365 Days of Columbo: June 20th

Happy Birthday to Brett Halsey

Born as Charles Oliver Hand on June 20, 1933, in Santa Ana, California, he is sometimes credited as Montgomery Ford. 

Halsey is particularly recognized for his roles in B-movies and Italian productions during the 1960s and 1970s. He originated the role of John Abbott on the soap opera The Young and the Restless from May 1980 to March 1981.

Columbo fans will recognize him as Ken Archer, the amorous golf pro from Death Lends a Hand.

Columbo has a wicked golf swing

Fun fact: Halsey is a great-nephew of the United States Navy Admiral William F. Halsey Jr., also known as Bull Halsey, commander of the Pacific Allied naval forces during World War II. Universal Pictures selected Brett Halsey's acting name from the admiral. Brett Halsey served in the Navy himself during the Korean War.

His contributions to cinema have earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Happy birthday to Martin Landau and Martin Landau!

Norman and Dexter Paris kill their uncle in Columbo: Double Shock

Born on June 20, 1928, in Brooklyn, New York, Landau began his career as an editorial cartoonist for the New York Daily News before pursuing acting. He was one of only two actors accepted out of 500 applicants to the prestigious Actors Studio in 1955.

Landau's early film appearances included a supporting role in Alfred Hitchcock's "North by Northwest" (1959). He gained prominence with leading roles in the television series "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1969) and "Space: 1999" (1975–1977). His performances in "Tucker: The Man and His Dream" (1988) and Woody Allen's "Crimes and Misdemeanors" (1989) earned him Academy Award nominations, and he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi in "Ed Wood" (1994).

Columbo fans remember him for playing murderous twins Norman and Dexter Paris in season 2's Double Shock.

Other notable roles included parts in "Cleopatra" (1963), "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (1965), "Rounders" (1998), "Sleepy Hollow" (1999), and "Remember" (2015). Beyond acting, Landau was also an acting coach and served as the head of the Hollywood branch of the Actors Studio until his death on July 15, 2017.