Richard Belzer Movies
Launching his career as a standup comic, American performer Richard Belzer entered the 1970s as a member of an odd New York-based comedy troupe called Channel One. Anticipating the home video explosion by over a decade, Channel One staged satirical, scatological routines lampooning the banalities of television -- and staged them in front of TV cameras, which transmitted the routines to little TV monitors, which in turn were watched by the live audience. Some of the best sketches were assembled into an X-rated comedy feature, The Groove Tube (1970), which featured Belzer, Ken Shapiro, and a brash newcomer named Chevy Chase. For the next decade, Belzer played the comedy-club circuit, popped up as a talkshow guest, and appeared in occasional films like Fame (1982). He joined still another comedy troupe in 1983, which appeared nightly on the syndicated interview program Thicke of the Night. The host was Allan Thicke, and Belzer's comic cohorts included such incipient stars as Charles Fleischer, Chloe Webb and Gilbert Gottfried. Thicke of the Night was one of the more notorious bombs of the 1983-84 season, but it enabled Belzer to secure better guest-star bookings, and ultimately a hosting job on his own program, debuting in 1986 over the Lifetime Cable Service. It was on this series that wrestler Hulk Hogan, demonstrating a stranglehold on Belzer caused the host to lose consciousness -- which prompted a highly publicized lawsuit instigated by Belzer against the Hulkster. In the early 1990s, Richard Belzer could be seen as a non-comic regular on the TV series Homicide. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1999
This episode of Homicide: Life on the Street is the conclusion of a two-part story introduced on its "sister" series Law & Order. Newly appointed to a district court bench, ADA Danvers (Zeljko Ivanek) brings the Baltimore homicide unit into the investigation of the death of governmental official Janine McBride, who, despite being found murdered in New York City, was actually killed in Baltimore. Al Giardello (Yaphet Kotto) is mad that his son Mike (Giancarlo Esposito) turned over confidential information about the McBride case to his FBI bosses, who, in turn, handed it over to Independent Counsel William Dell (George Hearn) -- resulting in immunity for the accused murderer. As it turns out, the ruthless Dell (who bears a startling resemblance to Kenneth Starr) is using both the Baltimore cops and Law & Order regulars Rey Curtis (Benjamin Bratt), Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach), and Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) as unwitting stepping stones for his own political ambitions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
- 1999
The hit-and-run death of a Vietnam veteran prompts Stuart Gharty (Peter Gerety) to once again flash back to his own wartime experiences. Fed up with Gharty's ramblings, Munch (Richard Belzer) tells his colleagues that he has serious doubts about Stuart's war record. Ultimately, the two men have a heated confrontation at the Waterfront Bar -- yielding a "casualty" in the form of waitress Billie Lou (Ellen McElduff). And back at the precinct station, Lewis (Clark Johnson) expresses discomfort when Sheppard (Michael Michele) is placed back in rotation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
- 1999
A ritual murder is played out on the Internet, but the homicide detectives aren't certain whether the killing is real or an elaborate hoax. Whatever the case, the detectives "stake out" the Web when it is announced that another murder will occur at midnight. In the course of the investigation, the squad discovers that Bayliss (Kyle Secor) is running his own website -- much to Bayliss' embarrassment. The climax of this episode will dictate the outcome of Homicide: Life on the Street's series finale. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
- 1999
A riot erupts in the Little Jamaica section of Baltimore when a white bus driver strikes a black pedestrian. In the ensuing fracas, both the driver and a Jamaican man are killed -- and without credible witnesses, it looks as if the killings were racially motivated. Mike Giardello (Giancarlo Esposito) doesn't buy this and opens what promises to be a very long and controversial investigation. By episode's end, a seriously injured Detective Rene Sheppard (Michael Michele) is ordered to turn in her gun. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
- 1999
A case that has remained unsolved for two decades is reopened when the decomposed body of an unidentified woman is found buried at a construction site. Meanwhile, a convalescing Sheppard (Michael Michele) is confined to desk duty until further notice. And the romance between Falsone (Jon Seda) and Ballard (Callie Thorne) heats up considerably, forcing Giardello (Yaphet Kotto) to warn the couple to "cool it" -- or face suspension. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
- 1999
Luke Ryland (Benjamin Busch), the demented "Internet killer" first seen on the previous episode "Homicide.com," is freed from prosecution on a technicality -- sending arresting officer Bayliss (Kyle Secor) off the deep end. Meanwhile, Giardello's (Yaphet Kotto) daughter Teresa (Audra McDonald) unexpectedly shows up in Baltimore to help her dad celebrate his promotion to captain -- and her brother Mike's (Giancarlo Esposito) long-overdue resignation from the FBI. Several last-minute revelations, apologies, and surprises occur in this, the 122nd and final episode of Homicide: Life on the Street -- which, in its terminal moments, neatly brings the entire series "full circle." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
- 1999
- NR
David (Mark Rosenthal) is standing on the roof ledge of a building in lower Manhattan, threatening to jump. Several of his friends try to convince him to safely get down from the ledge, that suicide is not the answer. But as they speak to him, the audience sees moments from the friends' lives in flashback. It becomes obvious that David's friends have lives every bit as sad and desperate as David's; with people like this as your support group, why shouldn't a man jump? Jump features a strong supporting cast, including James LeGros, Richard Belzer, Harvey Fierstein, and Hal Linden, and was shown at the 1999 Los Angeles Independent Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Appel, Jessica Hecht, (more)
- 1998
Patti D'Arbanville guest stars as Darlene Everett, who shows up at the squad room with a videotape that "proves" that her husband, a bestselling author of espionage thrillers, was killed by his agent. Trouble is, there's no corpse -- and for the moment at least, it looks like there was no crime. In another case, an old woman is found dead after a break-in at her home -- but was she murdered? And on the romantic scene, Munch (Richard Belzer) pursues waitress Bille Lou (Ellen McElduff), while Falsone (Jon Seda) pursues fellow detective Ballard (Callie Thorne). Austin Pendleton makes his first appearance as eccentric Baltimore coroner Dr. Griscom. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
- 1998
Coroner Griscom (Austin Pendleton) alerts the homicide unit to the fact that several recent deaths have been caused by a poison named phospozine. FBI agent Mike "McGee" Giardello (Giancarlo Esposito) is put in charge of investigating this possible act of terrorism, whereupon tension develops between McGee and his father, Al (Yaphet Kotto), while Gharty (Peter Gerety) quietly and methodically traces the source of the poison. Meanwhile, Ballard (Callie Thorne) is none too pleased that the entire unit knows that she has dated Falsone (Jon Seda). And why is Munch (Richard Belzer) seeing a doctor? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
- 1998
The twin brother of a murder victim insists that the dead man's girlfriend is responsible, but the men and women of Homicide have their doubts. Elsewhere, several of the male detectives are moonstruck by attractive new arrival Rene Sheppard (Michael Michele); Mike Giardello (Giancarlo Esposito) has requested a transfer to the FBI's Baltimore bureau, but hasn't yet picked the right time to tell his father, Al (Yaphet Kotto); and Ballard (Callie Thorne) and Gharty (Peter Gerety) find themselves tied up in a jurisdictional boondoggle when a teenager found shot in Baltimore turns out to have been killed in Washington, D.C., following a bungled drug deal. Anthony Joseph Perry of Aerosmith guest stars as D.C. narcotics detective Joe Landrewsky. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
- 1998
Mike "McGee" Giardello (Giancarlo Esposito) and Laura Ballard (Callie Thorne) investigate when a famous sports doctor "accidentally" kills his sister-in-law. Joining the investigation is Falsone (Jon Seda), who in the course of events finds time to show off his prowess in the boxing ring. Meanwhile, Munch (Richard Belzer) is peeved that his partners in the Waterfront Bar would doubt the honesty of his accountant cousin -- until he's slapped with a bill for 30,000 dollars in back taxes. And Gharty (Peter Gerety), newly separated from his wife, tries to date Waterfront waitress Billie Lou (Ellen McElduff). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
- 1998
