The Lt. Columbo Forum

An area where fans from all over can ask each other questions and voice their own ideas and opinions on anything Columbo.

This Forum is fondly dedicated in memory of  "cassavetes45"  (Carleen Zink),
Columbo's greatest fan and a great friend to us all.
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The Lt. Columbo Forum
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Re: Actors Who could Have Had Funny Roles

Charles Nelson Reilly would have made a terrific sharp-tongued but slimy heir out to fleece the family fortune, while '70s Betty White could have had a ball playing a variation of her Sue Ann Nivens character from Mary Tyler Moore. Bob Newhart vs. Peter Falk -- now THAT would have been classic. OR if you wanted to get all '70s topical, picture George Carlin as an Abbie Hoffman-type going up against Columbo.

And I know Dawidziak declared him as the anti-Columbo villain, but I think Sammy Davis Jr. would have been great riffing hiply off the Lieutenant.

Re: Actors Who could Have Had Funny Roles

Since you mentioned MURDER BY DEATH, I would have loved to have seen Peter Sellers as a killer. And on the far out wacky end of the spectrum, how about Paul Lynde?

Re: Actors Who could Have Had Funny Roles

Roscoe Lee Browne (who of course played the psychiatrist in REST IN PEACE, MRS. COLUMBO) would've been great as one of those very refined killers with a snobbish way about them. The Ray Milland kind.

Re: Actors Who could Have Had Funny Roles

I'm sorry, I of course meant to put that in the "Second Shot At Villainy" thread.

Re: Actors Who could Have Had Funny Roles

Chuck Barris

Re: Actors Who could Have Had Funny Roles

Roger Bowen.

He had a real knack for playing funny authority figures, so he could've played an authority figure (one who didn't happen to be the killer or the victim, so they could afford to make him funny), in some episode about big business.

Re: Actors Who could Have Had Funny Roles

Phil Silvers


Bilko vs Columbo


It would be the only time I would want the killer to get away with it.