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Richard BelzerRichard Belzer (born August 4, 1944) is an American stand up comedian, writer and actor.

Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, he grew up with his parents and older brother. He worked as a paperboy and became known for his uncontrollable wit, which caused him to be kicked out of every school he attended. After high school he was a reporter for the Bridgeport Post. He unsuccessfully attended junior college and later enlisted in the Army. He soon realized it was a mistake and tried to get out.

After the Army, Belzer moved to New York City and began working as a stand-up comic. He participated in the Channel One comedy group that satirized television and became the basis for the cult movie The Groove Tube.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Belzer became an occasional film actor. He is noted for his small roles in Fame, Night Shift, and Scarface. He also was a player on the National Lampoon Radio Hour, a half-hour comedy program aired on some 600 U.S. stations from 1973 to 1975. Several of his sketches were released on National Lampoon albums drawn from the Radio Hour including several bits in which he portrayed a pithy call-in talk show host named Dick Valentine.

Belzer was the audience warm-up comedian for Saturday Night Live in its premiere season and made three guest appearances on SNL in 1976 and 1978.

Richard Belzer as Detective John Munch in Law & Order: Special Victims UnitIn the 1990s, Belzer appeared frequently on television. He was a regular on The Flash television show. He followed that success with starring roles on Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, playing the same character (Detective John Munch) in both series. In addition, he has also played Munch in episodes of four other series:

Law & Order - 4 episodes: "Charm City Part 1", "Baby, It's You", "Sideshow" and "Entitled Part 2".
The X-Files - 1 episode: "Unusual Suspects"
The Beat - 1 episode: "They Say It's Your Birthday"
Law & Order: Trial by Jury - 1 episode: "Skeleton (2)"
Belzer's appearance on Trial by Jury, which aired April 15, 2005, made him the third actor ever to play the same character in six different prime-time TV series.
Belzer and Henry Winkler (most notably the Fonz on Happy Days) are cousins. Belzer is a survivor of testicular cancer.

Belzer has been married to actress Harlee McBride since 1985. His previous marriages were with Gail Susan Ross (1966-1972) and Dalia Danoch (1976-1978).

  This Is America (2005) (announced)
Pat Benatar: Choice Cuts - The Complete Video Collection (2003) (V) (uncredited) .... Artie (segment "Le Bel Age")
Homicide: The Movie (2000) (TV) .... Det. John Munch (NYPD)
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999) TV Series .... Detective John Munch
Jump (1999) .... Jerry
Species II (1998) .... U. S. President
The Bar Channel (1998)
Get on the Bus (1996) .... Rick
A Very Brady Sequel (1996) .... LAPD Detective
Girl 6 (1996) .... Caller #4, Beach
Deadly Pursuits (1996) (TV) .... Mariano
The Invaders (1995) (TV) .... Randy Stein
Not of This Earth (1995) .... Jeremy Pallin
Prince for a Day (1995) (TV) .... Bernie Silver
The Puppet Masters (1994) .... Jarvis
North (1994) .... Barker
Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart (1994) (TV) .... Det. Frank Giordano
Bandit: Bandit Bandit (1994) (TV) .... Big Bob
Dangerous Game (1993) .... Cameo appearance
Mad Dog and Glory (1993) .... M.C./Comic
"Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993) TV Series .... Det. John Munch
Flash III: Deadly Nightshade (1992) (V) .... Joe Kline
Off and Running (1991) .... Milt Zoloth
The Flash II: Revenge of the Trickster (1991) (V) .... Joe Kline
Missing Pieces (1991) .... Baldesari
The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) .... Television Producer
The Flash (1990) (TV) .... Joe Kline
The Big Picture (1989) .... Video Show Host
Fletch Lives (1989) .... Phil
Freeway (1988) .... Dr. David Lazarus
The Wrong Guys (1988) .... Richard 'Belz' Belzer
Flicks (1987) .... Stoner
America (1986) .... Gypsy Beam
Charlie Barnett's Terms of Enrollment (1986) (V) .... Man Reading Paper
Pat Benatar: The Visual Music Collection (1986) (V) .... Artie the comic ("Le Bel Age")
Scarface (1983) .... M.C. at Babylon Club
Likely Stories, Vol. 3 (1983) (TV) .... Richard
Night Shift (1982) .... Pig
Author! Author! (1982) .... Seth Shapiro
Café Flesh (1982) (uncredited) .... Loud-mouthed audience member
"Likely Stories, Vol. 1" (1981) TV Series
Fame (1980) .... Comedy Club Emcee
The Groove Tube (1974) .... Rodriguez/Leo Batfish/The President/The Hooker