You're probably thinking this one is obvious, but it's not who you think it is.
Most people think the answer is Shera Danese (AKA Mrs. Peter Falk). That's what I thought too because she appeared in 6 episodes. But...
It turns out that Dianne Turley Travis appeared in 8 episodes.
Who is Dianne Turley Travis?
Dianne Turley Travis is an actress who was born on March 15th, 1935 in Springfield, IL. She's worked since the late 1960s (and still works today!) mostly in bit parts. She appeared in the M*A*S*H* movie in 1970 (Thanks to Andy for pointing out my original error) and in the final episode of Seinfeld in 1998.
In between she appeared in 8 episodes of Columbo, mostly as "Blonde in road" or "Executive". Probably her most recognizable role was her final one, as the shop clerk Greta who works with the diabolical almost-ex wife of victim Freddy in Death Hits the Jackpot.
Just 7 more things
Her other Columbo apperances are:
- As an uncredited "executive" in Etude in Black in 1972.
- As "Blonde in road" in Requiem for a Falling Star in 1973.
- As a "Blond Instructor" in Lovely but Lethal in 1973.
- She was yet another blonde, this time at Vicki Hayward's birthday party in Candidate for Crime.
- As "executive" (Presumably blonde) in Double Exposure.
- She was a "lady scientist" of unspecified hair color in Mind over Mayhem in 1974.
- And finally as a member of Mark and Hugh's club in A Friend in Deed.
But...
It would be fair to argue that even though Shera only appeared in 6 episodes that her roles were far more substantial. In fact Dianne Travis was rarely even credited for her appearances, they were so trivial.
But in terms of number of episodes where the actress actually appeared on screen, however briefly, it appears that Dianne Turley Travis is the queen of Columbo.
She appeared, uncredited as Correspondant, in the 1970 film M*A*S*H. The TV series didn't start until 1972.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the clarification!
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