Richard Belzer, stand-up comedian and TV detective, dies aged 78

Richard Belzer has died (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

Richard Belzer, the veteran stand-up comedian who became one of TV’s most indelible detectives as John Munch in Homicide: Life On The Street and Law & Order: SVU has died aged 78.

Belzer died on Sunday at his home in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, southern France, his friend Bill Scheft said.