America’s Most Beloved Bumbling Detective
Columbo—the cult classic detective drama that went off the air in 2003 after 35 years—remains a favorite of critics and fans alike. The series was unusual in many ways, from pioneering the “howcatchem” mystery structure to Peter Falk’s extensive improvisation. Here are 38 interesting facts about one of TV’s most beloved detectives.
The Original Columbo Was Supposed To Be A One-Off
The character of Columbo debuted in 1960. He was first seen in “Enough Rope”, an episode within the anthology series The Chevy Mystery Show. Bert Freed played the original Columbo.
NBC, The Chevy Mystery Show (1960)
Columbo Endured Over Five Decades
The first pilot episode, “Prescription: Murder,” aired in 1968. Thirty-five years later, Columbo went off the air following the last episode, “Columbo Likes The Nightlife”. In between, the series spawned 69 episodes and made-for-TV movies.
Universal, Prescription: Murder (1968)
The Show Presented Mysteries In A New Way
In a traditional whodunit mystery, the perpetrator’s identity is revealed at the end. But viewers of Columbo witness the offense go down in the first act and know who the guilty party is from the beginning of the episode. The remainder of the show tracks Columbo as he pieces the clues together through a newly devised narrative structure dubbed a “howcatchem”.
Universal, Prescription: Murder (1968)
There Were Two Columbos Besides Falk
For many of us, Falk is inseparable from the character of Columbo. But two other actors played the bumbling detective: Bert Freed (in the 1960’s TV movie Enough Rope) and Thomas Mitchell (in 1962’s stage version of Prescription: Murder).
Margie Korshak, Wikimedia Commons
One Really Famous Actor Turned Down The Role
Originally, the writers for the series envisioned Bing Crosby as Columbo. But the legendary singer and actor turned down the role, worried that it would interfere with his golf game.
Falk Made The Role His Own
Quirky, rumpled, and down-to-earth, Lieutenant Columbo is inseparable from Peter Falk. The actor used many of his personal items on set and deeply developed the character through improvisation.
Falk’s Glass Eye Was The Reason For Columbo’s Bumbling Persona
Falk lost his right eye when he was three years old, due to cancer, and had it replaced with a glass eye. The glass eye was the reason for the actor’s famous squint. It was also the reason behind Columbo’s bumbling persona. Falk was almost fired for missing his mark on set–he needed to look down to see it and began incorporating that as one of Columbo’s trademark mannerisms.
Columbo Wore Falk’s Own Trench Coat
Columbo’s iconic trench coat was Falk’s own garment. Although the character wore a topcoat in the stage production of Prescription: Murder, a heavy coat isn’t suited to television’s Columbo, who lives in California. Instead, Falk wore his own trench coat during filming, which he bought during a rainstorm in New York City for $15.
Columbo Wore Falk’s Suit And Shoes Too
Columbo is almost always clad in a full brown suit under his iconic trench coat, and wearing beat-up shoes. Like the trench coat, the suit and shoes were Falk’s own.
Columbo Smokes Cheap Cigars
On his detective’s salary, Columbo can only afford cheap cigars and he is rarely seen without one. However, if a good Cuban is offered, he happily accepts.
A World Class Director Was On Board For Season One, Episode One
Steven Speilberg became a household name in 1974 as the director of Jaws. But three years earlier, he directed the very first episode of Columbo: “Murder by the Book”.
Patrick McGoohan Played Four Villains And Won Two Emmys
Patrick McGoohan, the Irish American actor best known for his work on the 1960s television series Danger Man and The Prisoner, appeared as a different slayer in Columbo in four episodes. He won Emmy Awards for his appearances in 1975 and 1990.
Falk Won Four Emmys And A Golden Globe
Nominated 10 times for Emmy Awards for his portrayal of the rumpled detective, Falk took home the statuette in 1972, 1975, 1976, and 1990. He also earned a Golden Globe for his work on the show in 1973.
A Long List Of Celebrities Guest Starred As Killers
The acclaimed show cast several celebrity guest stars as killers during its 35-year run. Jack Cassidy, Robert Culp, William Shatner, George Hamilton, Leonard Nimoy, Johnny Cash, Billy Connolly, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Jackie Cooper, Dick Van Dyke, and Faye Dunaway are among those caught by Columbo.
An Even Longer List Of Celebrities Had Walk-On Roles
Whether they were up-and-coming young actors or established household names at the time, dozens of celebrities appeared in bit parts on the show. Jamie Lee-Curtis, Kim Cattrall, Martin Sheen, Katey Sagal, Don Ameche, Myrna Loy, Leslie Nielsen, Little Richard, and Rod Steiger are among those who shared the screen with Columbo.
Falk Directed A Single Episode
In season one, Universal agreed to let Falk direct one episode. When it seemed as though the studio would renege on the agreement, Falk went on a sickout. He eventually directed “Blueprint for Murder” in season one.
The Mysterious Mrs Columbo
Columbo is married and his wife is often mentioned on screen. However, viewers never get to see her.
