It's heartwarming to hear Mariska Hargitay speak so fondly of her late Law & Order: SVU co-star Richard Belzer, who passed away on Feb. 19, 2023. During an appearance on NBC's Today, Hargitay praised Belzer for his creativity, trust, and risk-taking abilities while working on the long-running series together. She also highlighted his soft spot for children and his ability to bring joy to the set. Hargitay, along with other SVU stars and creative team members, paid tribute to the late actor last weekend, and the show dedicated an episode to him. Ice-T, who played Detective Munch's partner on the show, also expressed his sadness at losing Belzer, calling him a friend and a talented actor. Show creator Dick Wolf described Munch as one of TV's most iconic characters and praised Belzer for bringing humor and joy to everyone's lives.