8 Popular TV Characters Who Originated On A Different Show

7. Detective John Munch (Law & Order: SVU)

1st Appearance: Homicide: Life on the Street Those of us with terrible long-term memories likely remember David Belzer's grumpy, sardonic portrayal of Detective John Munch as the crime solver of exclusively sexual-based offenses on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. But the more eagle-eyed (and more lucid) viewers will recall that Munch was first solving more well-rounded homicidal investigations as a principal character on the aptly-titled Homicide: Life on the Street. The first glimpse into the Baltimore Police Department (smell ya later, The Wire), Homicide featured an all-star cast that included Andre Braugher, Giancarlo Esposito, Ned Beaty and yes, Richard Belzer. Once Homicide ended its seven year run, Munch made the transfer from Baltimore to New York, where he would drop his firm beliefs in conspiracy theories to team up with Ice T, making everything right with the world.