In the conclusion of Homicide: Life on the Street's two-part season six finale, the Baltimore police declares all-out war against the Mahoney drug operation after a shoot-out in the homicide unit's interrogation chamber which left detectives Ballard (Callie Thorne) and Gharty (Peter Gerety) serious wounded. In the course of the ensuing battle, Stivers (Toni Lewis) finally reveals the whole truth about the shooting of Georgia Rae Mahoney's brother Luther to Giardello (Yaphet Kotto); and Bayliss (Kyle Secor) takes a bullet meant for Pembleton (Andre Braugher) in the climactic assault against the fugitive Georgia Rae. Typically, this cliffhanger finale leaves several loose plot ends dangling, including the possible resignations of two of the series' most prominent characters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, (more)
- 1998
Season seven of Homicide: Life on the Street begins not long after the Baltimore homicide unit's squad room has been renovated as a means of expunging all memory of the Mahoney shoot-out. Fully recovered from their wounds, detectives Tim Bayliss (Kyle Secor), Stuart Gharty (Peter Gerety), and Laura Ballard (Callie Thorne) are back on the job -- but Frank Pembleton and Tim Kellerman have resigned from the force and are gone forever (or at least Pembleton is). Among those expressing an interest in the department's newest detective, sexy ex-beauty queen Rene Sheppard (Michael Michele), is Meldrick Lewis (Clark Johnson), who has recently separated from his wife. The first case on the board concerns a series of slayings in Little Italy, including the murder of skipper Al Giardello's (Yaphet Kotto) cousin Mario. At the funeral for his cousin, Giardello endures an uncomfortable reunion with his son Mike (Giancarlo Esposito in his first series appearance), an Arizona-based FBI agent. It will, of course, not be the last time that the senior and junior Giardellos are brought together professionally. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
- 1998
In the first episode of Homicide: Life on the Street's two-part season six finale, Judge Gibbons, who presided over the Mahoney wrongful-death suit, is found murdered -- and before long, three cops are killed in drive-bys that may be related to Gibbons' death. The FBI joins the homicide unit to crack the case, with all evidence pointing back to the drug-dealing empire of Georgia Mae Mahoney, which is now self-destructing in a deadly turf war. As Kellerman (Reed Diamond) broods over the likelihood that his public chastisement of Gibbons may have brought about the man's death, Georgia Rae's son Junior Bunk (Mekhi Phifer) is brought in for questioning -- whereupon Junior grabs a gun and begins firing, seriously wounding two of the series' main characters! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, (more)
- 1998
Two prominent members of the same exclusive country club have apparently committed suicide. Ballard (Callie Thorne) and Munch (Richard Belzer) investigate one of the deaths, while Pembleton (Andre Braugher) and Bayliss (Andre Braugher) investigate the other -- whereupon both teams unearth evidence of a blackmail-murder plot. Meanwhile, Lewis (Clark Johnson) is off suspension and back on duty; another member of the Mahoney crime operation turns up dead; and even though the civil suit against the police is dismissed, Kellerman (Reed Diamond) can't leave well enough alone, launching into a public tirade that may very well seal the doom of one of the key players in the suit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, (more)
- 1998
Bayliss (Kyle Secor) has never gotten over his first homicide case, the unsolved murder of young Adena Watson. His memories are jarred once again when an old man comes into the precinct house, announcing that his father committed the notorious, never-solved killing of an eight-year-old girl in 1932. Looking into this assertion, Falsone (Jon Seda) learns that the missing files for the 1932 case are in the hands of retired homicide detective Thomas Finnegan (Charles Durning) -- who insists upon participating in the newly reopened investigation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, (more)
- 1998
A pager number is the only clue in the death of a "perfect" high school athlete. While chasing down the wrong path to find a possible suspect, Bayliss (Kyle Secor) stumbles upon details of another crime -- one that will ultimately earn him and Pembleton (Andre Braugher) a commendation. Meanwhile, it looks as though the Mahoney drug empire is imploding, as several of Georgia Rae Mahoney's henchmen end up murdered. And the judge who made the questionable ruling in Georgia Rae's wrongful-death lawsuit gets his just desserts. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, (more)
- 1998
Ballard (Callie Thorne) and Gharty (Peter Gerety) run up against a wall of confusion as they investigate the murders of two women who were felled by a stun gun and strangled after accepting drinks from a kinky married couple. Things get more and more curious when one of the suspects makes a full confession -- which turns out to be a lie from start to finish. Meanwhile, Lewis (Clark Johnson) turns over important information relating to the Mahoney drug shootings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, (more)
