From a Washington Post obit by Meryl Kornfield headlined “Richard Belzer, comedian turned ‘Law and Order’ stalwart, dies at 78”:

Actor Richard Belzer, who parlayed his stand-up comedy chops into a career playing the iconic role of police detective John Munch in NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street” and the “Law & Order” franchise, died Sunday.

Mr. Belzer was at his winter home in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, with his wife, former actress Harlee McBride, and stepchildren when he died, his longtime friend Bill Scheft said. Scheft, who was making a documentary about Mr. Belzer, said he had had circulatory and respiratory health issues for the last few years of his life.