The Enduring Legacy of Lieutenant Columbo: A Complete Episode Guide
For over three decades, Lieutenant Columbo, with his rumpled trench coat, perpetually lit cigar, and disarmingly absent-minded demeanor, captivated audiences.
This guide delves into every single episode of the beloved detective series, from its experimental beginnings to its triumphant return in the later years. Get ready to revisit the iconic cases, the brilliant guest stars, and the subtle brilliance that made Columbo a television legend.
The Pilot Films (1968-1971)
Before becoming a regular series, Columbo had two highly successful pilot films that set the stage for the show's unique "inverted detective story" format.
Prescription: Murder (1968)
Plot: A brilliant psychiatrist and his mistress conspire to murder his wealthy wife, staging it as a kidnapping gone wrong.
Guest Stars: Gene Barry as Dr. Ray Flemming, Katherine Justice as Joan Hudson.
3
Ransom for a Dead Man (1971)
4 Plot: A high-powered attorney murders her husband and attempts to make it look like a plane crash, all while feigning grief and negotiating a fake ransom.
Guest Stars: Lee Grant as Leslie Williams, John Fink as Phil Corrigan.
5
Season 1 (1971-1972)
The first full season established Columbo as a ratings powerhouse and a critical darling.
Death Lends a Hand (1971)
Plot: A ruthless private eye, hired by a newspaper magnate, murders the magnate's wife when she threatens to expose their affair.
Guest Stars: Robert Culp as Brimmer, Ray Milland as Arthur Kennicut.
6
Dead Weight (1971)
Plot: A retired Marine Corps general shoots his business partner and stages it as an accidental shooting while sailing.
Guest Stars: Eddie Albert as General Martin Hollister, Suzanne Pleshette as Helen Stewart.
Suitable for Framing (1971)
Plot: An art critic murders his uncle to inherit his valuable art collection and frames his ex-girlfriend for the crime.
Guest Stars: Ross Martin as Dale Kingston, Don Ameche as Frank Simpson.
7
Lady in Waiting (1971)
Plot: A wealthy heiress, tired of her controlling brother, stages an elaborate self-defense scenario to murder him.
Guest Stars: Susan Clark as Beth Chadwick, Richard Anderson as Bryce Chadwick.
8
Blueprint for Murder (1972)
Plot: A famous architect, frustrated by his patron's meddling, murders him and meticulously plans the crime to make it seem like he was out of town.
Guest Stars: Patrick O'Neal as Elliot Markham, Janis Paige as Goldie Ashton.
Rook to One (AKA "Murder by the Book") (1972)
Plot: A bestselling mystery writer murders his writing partner when the partner threatens to expose that he's the real talent.
Guest Stars: Jack Cassidy as Ken Franklin, Martin Milner as Jim Ferris.
9
Death Hits the Jackpot (AKA "Short Fuse") (1972)
Plot: A chemist murders his rich uncle with an exploding cigar, intending to inherit his fortune.
Guest Stars: Roddy McDowall as Roger Dutton, Anne Francis as Doris Dutton.
Season 2 (1972-1973)
The second season continued the show's winning streak with memorable performances and intricate plots.
A Stitch in Crime (1972)
Plot: A brilliant, but ruthless, heart surgeon murders his senior partner to prevent him from exposing his illegal drug research.
Guest Stars: Leonard Nimoy as Dr. Barry Mayfield, Anne Francis as Dr. Vanessa Favors.
The Most Crucial Game (1972)
Plot: A former football star and current team owner murders his younger brother, who is also an aspiring owner, to gain full control of the team.
Guest Stars: Robert Culp as Paul Hanlon, Dean Jagger as Walter Cunnell.
10
Dagger of the Mind (1972)
Plot: A celebrated acting couple in London accidentally kills a blackmailer and stages a new murder to cover up the first.
Guest Stars: Richard Basehart as Nicholas Frame, Honor Blackman as Lillian Stanhope.
Requiem for a Falling Star (1973)
Plot: A fading movie star, desperate to maintain her illusion of fame, murders her loyal personal assistant.
Guest Stars: Anne Baxter as Nora Chandler, Pippa Scott as Jean Davis.
11
A Friend in Deed (1973)
Plot: A wealthy real estate developer murders his wife and frames his best friend for the crime, whom he also convinces to kill his own wife.
Guest Stars: Richard Kiley as Mark Halperin, Rosemary Murphy as Margaret Halperin.
Any Old Port in a Storm (1973)
Plot: A cultured, arrogant wine connoisseur murders his younger brother when the brother decides to sell their family vineyard.
Guest Stars: Donald Pleasence as Adrian Carsini, Gary Conway as Ric Carsini.
12
Candidate for Crime (1973)
Plot: A politician, in the midst of a campaign, murders his campaign manager who knows too much about his past.
