365 Days of Columbo: May 8th

Happy birthday Lucille Meredith!

Lucille Meredith, born as Lucille Goldsmith on May 8, 1916, in Elyria, Ohio, was a talented actress known for her work in various TV shows and movies. She was raised in Los Angeles, California. Her acting career spanned several decades, with notable roles in "They Live" (1988), "Matlock" (1986), and "Charlie's Angels" (1976).

She appeared in two episodes of Columbo. In the 1973 episode Candidate for Crime, she played a character named Lucy. The following year, in Swan Song, she portrayed Jean, a hilarious seamstress. 

Lucille Meredith was married to Roland Kibbee, and they had three children together. She passed away on May 1, 2004, in Los Angeles, California. 

Fun fact: Her husband, Roland Kibbee, was one of the writers on Candidate for Crime and also on another season 3 episode, Mind over Mayhem.

The premiere of Strange Bedfellows

On May 8th, 1995 the 1st episode of Season 13 debuted. Staring George Wendt as horse ranch owner Graham McVeigh and Academy Award winner Rod Steiger as mob boss Vincenzo Fortelli.

Not too many people count it among their favorites, but it has some nice twists and turns and overall I think it's fine.

The final gotcha is a little reminescent of A Case of Immunity, where the killer has to confess under threat of far worse punishment outside the American legal system.

Happy birthday Reid Smith

Reid Bryce Smith was born in Burbank, California, on May 8, 1949. He made his film debut in 1970, appearing in the film Blood Mania. In 1973, Smith was a regular cast member of the NBC crime drama television series Chase, playing the role of Officer Norm Hamilton. After the series ended in 1974, he guest-starred in television programs including Mork & Mindy, The Six Million Dollar Man, Riptide, The Dukes of Hazzard, Knots Landing, Remington Steele, Dynasty, and Bonanza. In 1980, Smith co-starred in the CBS western miniseries The Chisholms, playing Lester Hackett. He also appeared in films such as the 1985 film Into the Night and the 1994 film The Killing Jar, which was his final credit.

Columbo fans will know him as one of Rick Carsini's pals in Any Old Port in a Storm. 

He passed away October 16, 2001 at the age of 52 of suicide to carbon monoxide poisoning.