Richard Jay Belzer is an American stand up comedian, writer, and actor, perhaps best known for his work as Det. John Munch, on Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Belzer attended and graduated from Andrew Warde High School in the neighboring town of Fairfield, Connecticut. Both parents died while he was young: His mother died of cancer when he was 18 and his father committed suicide when Belzer was 22. After high school, he worked as a reporter for the Bridgeport Post. He attended Dean Junior College in Franklin, Massachusetts for a year and a part of a semester before being asked to leave for leading too many student demonstrations. According to one interview, he was majoring in Physical Education. After leaving college, Belzer was encouraged by his father to enlist in the Army. For a brief period, he studied and then later taught yoga. One of his earliest comedy routines included a character "Yogi Yogi, the Yodler" a contestant in a yodeling contest.
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