Guest Stars: Jackie Cooper as Nelson Hayward, Tisha Sterling as Linda Johnson.
13
Double Shock (1973)
Plot: Identical twin brothers conspire to murder their wealthy aunt for her inheritance, one committing the crime while the other provides an alibi.
Guest Stars: Martin Landau as Dexter Paris / Norman Paris, Julie Adams as Kay Freestone.
Season 3 (1973-1974)
Season 3 continued to deliver strong mysteries and showcased some of the series' most memorable guest stars.
Lovely but Lethal (1973)
15 Plot: A manipulative cosmetics mogul murders her competitor, an inventor with a formula that could revolutionize the industry.
Guest Stars: Vera Miles as Viveca Scott, Martin Sheen as Karl Lessing.
Such Things as Honor (AKA "Any Old Port in a Storm") (1973)
Plot: A college president murders a trustee who threatens to expose a scandal that could ruin the university's reputation.
Guest Stars: Robert Vaughn as Hayden Danzinger, Dean Stockwell as Eric Wagner.
Mind Over Mayhem (1974)
Plot: A brilliant robotics scientist murders a rival scientist to steal his research and claim it as his own.
Guest Stars: Jose Ferrer as Dr. Marshall Cahill, Lew Ayres as Professor R.J. Kincaid.
Publish or Perish (1974)
Plot: A publisher murders his star author to prevent him from leaving for another publishing house.
Guest Stars: Jack Cassidy as Riley Greenleaf, Mickey Spillane as Alan Mallory.
16
Double Exposure (1974)
Plot: A renowned subliminal advertising expert murders his business partner during a presentation, using a projector to create a visual distraction.
Guest Stars: Robert Culp as Dr. Bart Keppel, Louise Latham as Mrs. Finch.
Columbo Goes to College (AKA "Columbo Goes to the Guillotine") (1974)
Plot: Two brilliant but arrogant college students murder their criminology professor after he threatens to expose their elaborate cheating scheme.
17 Guest Stars: Frank Converse as Dr. Nicholas Niarchos, Mariette Hartley as Kathleen O'Connell.
A Friend in Deed (1974)
18 Plot: A wealthy real estate developer murders his wife and then frames his best friend for the crime.
Guest Stars: Richard Kiley as Mark Halperin, Michael McGuire as Artie Jessup.
By Dawn's Early Light (1974)
Plot: The commandant of a military academy murders a fellow officer who threatens to expose his past misdeeds and prevent the academy from becoming a college.
Guest Stars: Patrick McGoohan as Colonel Lyle C. Rumford, Darrell Zwerling as Captain Loomis.
Season 4 (1974-1975)
This season brought more intricate plots and iconic guest stars, solidifying Columbo's place in television history.
Troubled Waters (1975)
Plot: A doctor on a cruise ship murders his mistress when she threatens to expose their affair to his wife.
Guest Stars: Robert Vaughn as Hayden Danziger, Jane Greer as Sylvia Danziger.
A Deadly State of Mind (1975)
Plot: A psychiatrist murders his patient's husband, staging it to look like a robbery, to continue his affair with the patient.
Guest Stars: George Hamilton as Dr. Marcus Collier, Lesley Ann Warren as Nadia Donner.
19
An Exercise in Fatality (1975)
Plot: A fitness guru murders his business partner, who was about to expose his illegal financial dealings.
Guest Stars: Robert Conrad as Milo Janus, Gretchen Corbett as Jessica Conroy.
Negative Reaction (1975)
Plot: A celebrated photographer, seeking revenge against his estranged wife, stages her murder to look like a kidnapping.
Guest Stars: Dick Van Dyke as Paul Galesko, Antoinette Bower as Frances Galesko.
20
A Matter of Honor (1975)
Plot: A respected bullfighter murders his former rival, who was about to expose his secret past.
Guest Stars: Ricardo Montalban as Luis Montoya, A. Martinez as Curro.
Forgotten Lady (1975)
Plot: A retired, ailing movie star murders her husband, a doctor, when he refuses to give her more medication, then attempts to cover it up with her declining memory.
Guest Stars: Janet Leigh as Grace Wheeler Willis, Sam Jaffe as Dr. Willis.
21
Season 5 (1975-1976)
Season 5 continued to deliver strong narratives, maintaining the show's high standards.
A Case of Immunity (1975)
Plot: A diplomat from a Middle Eastern country murders one of his own security guards to steal a precious artifact for his government.
Guest Stars: Hector Elizondo as Hassan Salah, Sal Mineo as Rachman Habib.
Identity Crisis (1975)
Plot: A former CIA agent, now a covert operative, murders his contact to prevent the exposure of a highly sensitive operation.
