Richard Belzer, the actor and comedian best known for his role as Detective Munch across numerous NBC crime shows, including “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” for over 20 years, died at 78. According to his longtime manager, Eric Gardner, Belzer “passed away peacefully” at his home in France.

Belzer’s longtime friend, writer Bill Scheft, told The Hollywood Reporter that Belzer had numerous health issues. Belzer became famous for his role as Detective Munch, making his first appearance on NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street” from 1993 to 1999. In 2000, he reprised that role in the television movie “Homicide: The Movie” and appeared as the beloved detective in four “Law & Order” episodes.

He appeared as Munch again in “Law & Order: SVU,” where he became a series regular, appearing in 326 episodes between 1999 and 2016. His character retired in 2013 but returned in two more episodes after his departure. Like Belzer, Detective Munch had a dry sense of humor, a Jewish background, and a conspiratorial mindset. Over time, his skinny, wisecracking, glasses-wearing investigator became one of the most recognizable cops in TV crime show history.

In a recent interview with The Boomer Tube, Belzer said, “I would never be a detective, but if I were, that’s how I’d be. The character is very close to how I would be. They write to all my paranoia and anti-establishment dissidence and conspiracy theories, so it’s been a lot of fun for me. It’s been a dream, actually.” Throughout his career, Belzer played a detective in 11 TV shows, like “The X-Files” and “The Wire.” He made crossover appearances in character in comedies like “Arrested Development,” “30 Rock,” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” Detective Much was even turned into a muppet for a “Sesame Street” skit “Special Letters Unit.”

The Conneticut-born actor’s early focus was on comedy and rooted in New York City, despite his crime-solving career. He appeared in the city’s comedy clubs, like The Improv and Catch a Rising Star, and was known for his insensitive comments on social and political events of the time. His breakout came in 1974 when he joined Chevy Chase in the film “The Groove Tube,” which featured a collection of skits that included social commentary on TV shows of the 70s. He also worked as the warm-up act for “Saturday Night Live,” appearing in some sketches in the early seasons.

Belzer appeared in the hit 1980 film “Fame” as M.C. Other film roles include 1982’s “Night Shift,” followed by “Scarface” in 1983. In the 1990s, he appeared on the superhero shows “Loise & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” and “The Flash.”

His colleagues, among them Chris Meloni and Mariska Hargitay, offered praise of their co-star. “Goodbye, my dear, dear friend,” Hargitay wrote on Instagram. “I will miss you, your unique light, and your singular take on this strange world. I feel blessed to have known you and adored you and worked with you, side by side, for so many years.” Other fond memories came from comedians Billy Crystal, Richard Lewis and Laraine Newman, who singled out his comedic crowd work.