American actor Richard Jay Belzer, who gained wide recognition as detective John Munch on NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, has died. He was 78. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Belzer died early Sunday at his home in Bozouls in southwest France. He is survived by his wife, former actress Harlee McBride.

Belzer, also known for being a stand-up comedian, made his film debut in 1974, The Groove Tube. He was the audience warm-up comedian for Saturday Night Live and made three guest appearances on the show between 1975 and 1980. 

Richard Belzer's John Munch made his first appearance in 1993 on the first episode of Homicide and his last in 2016 on Law & Order: SVU. He portrayed the character for 23 years.

Richard Belzer's other acting credits include Fame (1980) and Scarface (1983),  Author! Author! (1982), Night Shift (1982), Flicks (1983), America (1986), Fletch Lives (1989), The Big Picture (1989), The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990), Get on the Bus (1996) and The Man in the Moon (1999).