Guest Stars: Patrick McGoohan as Nelson Brenner, Leslie Nielsen as Geronimo.
A Matter of Conscience (AKA "Now You See Him...") (1976)
Plot: A ruthless magician murders his business partner during a magic show, making it appear to be part of the act.
Guest Stars: Jack Cassidy as The Great Santini, Bob Dishy as Sergeant John J. Wilson.
22
Last Salute to the Commodore (1976)
Plot: A wealthy shipping magnate's nephew murders his uncle to inherit the family business, then attempts to frame an employee.
Guest Stars: Robert Vaughn as Charles Clay, Dean Stockwell as Lloyd Harrington.
Fade in to Murder (1976)
Plot: A popular television actor, tired of his domineering producer, murders him and stages it as a botched robbery.
Guest Stars: William Shatner as Ward Fowler, Lola Albright as Claire Daley.
Old Fashioned Murder (AKA "Murder Under Glass") (1976)
Plot: A celebrated food critic murders a restaurant owner who threatened to expose his shady dealings and questionable reviews.
Guest Stars: Louis Jourdan as Paul Gerard, Michael V. Gazzo as Vittorio Rossi.
Season 6 (1976-1977)
The show continued its strong run, delivering compelling mysteries and performances.
Columbo: A Musical Murder (AKA "Death Hit the Jackpot") (1976)
Plot: A wealthy man murders his nephew after the nephew wins a lottery jackpot he believes is rightfully his.
Guest Stars: Roddy McDowall as Roger Dutton, Anne Francis as Doris Dutton.
Columbo: The Bye-Bye Sky High I.Q. Murder Case (1977)
23 Plot: A brilliant member of a high-IQ society murders his business partner, who was about to expose his embezzlement.
Guest Stars: Theodore Bikel as Oliver Brandt, Samantha Eggar as Vivian Brandt.
Columbo: Murder Under Glass (1977)
Plot: A food critic murders a rival restaurant owner who was threatening to expose his fraudulent practices.
Guest Stars: Louis Jourdan as Paul Gerard, Michael V. Gazzo as Vittorio Rossi.
Columbo: The Farewell to the Chief (AKA "The Conspirators") (1977)
Plot: A famous Irish poet, an IRA sympathizer, murders an arms dealer during a poetry reading to prevent a sale of weapons.
Guest Stars: Peter McGoohan as Joe Devlin, L.Q. Jones as J.J. Stringer.
Season 7 (1977-1978)
The final season of the original run maintained the show's high quality, concluding with memorable episodes.
Columbo: Make Me a Perfect Murder (1978)
Plot: A highly successful film editor murders her former lover, a studio executive, when he fires her and threatens to expose their affair.
Guest Stars: Trish Van Devere as Kay Freestone, Laurence Luckinbill as Joe DeLuca.
Columbo: How to Dial a Murder (1978)
Plot: A psychologist trains his two attack Dobermans to murder his former lover's new husband.
Guest Stars: Nicol Williamson as Dr. Eric Mason, Kim Cattrall as Joanne Nicholls.
24
Columbo: The Murder of a Rock Star (AKA "Murder Under the Rock") (1978)
Plot: A rock star murders his estranged wife during a concert, staging it to look like an accident.
Guest Stars: Dabney Coleman as Sean Brantley, Jo Ann Pflug as Bonnie.
Columbo: Death Hits the Jackpot (1978)
Plot: A wealthy man murders his nephew for a lottery ticket the nephew bought that wins big, which the uncle believes is rightfully his.
Guest Stars: Roddy McDowall as Roger Dutton, Jamie Lee Curtis as Lisa Duncan.
The Revival (1989-2003)
After an 11-year hiatus, Columbo returned with a series of popular TV movies, proving the character's enduring appeal.
Columbo: Columbo Goes to the Guillotine (1989)
Plot: A mentalist murders a rival who threatens to expose his fraudulent abilities.
Guest Stars: Anthony Andrews as Elliot Blake, Karen Austin as Dr. Paula Hall.
Columbo: Murder, Smoke and Shadows (1989)
Plot: A powerful movie director murders a journalist who is threatening to expose a dark secret from his past.
Guest Stars: Fisher Stevens as Alex Brady, Steven Spielberg (uncredited cameo).
Columbo: Sex and the Married Detective (1989)
25 Plot: A popular sex therapist murders her husband after he discovers her affair and threatens to expose her.
Guest Stars: Lindsay Crouse as Dr. Joan Allen, Ken Howard as Mark Allen.
Columbo: Grand Deceptions (1989)
26 Plot: A wealthy businessman murders his former partner, a military general, to prevent him from exposing an illegal arms deal.
Guest Stars: Robert Loggia as Frank Brailie, Janet Eilber as Jenny.
