"I'll play."

Dr. Bart Kepple, Double Exposure

Intelligence. Genius level. Genuinely smarter than Columbo.

Vileness. Uses a "woman of negotiable virtue" to seduce and blackmail married male clients into giving him whatever he wants. Will murder, once, twice or more. And frame an innocent person for it.

Charisma. Charming, witty and urbane. He has to be, as a salesman.

Devotion. No way is this guy gonna give up. Columbo can search til perdition hosts the winter Olympics and he will never find the small caliber gun for which he is looking.

Physical. In good shape, but that is hardly a requirement.

Courage. Commits murder when he might be caught by someone making an emergency trip to the restroom. No guarantee Victor will leave the theater. Never flinches when Columbo nearly runs over him with a golf cart and parries all Columbo's verbal thrusts with ease on the golf course. The only person smart enough to catch Kepple is Kepple.

Harold Van Wyck Playback

Intelligence. A genius in his field of electronics. Relates to people like a machine. Near zero people skills.

Vileness. Off the charts. Breaks the stench-o-meter. Marries a delightful handicapped woman strictly for her money. Treats her more like an inconvenience than a wife. Calmly murders his mother in law by shooting from the hip, displaying all the emotion of the Sphinx. Condescends to his brother in law, wife, Columbo and probably everyone else who has the misfortune to know him. Treats underlings like the gadgets in his smart house. "I clap my hands, you jump, understand?" All but spray paints his whereabouts on the ground in front of Baxter, on whom his perfect alibi will depend. Is already planning his next sexual conquest before Margaret is room temperature. Meets and ignores dog. A detestable man.

Charisma. When needed, he can turn on the suave to woo the gullible Elizabeth. And who knows how many other women?

Devotion. Even when caught, he just refuses to give up. Is he not the great genius?

Physical. Not known or required. Can wheel Elizabeth around, literally and figurativly.

Courage. Not needed, killing Margaret is a terribly cowardly act. Nothing he does requires any real daring.

Sean Brantley Columbo Cries Wolf

Intelligence. Cunning, but hardly smart.

Vileness. Will do anything to maintain his Hefner-esque existence. Including killing his long time bed and business partner.

Charisma. Well, woman seem to like him.

Devotion. Plan hinges on the police, especially the one who will make fools of them selves during the fake murder/disappearnace leaving him the heck alone during the real one. Would rather die than give up.

Physical. Workouts, swimming and sexual hijinks keep him in good shape. Has to lift his partner's body.

Courage. None required. Can call off his plan any time he is guaranteed ownership of the porno mag. When that does not happen, cruelly snaps his partner's neck. And hides her where Columbo has looked earlier.

Edmund Galvin Try and Catch Me

Intelligence Smart enough to get away with killing his wife and disposing of her body at sea. Too stupid to realize his Aunt by marriage and even her secretary know he did it.

Vileness Someone get an Airwick.

Charisma Wooed and wed Phyliss. Thinks women are all attracted to him. Someone oughta kill him.

Devotion "I'll never get caught."

Physical Rides horseback, sails, and can toss a weighted body overboard. Probably dives as well. Can hold his breath for a long time. This may come in handy one day, you never know.

Courage A creep who would beat up anyone fully half his size. Or commit murder in the middle of the ocean with no witnessess possible. Zero courage.

Oh, that was fun.

Joe

Well....I am glad it was fun for you Joe..........it was fun for me too! Thanks!

great thread! i am too tired to do my own ratings, but i am really enjoying reading everyone else's.

I'm glad this seems to be such a hit. Personally I think it's tough to rate how smart everyone is, because just about every killer Columbo goes up against seems smarter than I am (except maybe Findlay Crawford).

I'm interested in how the "newer" Columbo killers will stack up against the "older" ones. I'm including a batch of them in my next set.

Keep it up, fellows! I've missed being away from the forum for so long.