Time.news – Richard Belzer, one of the best known faces of the TV series “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and in Brian De Palma’s film “Scarface”, has died. For years Belzer had played private detective John Munch for eleven seasons.
In ’85 he was involved in a controversial episode with the wrestler Hulk Hogan. During a television show that Belzer hosted, Hogan was asked to do a wrestling move. The wrestler agreed but things went wrong: the handler fell badly and passed out. Belzer later demanded $5 million in damages.
Cousin of Henry Winkler, the “Fonzie” of the television series “Happy Days”, Belzer had appeared in other television series such as “Sesame Street”, “Miami Vice”, “30 Rock” and “The Wire”. The actor died “peacefully,” his agent Eric Gardner said. Belzer was 78 years old.