Columbo’s Sidekick Is A Dog Called “Dog”
Early in the series, Columbo rescues a basset hound from the pound. Although the dog appears in several episodes, Columbo always just calls it “Dog”.
He Is A Veteran
Before Columbo joined the force, he served in the Korean War as a member of the US Army. According to a story he told in “Swan Song”, he was a cook in the mess hall.
He Has An Eclectic Diet
The detective’s favorite food is chili, which he enjoys eating with saltines. He also likes hard-boiled eggs and black coffee.
Falk Earned More Than Columbo
Although Falk’s starting salary remains unknown, it’s rumored that he was paid $300,000 per episode in 1972. That same year, Columbo earned just $11,000 per year. (Falk’s salary reportedly doubled to $600,000 per episode by 1989.)
The Detective Lets One Killer Get Away With It
Although the bumbling detective solves every mystery, he doesn’t report every killer. In 1975’s “Forgotten Lady”, he lets a terminally ill villain off the hook. The perpetrator, played by Janet Leigh, doesn’t remember that she committed the offense.
He Doesn’t Like To Shoot
We only see Columbo carry a piece in one episode (“No Time to Die”) and fire one in one other episode (“Playback”). However, he fires it only to conduct an experiment. His dislike runs so deep that he gets a colleague to take his gun test for him in “Forgotten Lady”.
He’s Italian But Ate A Lot Of Egg Rolls
Although he’s Italian, Columbo grew up near Chinatown in New York City. In “Murder Under Glass”, he says, “When I was a kid, I bet I had more egg rolls than I had cannelloni”.
One Extra Appears In 23 Episodes
Several actors play different roles in different episodes but Mike Lally holds the record for the most appearances in roles that are not recurring. The stalwart extra, who’s appeared in almost 450 walk-on roles in film and television, shows up in at least 23 episodes of Columbo.
Falk’s Real-Life Wife Appears In Six Episodes
Peter Falk married his second wife, Shera Danese, in 1977. Danese guest-starred more frequently in Columbo than any other actress, appearing in six episodes.
Falk Frequently Improvised
Falk was allowed to improvise and it was that improvisation that developed the Columbo we all grew to love. Whether improvising lines or gestures and mannerisms, Falk created a relatable portrayal of the humble detective.
Protests Erupted In Romania When Season Three Ended
Columbo was such a big hit in Romania that public protests erupted when season three ended in 1974. Falk reached out to the government of Romania, asking them to reassure the public that more episodes were being made.
The Show Aired Monthly At Falk’s Request
The Oscar-winning actor wanted to be available to act in movies in addition to his work on the series. Episodes aired monthly at Falk’s request instead of weekly as originally planned.
It’s A Mystery Whether Columbo Has Kids
Avid fans of the series know that Columbo’s stories vary from show to show. It’s speculated that, at least in some cases, Columbo lied about certain details of his own life to ferret out more clues. In other cases, it may have been due to Falk’s tendency to improvise. Whatever the reason, it’s unknown whether Columbo and his wife have children—in some episodes, he says they do, and in others, he says that they don’t.
Coach From Cheers Directed Two Episodes
It’s true—Nicholas Colasanto, best known for his role as Coach Ernie Pantusso on Cheers, directed two early episodes of Columbo: "Etude in Black" and "Swan Song”.
Those Are Edith Head’s Real Oscar Statuettes
In “Requiem for a Falling Star,” Edith Head—the famed Hollywood costume designer—plays herself. When Columbo pops into Head’s real-life office, the seven Oscar statuettes on her desk are Head’s own.
The 1973 NBA Championship Team Appears In One Episode—Playing B-Ball Of Course
In season two’s “The Most Crucial Game”, Columbo visits a basketball court. The players are the real-life Los Angeles Lakers, the same team that went on to win the 1973 NBA championship.
The Series Was Canceled By NBC But Picked Up By ABC—11 Years Later
In 1978, NBC canceled the beloved series, largely because of Falk’s request that no budgetary or time constraints be imposed on production. Eleven years later, the series was revived on ABC.
Columbo’s Car Is Always The Same But The Plate Changes
Columbo drove the same unreliable car for 35 years—a 1960 Peugeot 403 convertible. But the plate changed from 044-APD during the NBC years to 448-DBZ during the ABC years.
Columbo’s First Name Is Never Spoken
The show's fans have to have keen observational skills to know that Columbo’s first name is Frank. His name is never spoken aloud. However, it can be seen in close-ups of his badge in season one and on an evidence bag in the 1989 episode, “Grand Deceptions”.
There’s A Bronze Statue Of Columbo And Dog In Budapest
The reasons are unclear, but a life-sized bronze statue of Columbo—in a characteristic pose, holding a cigar—and Dog stands as a public art installation in Budapest, Hungary. Appropriately, it’s located on Falk Miksa Street.
Illustratedjc, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons
The Cult Classic Remains A Favorite Of Fans And Critics
In 2012, Columbo was nominated as one of the all-time best TV shows by ABC News and People magazine. And, in 2013, the Writers Guild of America West named it one of the best-written TV series ever.
