Law & Order star Richard Belzer has died aged 78.

The comedian and actor, who was best known playing Detective John Munch in the franchise, died on Sunday (February 19).

Writer Bill Scheft, Belzer’s friend, confirmed the sad news of his death to .

He also revealed his pal’s explicit last words after Belzer died at his home in Bozouls in southwest France.

Scheft said: ‘He had lots of health issues, and his last words were, “F**k you, motherf***er’.’

The comic-turned actor – who previously survived testicular cancer and was famed for spending more than two decades playing detective Munch on a total of 11 TV shows, including Homicide: Life on the Street and then on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, X-Files, and The Wire.

His actor’s death was first announced by former Saturday Night Live comic Laraine Newman, 70, who tweeted: ‘I’m so sad to hear of Richard Belzer’s passing. I loved this guy so much.

‘He was one of my first friends when I got to New York to do SNL.

‘We used to go out to dinner every week at Sheepshead Bay for lobster.’

She added Belzer was ‘one of the funniest people ever’ and a ‘master’ at crowd work during his comedy gigs.

Amongst the stars leading tributes once news of his death broke was comedian Billy Crystal, 74, who tweeted: ‘Richard Belzer was simply hilarious. A genius at handling a crowd. So sad he’s passed away.’

Fellow stand-up and podcaster Marc Maron, 59, added online: ‘Richard Belzer died. He was an original. One of the greats, babe. I loved the guy. RIP.’

Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Belzer said he got into comedy by making his physically abusive mum laugh, as he said if he didn’t he would ‘get my a** kicked.’

He went on to work as a reporter for the Bridgeport Post and as a census taker before turning to comedy full-time after his dad took his life.

His brother Leonard also died by suicide in 2014.

Known for taking his dog with him everywhere he went with him when in moved to New York, by the early 1970s Belzer was a regular on the National Lampoon Radio Hour, alongside John Belushi, Chevy Chase and Bill Murray.