish family. His father, Charles Belzer, was a tobacco retailer, and his mother, Frances Belzer, was a hat maker. Belzer attended Fairfield Warde High School and later enrolled at Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts, where he studied drama.

As a teenager, Belzer had a difficult time fitting in and was often picked on by his peers. He found solace in watching movies and television shows and began to develop an interest in acting and comedy. He would often perform impressions of famous actors and comedians for his friends and family.

After college, Belzer moved to New York City to pursue a career in comedy. He performed stand-up comedy in various clubs around the city and eventually caught the attention of producers from "Saturday Night Live." This led to his first television appearance on the show in 1975, which launched his career in the entertainment industry.

Movie career

Richard Belzer has appeared in several movies throughout his career, spanning several decades. Here are some of his most notable movie roles:

Belzer's first film appearance was in the 1973 comedy "The Groove Tube," which also starred Chevy Chase and Ken Shapiro. He played various roles in the movies, including a character named "Larry, the Nude Organist."

In 1980, Belzer appeared in the movie "Fame," which followed the lives of students at the New York High School of Performing Arts. He played the role of a stand-up comedian and shared a scene with actress Anne Meara.

One of Belzer's most famous movie roles was in the 1983 crime drama "Scarface," directed by Brian De Palma. He played the role of a DEA agent named Meltzer, who was part of a task force investigating the drug trade in Miami.

Belzer also appeared in the 1984 comedy "The Ratings Game," which was directed by and starred Danny DeVito. He played the role of a network executive named Eddie Weinstock.

In the 1990s, Belzer appeared in several independent movies, including "Company Man" and "The Puppet Masters." He also provided the voice for the character of the Biscuit in the animated movie "Dr. Dolittle 2" in 2001.

Belzer's most recent film appearance was in the 2014 comedy "Girlfriend's Day," which was released on Netflix. He played the role of a character named Mr. Taft.

Throughout his career, Belzer also made numerous guest appearances on television shows, including "Miami Vice," "The Flash," and "The X-Files."

Personal life

Belzer has been married twice. His first marriage was to costume designer Gail Susan Ross from 1966 to 1972, and the couple had a daughter named Jessica. His second marriage was to boutique manager Dalia Danoch from 1976 to 1978. Later he had a relationship with the actress Harlee Mcbride.

In addition to his career in entertainment, Belzer was known for his interest in conspiracy theories and wrote several books on the topic. He also was a vocal advocate for animal rights and a vegan lifestyle.

Belzer was open about his struggles with addiction and spoke about his experiences with sobriety. In 1999, he was arrested for possession of cocaine, but the charges were later dropped. He also spoke about his struggles with depression and his use of therapy and medication to manage his mental health.

Death

Richard Belzer died on February 19, 2023 at home in the South of France. He had a lot of health issues. It’s known that he had cancer in 1983.

Filmography

Filmography:

• The Groove Tube (1974)
• Americathon (1979)
• Fame (1980)
• Scarface (1983)
• The Natural (1984)
• Night Shift (1985)
• The Wrong Guys (1988)
• Fletch Lives (1989)
• Mad Dog and Glory (1993)
• Girl 6 (1996)
• Jump (1999)
• Sorority Boys (2002)
• Scary Movie 3 (2003)
• The Aristocrats (2005)
• Beer League (2006)
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2007)
• Fame (2009)
• Rock Slyde (2009)
• Café (2011)
• An Affirmative Act (2010)
• Lucky Stiff (2014)
• The Belzer Connection (2016)

Television:

• Saturday Night Live (1975-1980)
• The Richard Belzer Show (1984)
• Miami Vice (1986-1989)
• Homicide: Life on the Street (1993-1999)
• The X-Files (1996)
• The Practice (2004)
• Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005)
• 30 Rock (2009-2013)
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-2013)
• The Mysteries of Laura (2015)
• Bosch (2015-2021)
• Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021-present)

Belzer is best known for his role as John Munch, which he played on Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order, and several other shows over the course of more than two decades.