Best books by Richard Belzer

Many knew the late Richard Belzer as a beloved stand-up comedian and actor. In the 1970s, he was a warm-up comedian for Saturday Night Live. But who could forget his role as Detective John Munch on Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit? In addition to Law & Order: SVU and Homicide, he also appeared on TV shows such as The X Files. Richard Belzer built most of his career on comedy and making people laugh.

But did you know that Richard Belzer was also an accomplished author? That’s right, the SNL comedian and NBC Det. John Munch actor has frequently published books on conspiracy theories and some other topics.

In this article, you’ll learn about the best books by Richard Belzer.

Richard Belzer’s biography

Richard Belzer was an American actor, comedian, and author born on August 4, 1944, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Richard Belzer went to Fairfield Warde High School, where he was the school’s first radio host.

After graduating, Belzer moved to New York City to begin performing stand-up comedy in clubs like The Improv and Catch a Rising Star. In the 1970s, he was a comedian on Saturday Night Live. Richard Belzer reached a career breakthrough in the 1980s. He played the Detective John Munch role on the NBC drama series Homicide: Life on the Street. Richard Belzer played the character for seven seasons and later reprised the role on other shows like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and The X-Files.

Richard Belzer has also made appearances in films like Scarface and The Bonfire of the Vanities while he continued to perform stand-up comedy throughout his career. He was also involved in a lawsuit with Hulk Hogan after Hogan had demonstrated a wrestling move on him, leaving him incapacitated for a short period.

Richard Belzer’s other TV appearances span several decades and include numerous productions, such as The Wire, Cheers, Law & Order: Trial By Jury, Arrested Development, Get on the Bus, Night Shift, Fame, The Groove Tube, Fletch Lives, 30 Rock, and The Howard Stern Show. 

He has also worked alongside many award-winning actors and executive producers, such as Bill Murray, John Belushi, Henry Winkler, Harlee McBride, Barry Levinson, Mariska Hargitay, Ken Shapiro, and Chevy Chase. The New York Times has frequently reviewed and praised his work.

On Sunday, February 23, Richard Belzer passed away in his home in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France. This was confirmed by his long-time friend Bill Scheft for The Hollywood Reporter.

Aside from his acting career, Richard Belzer has also published several books on conspiracy theory subjects, such as UFOs, the JFK assassination, and Elvis Presley. Let’s look at some of his best books.

A review of Richard Belzer’s best books

UFOs, JFK & Elvis: Conspiracies You Don’t Have to Be Crazy to Believe

In this book, Belzer examines various conspiracy theories such as those surrounding the alleged death of Elvis Presley, the existence of aliens, and the JFK assassination. Belzer looks at the facts surrounding these incidents before offering opinions on what he thinks happened.

These are conspiracies that have caught the public imagination for years, and Belzer does them thorough justice. It’s a two-sided approach, and it addresses both the views of skeptics and believers. He provides information that is complex in an easy-to-understand way. His style is informative yet engaging and entertaining.

This is a great book for those who want to learn about conspiracy theories while examining the evidence for or against them. Belzer has talked about this book and his views on numerous talk shows. It’s also worth noting that official accounts do not yet have any credible evidence to confirm or deny any of the conspiracy theories mentioned.

I Am Not a Cop!

I Am Not a Cop! is the debut mystery book of Richard Belzer. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell if what Belzer is saying is true or fiction. It centers around his Law & Order detective character, Detective Munch. In this book, his friend has disappeared, and he needs to find a way to locate him. While solving the mystery, Belzer has to use all his skills, including his comedic wit and investigation talents.

This is a book for those who want to read a mystery book with more of a comical twist on the plot and characters.

I Am Not a Psychic!

I Am Not a Psychic! is the much-anticipated sequel to I Am Not a Cop! and is just as exciting, with a new and engaging premise. It follows Belz as he goes to Las Vegas. However, Paul Venechus calls Richard Belzer to help him uncover a very big issue and trending story. A mysterious death has occurred. While most think it’s a suicide, Richard and Paul know better. It’s time for Richard Belzer to investigate the cause himself and connect the dots. The story is snappy, engaging, and also a suspenseful read.

How to Be a Stand-Up Comic

While being a stand-up comedian does indeed take talent, Richard Belzer proves that anyone can do it. In this book, he teaches you how to do your best as a comedian and gives you the proper knowledge and tools. He shares advice with you on how to write jokes, deal with hacklers, perform good roasts, and much more. It covers some of Belzer’s own experience in the industry as well. If you have aspirations to become a comedian, this is the right book for you.

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FAQ

Does Richard Belzer have children?

No, Richard Belzer did not have any children.

Is Munch dead in Law and Order?

Munch does not die in Law and Order, rather, he retires. The reason for this is that Richard Belzer wanted to explore other roles at the time.

How did Richard Belzer get his start in acting?

Richard Belzer got his start in acting through his career as a stand-up comedian. After that, he started getting minor roles before landing the character of Detective John Munch in Law and Order as his biggest role. He was also an author and wrote many books on comedy as well as conspiracy theories.

What were Richard Belzer’s hobbies?

Richard Belzer was interested in conspiracy theories and collected books on the subject.

What is the name of Richard Belzer’s podcast?

Richard Belzer did not have an active podcast but did appear on many talk shows and podcasts.