Richard Belzer Leaving 'Law & Order: SVU': Munch Retires

Richard Belzer will be leaving 'Law & Order: SVU', Us Weekly reported Thursday.

Belzer has played Sgt. John Munch since the show's inception. However, it was revealed during Wednesday's episode that Munch was retiring.  Belzer will only appear on a recurring basis and will no longer be featured as a series regular.

Belzer originated the role of Munch in 1993 NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street. He transplanted the character to SVU in 1999. In May of this year, he said he was still satisfied with SVU and his place on the show.

"I'd be a fool to say I didn't want to do it anymore and I'm certainly not bored with the character because the writing is so good," Belzer told The Huffington Post. "[Munch is] very close to how I would be if I were in that situation, so it's a dream."

The next episode will feature Munch's retirement party as a rape victim believes she has been attacked once again. Wednesday's episode featured Munch being disgusted when fellow cops were involved in the rape of a woman. The incident was pulled from the headlines. In 2011, two police offers were acquitted of the rape of a drunken woman.

"That one in particular stayed with us because it seemed as if ... in real life they were hit with departmental charges - they got away with it," said SVU showrunner/ executive producer Warren Leight.