The Real-Life "Mrs. Columbo" - Shera Danese

Shera Danese, born Sherry Lynn Kaminski on October 9, 1949, is an American actress known for her work in television and film. She was born in Hartsdale, New York, and was crowned Miss Pennsylvania World in 1970. In 1974, she legally changed her name to Sherry Lynn Danese, later adopting Shera as her first name.

Shera's acting career began in 1975 when she played the part of Kitty in an episode of the TV series Medical Story. She subsequently guest-starred in other TV series during the 1970s, with appearances in One Day at a Time, Serpico, Baretta, Three's Company, Kojak, Family, Hart to Hart, Starsky and Hutch, and Charlie's Angels. In one of her few movie roles, Danese starred with Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay in Risky Business (1983), playing a prostitute named Vicki.

Shera Danese met Peter Falk, the star of the popular TV series Columbo, on the set of the movie Mikey and Nicky. They got married on December 7, 1977, and their marriage lasted for 33 years until Falk's death on June 23, 2011, from complications of Alzheimer's disease and pneumonia. 

Shera had major supporting roles in six episodes of the TV series Columbo, appearing alongside her husband Peter Falk. She was not yet married to Falk when she appeared in Fade in to Murder (1976). But she was for Murder Under Glass (1978), Murder, a Self Portrait (1989), Columbo and the Murder of a Rock Star (1991), Undercover (1994), and A Trace of Murder" (1997). 

The story is that she had always wanted to play the killer, but Falk wasn't keen on the idea. So the closest she came was as one of the conspirators in A Trace of Murder. She did appear as one of the victims in Undercover.

It's a popular myth that she appeared in more Columbo episodes than any other actress - she didn't. See: Which actress appeared on the most episodes of Columbo?

Shera Danese's life with Peter Falk was filled with ups and downs and according to Falk’s biographers, they were known in Hollywood as the "Fighting Falks". There is also considerable controversy over how Shera handled things at the end of Falk's life, especially relating to Falk's adopted daughters from his first marriage. Despite the challenges, their bond remained strong, and Falk's headstone reads: "I'm not here. I'm home with Shera".