Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, and Others Reflect on Richard Belzer’s Legacy Almost One Year After His Passing

 

The Law and Order: SVU family comes together to honor one of their own—Richard Belzer, who portrayed Sgt. John Munch for the show's first 15 seasons. Nearly a year after Belzer's passing, his co-stars on the long-running NBC procedural paid tribute to the late actor while celebrating SVU's significant milestone.

During the Law & Order: SVU 25th Anniversary Celebration Red Carpet on January 16, Mariska Hargitay shared her sentiments about Belzer. She believes that although he is no longer physically present, his spirit lives on. In an exclusive interview with E! News, Hargitay expressed, "Belzer's so deeply embedded and enmeshed in my heart. I think of him with such fondness. We talk about him all the time. It's like he's still here."

Dann Florek, who played Captain Donald Cragen alongside Belzer, reflected on the bond they developed during their over-a-decade-long on-screen partnership. "Number one, I love the Belz," Florek stated. "He was an irascible son-of-a-b, but a very, very talented man. And that has not escaped me down this line."

Sharing a humorous memory, Florek added, "I always thought he was Dracula. He was never going to die. So, bless you, Belz. He was a part of so many good things but such a big part of SVU. I love that dude."

Richard Belzer passed away in February at the age of 78 at his home in Bozouls, France. Although the cause of death hasn't been publicly disclosed, his longtime friend Bill Scheft mentioned last year that the actor had been dealing with "lots of health issues."

As the veteran actors reminisced about the early days of SVU, newer cast members praised Belzer for helping them adjust to the show. Kelli Giddish, who joined in season 13, expressed her gratitude, saying, "I'm just beyond grateful to know him. He was really instrumental in laying the footing for me when I got on the show. I deeply feel joy and pride by being part of this legacy."

Raúl Esparza, sharing his initial experience with Belzer, recalled, "The first day that I walked on set, Richard treated me like a star." He added that Belzer generously offered him his trailer when he joined as a guest star, saying, "He gave me a space, he's like, ‘You are welcome to everything I had.'"

Despite the serious nature of the series, Belzer was known for bringing some lightness on-screen. Kelli Giddish revealed an interesting detail, saying, "This may be an easter egg. He always tried to do a 360 spin in every episode. So at some point, you would see him work it into the scene and you're like, ‘How did you do that?'"

Even in his absence, Richard Belzer's legacy, along with Munch's character, continues to unfold on screen. Ice-T mentioned that the show paid homage to Belzer following his death and assured that tributes will persist in the upcoming episodes. The Law and Order: SVU family remains united in commemorating the impact and contributions of their late co-star.