Trivia

Is the only actor in television history to play the same character (Detective John Munch) in 11 different live-action series: Homicide: Life on the Street (1993), Law & Order (1990), The X-Files (1993), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999), The Beat (2000), Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005), Arrested Development (2003), The Wire (2002), Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003), 30 Rock (2006), and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015).

He lives in France and speaks French fluently.

Was the audience warm-up comedian for Saturday Night Live (1975) in its premiere season and made three guest appearances on the show in 1976 and 1978.

His character Detective John Munch, whom he played continuously on Homicide: Life on the Street (1993) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) from January 1993 to May 2016, was the longest-running character on U.S. prime-time drama television.

Testified on behalf of a low-level criminal who ran onto the set of Homicide: Life on the Street (1993) while fleeing actual Baltimore police and surrendered to the actors; Belzer said the look on the guy's face was sufficient punishment.

Wrestler Hulk Hogan hurt him while demonstrating a wrestling move on a television show called Hot Properties (1985). He was knocked unconscious and required stitches on his head. He sued Hogan for $5 million, but later settled out of court.

Survived testicular cancer in 1984.

Is a supporter of the North Shore Animal League. However his poodle-fox terrier mix, Bebe, was adopted in France when he followed Belzer home one day. Bebe is his near-constant companion, especially at public events.

A paper boy in his youth in Bridgeport, Connecticut, he later worked as a reporter for the Bridgeport Post and several other newspapers around the country. Other jobs included teacher, census-taker, jewelry salesman, and dockworker.

Friends with George Carlin, Richard Lewis and Chevy Chase.

Was considered for the role of Clark Griswold in Vacation (1983), which went to Chevy Chase.

Appears on the cover of Billy Joel's album "Turnstiles" (1976).

Divides his time between New York City and his home in France.

Became the third person to play the same character in six different prime-time series, playing Detective John Munch in Homicide: Life on the Street (1993) (originating series), Law & Order (1990) (crossover), Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005) (crossover), The X-Files (1993) (crossover), The Beat (2000) (guest appearance in the short-lived UPN series), and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999). He followed John Ratzenberger and George Wendt, who played Cliff Clavin and Norm Peterson in Cheers (1982), St. Elsewhere (1982), The Tortellis (1987), Wings (1990), The Simpsons (1989), and Frasier (1993). Belzer upped his record to eight series with an appearance in 2 episodes of Arrested Development (2003) during a scrap-booking sting (airing in 2006) and a cameo appearance in the 4th-to-last episode of David Simon's HBO series The Wire (2002), Took (2008) (originally airing February 17, 2008); the appearance brought the character of Munch full circle as the character was born out of Simon's first series, Homicide, and in the scene he is hanging out in a police bar commenting on his experience owning a bar, which he did in Homicide.

Played himself in the musical drama movie Fame (1980).

Has appeared in 119 of the 122 episodes of Homicide: Life on the Street (1993), more than anyone else. The only episodes in which he does not appear are The Damage Done (1996), The Subway (1997), and Lines of Fire (1999).

Has appeared in episodes of three different series with Jerry Orbach: Law & Order (1990), Homicide: Life on the Street (1993), and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999).

Appeared in the October 2, 1976, episode of Saturday Night Live (1975) with Eric Idle as the host and musical guests George Harrison, Joe Cocker, and Stuff.

Appeared in the March 25, 1978, episode of Saturday Night Live (1975) with Christopher Lee as the host and musical guest Meat Loaf.

Has appeared in episodes of four different series with Sam Waterston: Law & Order (1990), Homicide: Life on the Street (1993), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) and Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005).

Was one of the original emcees at Rick Newman's Catch a Rising Star, along with Elayne Boosler, in the mid to late 1970s.

Along with Kyle Secor, Clark Johnson, Yaphet Kotto, and Sharon Ziman, he is one of only five actors to appear in both the first and last episodes of Homicide: Life on the Street (1993): Gone for Goode (1993) and Forgive Us Our Trespasses (1999).

Has appeared in episodes of three different series with Jesse L. Martin: Law & Order (1990), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) and Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005).

He is a lifelong Democrat.

Has appeared with Andre Braugher and Zeljko Ivanek on three different series: Law & Order (1990), Homicide: Life on the Street (1993) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999).

Died one day before his longtime friend and comedy club colleague Rick Newman.

Auditioned for the role of Groucho Marx in the Tommy Tune production "A Day in Hollywood, a Night in the Ukraine." Belzer taught himself two songs from the 1930s ("Satin Doll" and "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"), but did not get the role.

During one week in November 1997, he played the same character (Detective John Munch) on three different series: Baby, It's You (1997) on 12 November 1997, Baby, It's You (1997) on 14 November 1997, and Unusual Suspects (1997) on 16 November 1997.

Was an assistant master of ceremonies for The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Rob Reiner (2000).

Is a frequent guest on The Howard Stern Radio Show (1998).

Is a huge fan of singer Shawn Colvin.

Was born on the same day that Anne Frank and her family were arrested by the Gestapo.

Was going to appear in Chevy Chase's movie Modern Problems (1981), but scheduling conflicts could not be worked out. The date for the shooting of his scene was postponed twice and the day his scene was supposed to be shot, Belzer had a lucrative club date in New York, which was postponed at the last minute.

Stepfather of Bree Benton and Jessica Benton.

Second husband of Harlee McBride.

He was the son of Frances (Gurfein) and Charles Belzer. His parents were born in Connecticut, and his grandparents were Jewish emigrants, from Romania and Russia on his father's side and Galicia on his mother's.

Was a staunch conspiracy theorist, and a published author of his theories on matters such as the JFK assassination, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, Princess Diana and UFO's. He authored six books on conspiracy theories.

He has appeared in one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant: Fame (1980).