RIP: Richard Belzer

Richard Belzer, the comedian, actor and author, died today.  He was 78.  No cause of death was given.

Richard Belzer began his entertainment career as a stand-up comedian.  He appeared in the low-budget film The Groove Tube in 1974.  He was also a featured comedian on the National Lampoon Radio Hour along with John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, and Harold Ramis.  Richard Belzer would go on to be the audience warm-up comedian for Saturday Night Live.  Mr. Belzer would go on to make three guest appearances on the show.  In addition to stand-up, Richard Belzer appeared in television and movies throughout his career.

Some Richard Belzer appearances in feature films include: The Groove Tube; Fame; Author! Author!; Night Shift; Scarface; Fletch Lives; The Bonfire of the Vanities; A Very Brady Sequel; Species II and The Comedian.

Some of Richard Belzer’s television appearances include: Sesame Street (2 episodes); Saturday Night Live (3 episodes); Moonlighting; Miami Vice; The Flash (10 episodes); Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart; Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (4 episodes); The Invaders (2 episodes); The X-Files; Mad About You; Homicide: Life on the Street (122 episodes); Homicide: The Movie; Law & Order (4 episodes); South Park; 3rd Rock from the Sun; Law & Order: Trial by Jury; The Wire; 30 Rock (2 episodes); Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (326 episodes) and American Dad.

Richard Belzer also wrote four books on conspiracy theories.

I first saw Richard Belzer in The Groove Tube.  Who could have imagined that the young comedian would go on to have a distinguished acting career, and author several books!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Richard Belzer’s family, friends and fans.