Before passing unexpectedly at the age of 78 in February 2023, Richard Belzer had fame in the entertainment business as a comedian and actor, most known for his performances on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Homicide: Life on the Street.”
Belzer had already been dealing with a number of challenges before his death. His last words, according to his close buddy Bill Scheft, were a series of lighthearted obscenities. Belzer died in his home in Bozouls, France.
The mayor of their little community, Jean-Luc Calmelly, paid tribute to the actor, calling him well-known among locals not only for his celebrity but also for his friendliness and charity to others.
Years before his death, Belzer said his final goodbye to his iconic character, Detective John Munch” on “SVU.” The show’s executive producer, Warren Leight, said that Belzer’s leaving was painful for him. He stated:
“In the real world, which we try very hard to simulate, NYPD has mandatory retirement before your 63rd birthday, and we were trying to figure out how to deal with it. [NYPD does it] because you can’t have 65-year-old guys running after guys.”
Despite having to quit the police force, Belzer’s character became an investigator for the district attorney’s office. The actor’s 21-year run as Munch had unfinished business in another sector.
Similarly, executive producer Barry Levinson of “Homicide: Life in the Street” praised Belzer’s portrayal of the character. Notably, he liked the cadence with which Belzer spoke.
Belzer, who was born in Connecticut on August 4, 1944, has spent the last few years living in the beautiful countryside of France with his wife, Harlee McBride.
Munch made his television debut on “Homicide: Life in the Street” in 1993. Belzer and his wife celebrated the show’s cancellation with champagne after he had played the role for seven years. They had no idea that his character would go on for a long time.
McBride, who was born on November 20, 1948, is also an actress and producer. She, like her spouse, has a number of acting credits. McBride shared the screen with her husband in the 1990s, when she played Dr. Alyssa Dyer in 22 episodes of “Homicide: Life on the Street.”
She also appeared in “Young Lady Chatterley,” “Young Lady Chatterley II,” “Raid on Entebbe,” “Days of Our Lives,” “Most Wanted,” and “The Rockford Files.”
Beltzer married McBride in 1985, despite having previously been married twice. Beltzer was married to Gail Susan Ross from 1996 to 1972. After their divorce, he married Dalia Gnoch in 1976 and divorced her in 1978. McBride was formerly married to actor Garth Benton.
Beltzer was a father figure to McBride’s children, Jessica Erin Benton and Shannon Bree Benton, despite the fact that he never had biological children.
After wrestler Hulk Hogan choked Beltzer at a talk program in 1985, he and his wife moved to France. Beltzer passed out and ended up in stitches despite the fact that the sequence was simply for a stunt.
“He was on the verge of killing me. A sports medicine expert told me that if I had fallen a few inches either way, I could have been crippled for life; I could have died,” Belzer explained. He ultimately sued the WWF star and received a sum of money that was sent to their French house.
Belzer and McBride’s estate was near Bozouls, a small community with an estimated 3,000 residents in 2013. They obtained a residence permit in 2021 and made the house their permanent residence.
Despite the language barrier, Belzer did his best to foster fellowship among his neighbors and would frequently converse with the locals. Those who knew him and his wife said they were well-integrated members of the community.
He and McBride spend a lot of time with their four gorgeous dogs, which are like their children to them. His posts demonstrate that the couple’s pets are frequently participating in their activities.
The couple’s magnificent rural residence is situated on a plot of land in the heart of Roquefort cheese country and is surrounded by lush foliage. It was close to the 12th-century Sainte Fauste Church in the settlement.
Belzer has given glimpses of his property on multiple occasions, leaving followers in awe of its tranquil beauty. The lovely church could also be seen in the background of his home photos.
Outside Belzer’s house, there are several trees, vines, and vivid flowers, including roses. His wife is especially fond of the natural surroundings because she enjoys caring for her plants. Belzer mentioned in one of his tweets that McBride gardens even in the cold. His tweet included a snapshot of his wife in action.
In addition, the pair keeps a large pile of wood chunks for cold days and nights. The actor earlier posted a photo of their well-kept supply, captioning it, “Harlee’s wood pile… I helped (a little)!”
Apart from the house, it is the company that makes Belzer happy. He and McBride spend a lot of time with their four gorgeous dogs, which are like their children to them. His posts demonstrate that the couple’s pets are frequently participating in their activities.
Lounging in their plunge pool with a chilled glass of wine is one of their favorite ways to unwind. The lovely dogs were gathered around them, enjoying what Belzer referred to as a “pool party.”
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