Quite a while back (a decade or more in the past) I read a story which noted that at one point Moe Howard of The Three Stooges was going to appear in a Columbo. If I remember correctly he was going to play himself. I don't know the particulars of what kind of scene he was going to do with Peter but figure it would be like the scene where Columbo meets the celebrities at the poker game in the dentist episode. Moe was doing a bit a TV talk show work in the late 60s and early 70s and was ready and willing to appear. Unfortunately his health took a turn for the worse. I guess, but I am not sure, that is why he never appeared. At the time I read this I was not that interested in Columbo and didn't pay much attention.

Does anyone have any info on this or any other iconic actor or actress that was supposed to appear and did not.

H

I never heard about that plan, but it's certainly interesting, and I wish it had happened. I remember Moe's appearances on the Mike Douglas Show, and he was still spry. But "Uneasy Lies the Crown" was in 1990, and Moe died in 1975. I can't guess any particular '70s episode where Moe would have fit-in as himself, but Columbo worked in LA, so I'm sure a cameo for Moe could have been done in almost any episode.

I saw that Mike Douglas interview myself, and was equally impressed by how well composed he was. He spoke very articulately, and still looked like the old Moe except with white hair.