365 Days of Columbo: March 8th

Happy Birthday Susan Clark

Susan Clark was born on March 8, 1943 in Ontario, Canada. Columbo fans know her, of course, as Beth Chadwick in Lady in Waiting - the icy heiress who murders her brother and then discovers that underestimating Columbo is a very bad habit to get into. Clark gives one of the sharpest performances of the first season, and Beth remains one of the series' most memorable early killers.

Even in a show packed with strong guest stars, Clark stands out because Beth Chadwick is so self-possessed. She never quite believes this rumpled detective can really threaten her. That confidence is exactly what makes her comeuppance so satisfying.

Remembering Sean McClory

Irish actor Sean McClory was born on March 8, 1924, in Dublin, Ireland. He appears in The Conspirators as the old Captain.

Happy Birthday Daryl Duke

Director Daryl Duke was born on March 8, 1929. He directed two ABC-era entries: Columbo Cries Wolf and Caution: Murder Can Be Hazardous to Your Health.

Those two films belong to the glossy revival period, and Duke was well suited to that style. Both episodes lean into sleek wealth and television-savvy killers, which makes Columbo's shabby persistence all the more fun by contrast.

Remembering Edward Winter

Edward Winter died on March 8, 2001. He appeared in Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo as Charlton "Charlie" Chambers, the first target of Vivian's vengeance.

A Columbo Home-Video Anniversary

On March 8, 2005, The Complete Second Season was released on DVD in Region 1. That set helped cement the idea that Columbo was not merely a beloved TV memory, but a series fans wanted to collect, revisit, and argue about episode by episode.

Season two is no minor chapter, either. It includes Etude inBlack, Candidate for Crime, Double Shock, and the debut of Dog, so the March 8 DVD release date is a nice little anniversary for collectors.