Richard Belzer’s Last Words Were, ‘F*** you, Motherf*****!’

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Actor Richard Belzer died at his home in France on February 19, 2022. Best known for his role as Detective John Munch on both “Law and Order” and “Homicide“, Belzer passed away at the age of 78 after battling health issues. Keep reading to learn more about Richard Belzer’s last words and how his friends and co-starts remembered him online.

Friends & Co-Stars Remember “The Belz”

News of Richard Belzer’s death shocked and sadden people across the entertainment industry.

• Fondly remembering her friend from Law & Order, Mariska Hargitay wrote on Instagram: “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.”
• Frank Radice, former NBC executive and good friend of Belzer tweeted, “R.I.P. my great pal, “The Belz.””
• Comedian Marc Maron, tweeted “Richard Belzer died. He was an original. One of the greats, babe. I loved the guy. RIP.”
• Rapper Ice-T, who played Belzer’s partner on Law & Order: SVU tweeted, “I wake up to the news I lost my friend today. Belz is gone. Damn it! But remember this. When you ARE having real fun and are Truly Happy. ENJOY it to the fullest!”
• In a statement on Instagram, Dick Wolf‘s production company called Belzer a “consummate professional” who “brought humor and joy into all our lives.”
• Comedian Laraine Newman was among the stars who mourned his passing, calling him a “genius” at crowd work during comedy gigs. Newman tweeted, “I’m so sad to hear of Richard Belzer’s passing. I loved this guy so much. He was one of my first friends when I got to New York to do ‘SNL‘. We used to go out to dinner every week at Sheepshead Bay for lobster.”
•  Billy Crystal tweeted, “Richard Belzer was simply hilarious. A genius at handling a crowd. So sad he’s passed away.”

A Brief Look Back At Richard Belzer’s Career

Born in Connecticut, Richard Jay Belzer worked as a reporter and census taker before becoming a comedian. He was a regular on the “National Lampoon Radio Hour” and acted in minor TV roles.

One of the lesser know projects that Richard Belzer was attached to, was a CNN comedy show called “The Last Laugh“. Shot in the mid-1980s, the show featured P.J. O’Rourke, Richard Belzer, Will Durst, Bill Tush and Rick Derringer and The Last Laugh Band).

The Last Laugh never made it past its pilot episode. According to the show’s producer, Frank Radice, it was because CNN executives ultimately decided, “we don’t do comedy!” However, years later, CNN would make comedy and entertainment a staple at the cable network. Efforts like Anderson Cooper‘s New Year Eve show and CNN’s rumored 2023 deal with comedian Bill Maher, prove just how ahead of its time The Last Laugh was for CNN.

Belzer wouldn’t get his big break on “Homicide: Life on the Street” until years later in 1993. He landed the role of Detective Munch after Law & Order executive producer Dick Wolf heard Belzer on The Howard Stern Show. Wolf was searching for a wisecracking cop for his new show “Homicide” and heard Belzer on the radio. Wold instantly knew that Belzer was a perfect fit.

His character was so popular, that Belzer played Detective John Munch on almost a dozen different TV shows over the years including, “Homicide: Life on the Street“, “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit“, “The X-Files“, “30 Rock“, “Arrested Development“, and “The Wire“.

Belzer retired in 2014 and moved to Bozouls in southern France with his wife, retired actress and Playboy model, Harlee McBride. Belzer is survived by his wife and two stepdaughters.

What Were Richard Belzer’s Last Words?

Writer Bill Scheft, told The Hollywood Reporter that Belzer’s last words were profanity-laden. According to Scheft, his longtime friend, Richard Belzer’s last words were, ‘F*ck you, motherf*cker.’

Richard Belzer Last Words: ‘F*ck you, motherf*cker’

RIP Richard Belzer.