"If you tell a lie that's big enough, and you tell it often enough, people will believe you're telling the truth, even if what you're saying is total crap."
-- Richard Belzer (from IMDB.com)
-- Richard Belzer (from IMDB.com)
I do find it vexing how society treats celebrities with a bit of kid gloves at times.
For example, that quote attributed to actor/comedian Richard Belzer from above? To me, something said like that would appear to be common sense, but in today's kinda/sorta 'cancel culture' climate a phrase or a statement or a Tweet like that would get you banned for the spread of either disinformation or misinformation on any major social media platform ... only if it were you and I. The regular folks. People like Belzer or any other established commodity? Well, they can say it all the live long day, and they'll likely suffer no consequences.
Now, don't think I'm throwing sour grapes at Belzer. My sentiment has nothing to do with him -- well, other than the fact that it's something he allegedly said, and I've no reason to doubt it -- and it really only shows the importance we apparently put on free speech: if it comes from our cultural betters, then it's okay. If it comes from the masses-at-large, then it need be suppressed.
Such observations were pretty common in the man's early days. From what I know of him (without any research), he got his start in comedy clubs and the like, eventually garnering a good deal of positive attention from industry types. This brought the man a bit of a second career, that being an actor in films and television; and he enjoyed a fairly long stint aboard some crime procedurals on the Boob Tube in the United States.
As far as his contributions to the world of genre entertainment?
His participation in our flights of fancy are a bit light, but they're equally deserving of a mention in this space.
In 1982, he enjoyed an uncredited appearance as a 'loudmouthed audience member' in Cafe Flesh from Carribbean Films.
In 1991, he found work in an episode of Monsters! before enjoying a recurring stint on the TV's first attempt at bringing DC Comics' The Flash to life in a weekly show. IMDB.com reports that Belzer made ten appearances in the property.
In 1994, Belzer checked in with an impressive four visits to the world of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman. In that same year, he enjoyed a stop in the theatrical realm aboard The Puppet Masters for Hollywood Pictures.
1995 was another solid year for Science Fiction for the actor. He enjoyed stops to two alien-themed entities: first, Not Of This Earth for Concorde-New Horizons and then a role in the two-part miniseries updating of The Invaders for television.
But perhaps his most memorable (for me, anyway) was when -- in 1997 -- he flirted with a curious crossover: his TV detective John Munch came aboard an episode of Fox TV's stellar The X-Files for a single episode. And that same year saw the actor playing the U.S. President in Species II for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Alas, none of us lasts forever, and word reached my desk yesterday that the award-nominated actor passed away due to health complications. Thankfully, his work lives on so that it can be discovered by future generations.
As always, thoughts and prayers are extended to the family, friends, and fans of Mr. Belzer. May he rest in peace.
-- EZ
For example, that quote attributed to actor/comedian Richard Belzer from above? To me, something said like that would appear to be common sense, but in today's kinda/sorta 'cancel culture' climate a phrase or a statement or a Tweet like that would get you banned for the spread of either disinformation or misinformation on any major social media platform ... only if it were you and I. The regular folks. People like Belzer or any other established commodity? Well, they can say it all the live long day, and they'll likely suffer no consequences.
Now, don't think I'm throwing sour grapes at Belzer. My sentiment has nothing to do with him -- well, other than the fact that it's something he allegedly said, and I've no reason to doubt it -- and it really only shows the importance we apparently put on free speech: if it comes from our cultural betters, then it's okay. If it comes from the masses-at-large, then it need be suppressed.
Such observations were pretty common in the man's early days. From what I know of him (without any research), he got his start in comedy clubs and the like, eventually garnering a good deal of positive attention from industry types. This brought the man a bit of a second career, that being an actor in films and television; and he enjoyed a fairly long stint aboard some crime procedurals on the Boob Tube in the United States.
As far as his contributions to the world of genre entertainment?
His participation in our flights of fancy are a bit light, but they're equally deserving of a mention in this space.
In 1982, he enjoyed an uncredited appearance as a 'loudmouthed audience member' in Cafe Flesh from Carribbean Films.
In 1991, he found work in an episode of Monsters! before enjoying a recurring stint on the TV's first attempt at bringing DC Comics' The Flash to life in a weekly show. IMDB.com reports that Belzer made ten appearances in the property.
In 1994, Belzer checked in with an impressive four visits to the world of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman. In that same year, he enjoyed a stop in the theatrical realm aboard The Puppet Masters for Hollywood Pictures.
1995 was another solid year for Science Fiction for the actor. He enjoyed stops to two alien-themed entities: first, Not Of This Earth for Concorde-New Horizons and then a role in the two-part miniseries updating of The Invaders for television.
But perhaps his most memorable (for me, anyway) was when -- in 1997 -- he flirted with a curious crossover: his TV detective John Munch came aboard an episode of Fox TV's stellar The X-Files for a single episode. And that same year saw the actor playing the U.S. President in Species II for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Alas, none of us lasts forever, and word reached my desk yesterday that the award-nominated actor passed away due to health complications. Thankfully, his work lives on so that it can be discovered by future generations.
As always, thoughts and prayers are extended to the family, friends, and fans of Mr. Belzer. May he rest in peace.
-- EZ
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