- 1998
Falsone (Jon Seda) is the primary investigator when a four-year-old boy is abducted from a merry-go-round right under his mother's nose. Before long, the precinct gets a call from a man claiming to be the kidnapper -- and another call from the publicity-conscious host of the crime-solving TV show "This Week's Wanted." The key to the solution of this case ends up in the hands of a professional hypnotist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, (more)
- 1998
Alfre Woodard reprises her St. Elsewhere role as Dr. Roxanne Turner in this episode of Homicide: Life on the Street. The homicide detectives are called in when a woman insists that her cancer-ridden brother was euthanized by Dr. Turner. In the interrogation room, Turner admits that she has frequently injected terminal patients with a lethal dose of morphine, leading to a variety of reactions from the detectives. Elsewhere, Stivers (Toni Lewis) and Falsone (Jon Seda) become personally involved in their investigation of a pizza-parlor holdup which resulted in the death of a schoolgirl. And, still hoping to spare the department from a multimillion dollar lawsuit, Kellerman (Reed Diamond) secretly tapes Judge Gibbons (Rick Warner) while they discuss Gibbons' ruling in the Luther Mahoney wrongful-death case. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, (more)
- 1998
The department swings into action when an old man is apparently killed by his grandson's three pit bulls -- who are now on the loose. Kellerman (Reed Diamond) smells something fishy when the judge presiding over Georgia Rae Mahoney's wrongful-death suit insists that the case go before a jury. And with all of this occurring, the detectives still find time to go to the Watefront Bar to swap "stupid criminal" stories. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, (more)
- 1998
A case of road rage results in the deaths of both drivers. As Kellerman (Reed Diamond) and Munch (Richard Belzer) investigate this tragedy, medical examiner Julianna Cox (Michelle Forbes, in her final series appearance) receives orders from "higher up" to falsify her autopsy report. Meanwhile, the rest of the homicide unit investigate the death of a would-be spy who was smothered while participating in a mock training session. Giardello (Yaphet Kotto) calls in a few favors to crack this case, but not before the perpetrator does his best to kill everyone in the precinct station! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, (more)
- 1998
This episode of Homicide: Life on the Street, originally telecast as a two-hour special, has since been edited into two hour-long installments for syndication. In part two, the homicide unit has been ordered to concentrate exclusively on the murders of a priest and monsignor. Bayliss (Kyle Secor) poses as a cleric in hopes of flushing out the killers, who may or may not be a pair of missing Guatemalan refugees. And in other developments, the missing Lewis (Clark Johnson) finally resurfaces with an unusual request for Falsone (Jon Seda), Gharty (Peter Gerety) "loses it" while interrogating a suspect, and Kellerman (Reed Diamond) gets involved in a drunken brawl. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, (more)
- 1998
This episode of Homicide: Life on the Street, originally telecast as two-hour special, has since been edited into two hour-long installments for syndication. In part one, Lewis (Clark Johnson) completely drops out of sight after being suspended for a heated confrontation with litigious drug dealer Georgia Rae Mahoney. The murder of a priest yields a bizarre videotape which may lead Munch (Richard Belzer) and Kellerman (Reed Diamond) to the suspected killers, a pair of young Guatemalan refugees. And Falsone (Jon Seda) continues to battle his ex-wife over custody of their son. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, (more)
- 1998
Honored at a testimonial by her fellow medical examiners, Julianna Cox (Laura Ballard) relates the curious tale of Mr. and Mrs. Cochran (Steve Allen, Jayne Meadows), who, during one of their violent arguments, may very well have spared their son the trouble of committing suicide -- by killing him themselves. Back at the homicide unit, Georgia Rae Mahoney (Hazelle Goodman), sister of the late, unlamented drug kingpin Luther Mahoney, slaps a 60-million-dollar wrongful-death lawsuit against the detectives who were present when Luther was killed. And outside their usual jurisdiction, Ballard (Callie Thorne) and Gharty (Peter Gerety) pursue a pair of murderers into the backwoods of Western Maryland. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, (more)