Columbo: Murder: A Self Portrait (1989)
Plot: A famous painter murders his former mistress and attempts to frame his current wife for the crime.
Guest Stars: Patrick Bauchau as Max Barsini, Fionnula Flanagan as Louise Barsini.
Columbo: Agenda for Murder (AKA "Columbo Goes to College") (1989)
Plot: Two brilliant but arrogant college students murder their criminology professor after he threatens to expose their elaborate cheating scheme.
27 Guest Stars: Stephen Macht as Justin Rowe, Robert Culp as Paul Hanlon.
Columbo: Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo (1990)
Plot: A real estate agent murders her former lover, a lawyer, to prevent him from revealing a past crime.
Guest Stars: Helen Shaver as Vivian Dimitri, Richard Fancy as Dr. Frank.
Columbo: Uneasy Lies the Crown (1990)
Plot: A successful dentist murders his lover's wealthy husband using a specific dental device.
Guest Stars: James Read as Dr. Wesley Corman, Nancy Dussault as Dr. Marcia Corman.
Columbo: Murder in Malibu (AKA "Murder Under the Palms") (1990)
Plot: A crime novelist murders her husband, a celebrity, and stages it to look like a car accident.
Guest Stars: Brenda Vaccaro as Jess McCurdy, Andrew Stevens as Wayne Jennings.
Columbo: Columbo and the Murder of a Rock Star (1991)
28 Plot: A prominent criminal defense attorney murders his rock star client's wife to prevent her from divorcing him and exposing his past.
Guest Stars: Dabney Coleman as Hugh Creighton, Shera Danese as Nancy Brower.
Columbo: Death Hits the Jackpot (1991)
Plot: A man murders his nephew after the nephew wins a lottery jackpot that the uncle believes is rightfully his.
Guest Stars: Rip Torn as Leon Lamarr, Jamie Lee Curtis as Lisa Duncan.
Columbo: No Time to Die (1992)
29 Plot: Columbo must race against time to save his nephew's new bride, who has been kidnapped by a deranged man. This episode is unique as the killer is not known to the audience at the start.
Guest Stars: Joanna Going as Melissa Hayes, Thomas Calabro as Detective Andy Parma.
30
Columbo: A Bird in the Hand... (1992)
Plot: A gambler, desperate for money, murders his wealthy uncle and attempts to make it look like a car bomb meant for him.
Guest Stars: Tyne Daly as Dolores, Gregory Peck as Frank MacGruder.
Columbo: It's All in the Game (1993)
Plot: A sophisticated socialite and her younger lover conspire to murder her estranged husband.
Guest Stars: Faye Dunaway as Lauren Staton, Claudia Christian as Lisa Martin.
31
Columbo: Butterfly in Shades of Grey (1994)
Plot: A radio talk show host murders his protege to prevent her from exposing his scandalous past.
Guest Stars: William Shatner as Fielding Chase, Molly Hagan as Victoria Chase.
Columbo: Undercover (1994)
32 Plot: Columbo goes undercover to solve the murder of an art thief, piecing together a map to hidden treasure. This episode deviates significantly from the traditional "inverted detective story."
Guest Stars: Ed Begley Jr. as Detective Sergeant Dennis Finch, Burt Young as Mo Canell.
Columbo: Strange Bedfellows (1995)
Plot: A horse trainer murders a rival horse owner to gain full control of a valuable racehorse.
Guest Stars: George Wendt as Graham McVeigh, Jeff Yagher as Bruno Romano.
Columbo: A Trace of Murder (1997)
Plot: A forensic scientist murders his wealthy wife to be with his mistress.
Guest Stars: Patrick McGoohan as Patrick Kinsley, Shera Danese as Cathleen Calvert.
Columbo: Ashes to Ashes (1998)
Plot: A funeral director murders a tabloid photographer who is blackmailing him.
Guest Stars: Patrick McGoohan as Eric Prince, Rue McClanahan as Verity Chandler.
Columbo: Murder with Too Many Notes (2001)
Plot: A renowned symphony conductor murders his former protege to steal his compositions and claim them as his own.
Guest Stars: Billy Connolly as Findlay Crawford, Hillary Danner as Michelle Leeds.
Columbo: Columbo Likes the Nightlife (2003)
Plot: Columbo investigates the murder of a Hollywood producer at a rave, involving two young lovers who try to cover up the crime.
Guest Stars: Matthew Rhys as Justin Price, Jennifer Sky as Vanessa Farrow.
From the very first "Just one more thing..." to the final, knowing glance, Lieutenant Columbo proved that true intelligence doesn't need flash or bravado, just keen observation and an unwavering pursuit of the truth. His legacy, as this comprehensive guide demonstrates, is one of the most enduring in television history.
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