Richard Belzer, a longtime stand-up comedian who rose to fame as John Munch in the TV series Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: SVU, has passed away. He was 78.
Belzer passed away on Sunday at his house in Bozouls, southern France, according to Bill Scheft, a close friend of the actor. His death was originally reported on Twitter by comedian Laraine Newman. “Rest in peace Richard” was written by Belzer’s cousin, actor Henry Winkler.
As the news broke of his demise, videos of Hulk Hogan choking the comedian flooded the internet. This received a lot of criticism and fans slammed Hogan for being reckless. The backlash comes at a time when Chris Hemsworth is preparing to play Hulk Hogan.
Hulk Hogan almost killed Richard Belzer on Live TV
Belzer portrayed the wisecracking, conspiracy-prone murder investigator for more than two decades spanning ten shows, including cameos on 30 Rock and Arrested Development. Belzer started in the role of John Munch for the first time on a 1993 episode of Homicide, and for the final time in 2016 in Law & Order: SVU.
In the middle of the 1980s, Belzer hosted the program Hot Properties, and in one of the episodes, Hogan and Mr. T appeared to advertise the first-ever WrestleMania. Hogan put Belzer in a front chin lock to show that professional wrestling wasn’t a hoax, which led to the actor collapsing on the floor. Hogan assisted Belzer in getting back up after he was temporarily knocked out.
Also Read: Comedian and Iconic Star of ‘Law and Order’ Richard Belzer Passes Away at 78
Richard Belzer sued Hulk Hogan for assaulting him
The incident would result in a lawsuit from Belzer against Hogan, Mr. T, Vince McMahon, and WWE (which was then known as World Wrestling Federation). The injuries Belzer got as a consequence of the irresponsible finishing maneuver by the professional wrestler prompted him to file a $5 million lawsuit against Hogan.
“He came very close to killing me. I was told by a sports medicine expert that if I had fallen a few inches either way I could have been crippled for life, I could have been dead.”
In 1989, the dispute was ultimately resolved outside of court. Belzer used the settlement to purchase the Chez Hogan estate, a county estate in Nice, France. The move did not shock viewers as they thought it was all part of the act, which it was not. The video of him getting beaten up by Hogan has resurfaced on the internet and people have a lot to say.
Fans React on Richard Belzer getting Chocked by WWE star
Fans labeled the move by Hogan reckless and deadly. As they pray for Belzer’s soul, they condemn the WWE star for endangering his life. Many failed to notice the seriousness of the act back in the day, but today it is clear how unruly it was of Hogan to manhandle the host.
It was the way he just let him drop to the floor that is disturbing
— ThreeViews (@ThreeViews1) February 19, 2023
Or the house, as it were
— TrivWorks (@TrivWorks) February 19, 2023
How does choking someone prove that wrestling isn’t fake? Does it work to disprove all theories?
— JPMelly (@JPMelly1) February 19, 2023
Amazingly, I was the technical director switching this live show back then and when Bellzer passed out and hit the floor, we had to cut away from the cameras and take a commercial break while the medics checked on him. It was pretty bad…
— Timothy (@TimgilTimothy) February 20, 2023
Why’d he just let him drop?
— Mr. Citywide (@MrCitywide215) February 19, 2023
i saw this when it happened and it freaked me out how the audience and everyone didnt take it seriously.. i remember when he got up and tried to go to commercial he was still woozy and i thought has a little blood on his head but i could be wrong on thay
— SpookyAL68-🔮 (@spookyAL) February 19, 2023
Richard Belzer leaves behind Harlee McBride, his wife. The couple got married in 1985. No biological children were ever born to the couple, however, McBride does have two children from a prior union, Jessica and Shannon Benton.
Chris Hemsworth is beefing up to play Hulk Hogan
Marvel star Chris Hemsworth who played Thor will now be playing Hulk Hogan in his upcoming project. The actor was announced as the lead of Hogan’s biopic, and the film will be directed by Todd Philips who is also credited for directing Joker(2019)
Hulk Hogan’s physique and prominent blond mustache made him the sport’s best and most identifiable icon for decades. His 1988 bout against Andre the Giant is still the highest-viewed wrestling event on American television with 33 million people.
Chris Hemsworth will have the chance to branch out from the humor of the Thor movies and plunge headfirst into a project with true drama and depth. Hogan acknowledges taking steroids and having suicidal thoughts when his marriage to his wife Linda ended. The most recent update we have on the film is when Hemsworth talked to ComicBooks.com. He informed,
“That film’s a while away. That’s sort of in the development stage you know, and if that comes to fruition, great. [Director] Todd Phillips is brilliant. Haven’t ripped any shirts off yet, but you’ll be the first to hear about it when I do.”
There has been no further confirmation after this and after Hemsworth was diagnosed with the possibility of being crippled by Alzheimer, the project has been under serious risk.
Source: Twitter
