Richard Belzer, Detective John Munch in TV hits, dies aged 78

Belzer died on Sunday at his home in Bozouls in southern France, his longtime friend Bill Scheft told the Hollywood Reporter.

Belzer played the wise-cracking homicide detective prone to conspiracy theories over more than two decades and across 10 series, including appearances on the hit comedies 30 Rock and Arrested Development.

Belzer first played Munch on a 1993 episode of Homicide and last played him in 2016 on Law & Order: SVU.

Belzer never auditioned for the role. After hearing him on The Howard Stern Show, the producer Barry Levinson brought Belzer in to read for the part.

Munch would become one of the longest-running characters on US TV, a sunglasses-wearing presence on the small screen for more than 20 years.

In 2008, with Michael Ian Black, Belzer published the novel I Am Not a Cop! He also helped write several books on conspiracy theories, about things like the assassination of John F Kennedy and the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Belzer was drawn to comedy during a childhood in which his mother would beat him and his older brother, Len.

Before Saturday Night Live changed the comedy scene in New York, Belzer performed with John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray and others on the National Lampoon Radio Hour.