Born on August 4, 1944 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Richard Belzer is an American actor, writer and stand-up comedian. Though known for being kicked out of every school he has attended, he graduated from Andrew Warde High School and soon attended Dean Junior College in Franklin, Massachusetts. He also worked as a reporter for The Bridgeport Post, and was asked to leave college due to several student demonstrations. Moving to New York City, he did stand-up comedy at Pips, The Improv, and Catch a Rising Star. He soon became the audience warm-up comedian for the premiere season of Saturday Night Live, making three guest appearances on the show during the 1970s.
Richard Belzer soon became a rising film actor, beginning his career in show business with a starring role in Groove Tube, the counterculture film that went on to become a cult classic. Since then, Belzer's comedic talents have been featured in every entertainment medium from off-Broadway to radio to film. He became noted for his roles in Fame, Scarface and Night Shift. He has also been seen on shows like Miami Vice and Tattingers, and has had a regular role on The Flash. Belzer has earned a place in the history of radio for his participation on the National Lampoon Radio Hour, aired on some 600 U. S. stations from 1973 to 1975. He also made a name for himself appearing on several episodes of Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. This was followed by successes in Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He portrayed the character Detective John Munch on both series. Some of Belzer’s other television appearances are in The X-Files, The Beat, Arrested Development and The Wire. He has written books like How to Be a Stand-Up Comic and UFOs, JFK, and Elvis: Conspiracies You Don't Have To Be Crazy To Believe.