http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/JustForFun/JohnMunch

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What we have here is a small, semi-just-for-fun page to the character with the single most appearances outside his own series this side of a Public Domain Character, making him the king of the Intercontinuity Crossover. A police detective originally based in Baltimore and later in New York, in every appearance Munch is portrayed by Richard Belzer, who outside of this role is better known as a stand-up comedian. The shift in location was explained in-show by Munch's decision to retire from the Baltimore police department and put the city behind him for good.

When he left Law & Order: Special Victims Unit early in its 15th season, Belzer had played Munch for 21 years and for 22 consecutive seasons as a regular on two different shows (along with cameos and crossover appearances on 8 others), making him the character who ran longest as a regular on TV, beating out Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane (on Cheers and Frasier), James Arness as Matt Dillon and Milburn Stone as Doc Adams (both of Gunsmoke) as American television's longest running live action character. Munch's departure was explained in-show as his retirement from the NYPD, but he has made occasional appearances since then.

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See also: Wolverine Publicity.

Shows to feature John Munch:

As a main character:

As a guest star: