Richard Jay Belzer (born August 4, 1944) is an American stand-up comedian, writer, and actor, perhaps best known for his work as Sgt. John Munch on Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Early life and education

Belzer was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Francis and Charles Belzer. His father was a candy and tobacco wholesaler.Richard Belzer Biography (1944–) Belzer grew up with his parents and older brother Leonard. As a youth, Belzer worked as a paperboy and at Modern Tobacco (his parents business) part time while attending high school. was "kicked out of every school he attended." Nonetheless, Belzer attended and graduated from Andrew Warde High School in the neighboring town of Fairfield, Connecticut. Both parents died while he was young; he was 18 when his mother died of cancer and 22 when his father committed suicide.