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Character Actors in "Columbo"
Unlike most televison series, "Columbo" had few continuing characters except for Columbo himself.
Several actors appeared in a number of the episodes, but only a few played the same character and that was for only a couple of episodes or so.
Only four actors played the same role twice or more.
One of the actor's, Bob Dishy, played Wilson in "The Greenhouse Jungle" (guest star Ray Milland) and in "Now You See Him" (guest star Jack Cassidy). But in each of those he had a different first name. In "The Greenhouse Jungle" his first name was Frederick. In "Now You See Him" his first name and initial were John J.
Another actor (don't know his name) played Capt. August in "A Case of Immunity" (guest star Hector Alizondo). In "Negative Reaction" (guest star Dick VanDyke) Columbo calls him "captain" so I assumed he was playing the same role of Captain August.
(Note this second actor has been identified as Bill Zuckert by Flo Stanton and by Bill Pitz of Holland, New York).
A third actor played the medical examiner or coroner (don't know his name) in:
A fourth actor (don't know his name) played two different characters twice.
He played, Barney , the owner of a restaurant, twice, in "It's All in the Game" (guest star Faye Dunaway) and in (A Trace of Murder). Although it doesn't say, the restaurant was probably's Barney's Beanery since Barney's Beanery was seen in the pilot movie and was mentioned in "Uneasy Lies the Crown" (guest star James Read). In the pilot movie Barney is not seen in the restaurant.
He played Columbo's boss twice, in "Columbo Cries Wolf" (guest star Ian Buchanan) and in "Columbo and the Murder of a Rock Star" (guest star Dabney Coleman). Although no name is mentioned in either case, we can say he played the same role.
He also had more scenes than any other actor besides Columbo (excluding guest stars such as Patrick McGoohan who appeared in four episodes). Here are some of the other roles he played:
He was part of a television series crew in "Fade in to Murder" (guest star William Shatner).
He was a garbage compactor operator in "The Most Dangerous Game" (guest star Lawrence Harvey).
He was a gate keeper in "Last Salute to the Commodore" (guest star Robert Vaughn).
He was a construction worker in "Blueprint for Murder" (guest star Patrick O'Neal).
He was Duffy in "A Friend in Deed" (guest star Richard Kiley).
He was a police detective in "Lovely But Lethal" (guest star Vera Miles).
He was Fred, the owner of a restaurant, in "Uneasy Lies the Crown" (guest star James Read).
(Note: This third actor has been identified as John Finnegan by Flo Stanton and by Bill Pitz of Holland, New York)
Another character actor (again I don't know his name) played in several episodes. I simply call him the dark-haired man since the actor above had light hair.
He was detective in "By Dawn's Early Light" (guest star Patrick McGoohan).
He was detective in "Last Salute to the Commodore" (guest star Robert Vaughn)
He was television repair man in "Make Me a Perfect Murder" (guest star Trish Van Devere)
He was sergeant in "A Deadly State of Mind" (guest star George Hamilton).
He was janitor in "Lovely But Lethal" (guest star Vera Miles).
He was detective in "Identity Crisis" (guest star Patrick McGoohan).
He was detective in "Columbo Cries Wolf" (guest star Ian Buchanan).
He was sergeant in "Agenda for Murder" (guest star Patrick McGoohan)
Since this man played a detective in several episodes you might say he had a continuing role, but I don't think his name was ever used.
(Note this fifth actor has been identified as Bruce Kirby by Flo Stanton and by Bill Pitz of Holland, New York. Flo also tells me that Bruce's son Bruno Kirby played a cadet in "Dawn's Early Light.")
Timothy Carey played the chili house owner, Bert, in two episodes, "Dead Weight" and "Ransom for a Dead Man." This info was supplied by Martin Williams.
Peter Falk's real-life wife Shera Danese appeared in six episodes:
1. Cathleen Calvert in "A Trace of Murder"
2. Geraldine Ferguson in "Undercover"
3. Trish Fairbanks in "Murder of a Rock Star"
4. Vanessa Barsini in "Self Portrait"
5. Eve Plummer in "Murder Under Glass"
6. Molly in "Fade Into Murder"
Submitted by Bill Pitz
Vito Scotti, a well-known character actor, appeared in three original Columbo's that I know of. I'm sorry I only know the title of one, Negative Reaction, with Dick Van Dyke, in which he played the drunk in the junkyard. In the one with Jackie Cooper, he's the owner of the tailor shop. In the episode where Patrick McGoohan is a secret agent, Vito Scotti gives the speech that McGoohan composed in the introduction to the episode. I just remembered another Vito Scotti role in Columbo. I believe he wast the restaurant owner in the episode with Donald Pleasance (ther estaurant where Columbo substituted the spoiled wine). Submitted by T.A. Curtis.
Some additions to the Vito Scotti reference....
Murder, A Self Portrait... "Vito"
Identity Crisis...... Salvatore DeFonte
Negative Reaction... Thomas Delon
Swan Song.... Mr. Grindell
Candidate for Crime.... Chadwick
Any Old Port in a Storm... Maitre'd
All six appearances sent in by Bill Pitz, Holland, NY
One lady appeared in two episodes. Her name is Lucille Meredith. She was the choir gown maker in "Swan S Song" and a lady at an election victory party in "Candidate for Crime." This info was supplied by Rick Loader.
Actor Val Avery appeared in four episodes: as Harry Barnes in "Dead
Weight" (guest star Eddie Albert), as Ralph Dobbs in "The Most Crucial
Game" (guest star Robert Culp), as Artie Jessup in "A Friend in Deed"
(guest star Richard Kiley) and as Louie in "Identity Crisis" (guest star
Patrick McGoohan). Submitted by S. from Toronto
If you can supply some names for these actors it would be appreciated.
(Note: As you can see we now have identification on these actors, except one. Thanks to all who responded. If you responded and do not see your name credited please forgive me. I had a computer crash and lost some email from August of 2000 to February of 2001. If you sent an email with identification and your name is not listed feel free to resend the email and I will update this page. Also if you want to comment on these actors please do so.--Granville Cooley)
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