We’re saddened to learn that Richard Belzer – the actor best known for his role as Detective John Munch on Law & Order – has passed away. As Det. Munch, Belzer has crossed-over and appeared on Homicide: Life on the Street, The X-Files, The Wire, 30 Rock, Arrested Development, and dozens of others. Among those many shows, Belzer also appeared on Sesame Street.
In 1978, he and his fellow comedian pal Brian Doyle-Murray appeared in a Sesame Street segment as two men in a rowboat, which you can watch here:
In 1998, Richard Belzer appeared (as himself, but referencing Det. Munch) in Elmopalooza, where he was called in to help knock down a door. When unable to muster the strength a real police officer might have, he called in his Muppet counterpart as a stuntman.
And in 2007, Belzer returned to Sesame Street to introduce “lazy” as the Word of the Day, filmed from his desk on the set of Law & Order: SVU.
It’s been a treat to see Belzer pop up on Sesame Street over the years, and we’re proud to include his legacy alongside the history of the Muppets.
Click here to help us remember Richard Belzer on the ToughPigs forum!
by Joe Hennes – Joe@ToughPigs.com
