365 Days of Columbo: July 15th

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There are at least four Columbo birthdays to celebrate on July 15th.

Steven Gilborn ("Dr. George Johnson")

Towards the end of Season 9, in Uneasy Lies the Crown, Columbo fans got to meet Dr. George Johnson, the coroner who would have a short-recurring stint on the show.

Uneasy Lies the Crown - Columbo and Dr. Johnson in the Morgue
Dr. Johnson returned in Season 10 for Columbo Goes to College, Caution: Murder can be Hazardous to Your Health, and Columbo and the Murder of a Rock Star. Dr. Johnson was played by actor Steven Gilborn, who was born on July 15th, 1936 in New Rochelle, NY. 

Mr. Gilborn was pretty prolific as an actor, with more than 115 acting credits to his name - including the 4 appearances on Columbo. He did 27 episodes of Ellen and was often cast as a lawyer or doctor on various other TV shows.

He passed away January 2, 2009 at the age of 72.

Nan Martin ("Rose")

Nan Martin was born July 15th, 1927 in Decatur, Illinois. Though she had much more substantial roles in her long acting career, Columbo fans undoubtedly remember her as Alex's sassy assistant Rose in Season 8's Murder, Smoke, and Shadows.

Columbo - Murder, Smoke, and Shadows - Alex and Rose having lunch


She passed away March 4th, 2010.

Albert Popwell ("Al Como")

This is another one that even serious Columbo fans may not recognize by name, but if I told you that he was at the place setting up when Mrs. Halperin got thrown in the pool you might get the idea...

Al Como explains to Columbo that they were expecting Mrs. Halperin at a dinner

Mr. Popwell was born July 15th, 1926 in New York City and appeared on most of the popular TV series of the 1970s. Including his short, but important, role in A Friend in Deed.

Duke Fishman

One of the more interesting characters in Columbo history, Duke Fishman also appeared briefly in A Friend in Deed though he didn't have any lines. He was the short, bald, undercover cop at The Lariat when they arrested Artie Jessup for the blackmail trap.

Duke Fishman in Columbo: A Friend in Deed

Fishman was born July 15th, 1906 in Manila, Philippines. Aside from his acting career, he worked for 42 years as a lifeguard on the beaches of Avalon, Catalina off the coast of California.

Even after he gave up his lifeguarding, he was Avalon's official greeter known as The Duke of Catalina.

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