Richard Belzer’s Final Years Were Spent In Rustic Home With Wife & 4 Pups Who Kept His Emotions In Check

Mar 02, 2023

Richard Belzer is best known for playing John Munch, a cynical and sarcastic detective known for his dry wit and unconventional methods. A fan favorite, Belzer portrayed the character for seven seasons of "Homicide: Life on the Street" from 1993 before transferring to "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" in 1999.

Belzer continued to play the detective on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" for 15 seasons, becoming the longest-running character in the history of the "Law & Order" franchise. He also made guest appearances as Munch on other shows, including "The Wire," "Arrested Development" and "The X-Files."

Born on Aug. 4, 1944, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Belzer started his career as a stand-up comedian in the early 1970s. He performed at various comedy clubs in New York City. In 1981, Belzer made his acting debut in the film "The Groove Tube" and appeared in several films throughout the 1980s, including "Night Shift," "Fame," and "Scarface." 

In addition to his acting and comedy career, Belzer is also a published author. He has written several books, including "How to Be a Stand-Up Comic," and "I Am Not a Cop!"

Belzer has been divorced twice. He was first married to Gail Susan Ross from 1966 to 1972 and then to Dalia Danoch from 1976 to 1978. In 1985, he married actress, Harlee McBride. Although they have no children together, McBride had two daughters from a previous marriage, and Belzer took up the role of becoming their stepfather.

Belzer announced his retirement from acting in 2016 and led a simple yet joyful life with McBride in Bozouls in southwest France, where he spent his time painting and writing, as well as caring for their four beloved pet dogs. 

Sadly, Belzer passed away on Feb. 19, 2023, at the age of 78.

Belzer's career spanned over four decades, and he became a beloved figure in the entertainment industry, particularly for his portrayal of Detective Munch. Known for his quick wit and dry humor, he had the ability to captivate audiences both on the big and small screen.

Belzer's family said in a statement published by People that they were "overwhelmed with the beautiful and heartfelt memories, admirations and love from Richard's family, friends, acquaintances and admirers. It has been truly helpful for us, his family, in traversing through this challenging time. So thank you."

They added the star "passed away very peacefully in his sleep early Sunday morning on Feb. 19 at his home in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, with his wife of 40 years and eldest daughter by his side." 

His passing also inspired tributes from his former colleagues, including "Law & Order" creator Dick Wolf, who said, "Richard Belzer's detective John Munch is one of television's iconic characters. … (I) loved the character so much… that I wanted to make him one of the original characters on SVU. The rest is history." His former co-star Mariska Hargitay took to Instagram and wrote:

"Goodbye my dear, dear friend. I will miss you, your unique light, and your singular take on this strange world. I feel blessed to have known you and adored you and worked with you, side by side, for so many years. How lucky the angels are to have you. I can hear them laughing already."

On the official "Law & Order" Twitter account, a tribute was posted for Belzer that read, "Anyone who had the pleasure of watching Richard Belzer portray Det. John Munch will never forget how much he inhabited that beloved character to make it his own."

Belzer spent the last few years of his life in rustic bliss with McBride at their French countryside home. Belzer often shared photos from those peaceful years on his Twitter feed, many of which showed him and McBride living out a simple life with their pack of dogs, one of which – the smallest one named Bebe – had been with Belzer since his "Law & Order" days.

It's clear the actor cherished his dogs, as they often featured in his posts. In September 2016, he introduced all four of his dogs, named Tulip, Django and Lacey, alongside Bebe, in a post in which he referred to them as his "children." He once said of Bebe:

"I have a bit of a temper, and if I get upset, the dog senses it. So the dog is actually going to make me live longer. I don't fly off the handle anywhere near as often as I used to."

The dogs once again made an appearance on his feed in January 2018 when he posted two photos of McBride, one of her working in the garden and another of her preparing a meal. Belzer himself did a spot of gardening, showing the luscious summer scenery in the south of France in a photo posted in June of that same year. In August, he shared another photo of his beloved pups, this time lounging around the pool as McBride enjoyed a soak. In September, he gave fans a glimpse of the rustic interior of his home with a photo of McBride sitting at a beautifully set dinner table.

Belzer left a lasting impact on television, and his legacy as a comedian and author will continue to inspire future generations of performers.

What are your favorite memories of Belzer onscreen? Were you a fan of his portrayal of Detective Munch? Let us know, and don't forget to pass this on to friends and family, too.