Columbo’s Oscars pedigree

We all know that Columbo was a great show, and one that could call on stellar talent as easily as the Lieutenant could pull on his wrinkled raincoat. But do you realise quite how good that pedigree is?

No silver screen accolade is more coveted than the Academy Award. And the stars of Columbo, both from in front of and behind the camera, have a shedload of Oscars between them – as well as nominations galore. Have a look below at Columbo‘s Oscars pedigree. You might be surprised…

The near misses

Let’s start with our main man. Peter Falk was twice a Best Supporting Actor nominee at the Academy Awards, for Murder Inc (1961) & Pocketful of Miracles (1962). Many tipped him for the Oscar in ’61, so much so that rumour has it he even stood up in anticipation when the name ‘Peter…’ was announced as winner. Sadly for Falk, it went to Peter Ustinov for his admittedly excellent turn in Spartacus. Interestingly, Falk was also up against two future Columbo co-stars that year: Sal Mineo (who appeared as murder victim Rachman Habib in Case of Immunity in 1975) and Jack Kruschen (lovable Russian chessmaster Tomlin Dudek in 1973’s Most Dangerous Match) for their roles in Exodus and The Apartment respectively. The following year Falk again just missed out, this time to West Side Story‘s George Sakiris. Boooooo! Hisssssssss! Two of Falk’s greatest friends, husband-and-wife team John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands were also left empty-handed at the Oscars despite multiple nominations. Etude in Black star Cassavetes earned a Best Director nod for Woman Under the Influence in 1975; as well as others for Best Supporting Actor in 1968 (The Dirty Dozen); and Best Screenplay in 1969 (Faces). Rowlands, star of Playback in 1975, meanwhile, earned two Best Actress nominations in films directed by her husband: Women Under the Influence and Gloria (1981). Quite a talented household… Despite missing out then, Rowlands did receive an Honorary Oscar for her outstanding contribution to the Academy in 2016. Good on ‘er! Other Columbo stars to just miss out on top honours include Rip Torn (Death Hits the Jackpot), who was a Best Supporting Actor nominee for Cross Creek in 1984; while Oskar Werner (Playback) was nominated for Best Actor for his role in Ship of Fools in 1966. Lew Ayres (victim Howard Nicholson in Mind Over Mayhem) was a Best Actor nominee way back in 1948 for Belinda; and Laurence Harvey (The Most Dangerous Match) followed suit 12 years later for his work on Room at the Top. Two-time guest star Dean Stockwell (Most Crucial Game and Troubled Waters) was a Best Supporting Actor contender for Married to the Mob in 1989. Meanwhile  Janet Leigh (Forgotten Lady) was in the mix for Best Supporting Actress in 1961 for her unforgettable role in Psycho.

And the winner is…

Despite the above near misses, Columbo stars have racked up many Oscar wins between them. In no particular order, here’s a breakdown… Although he never actually scored an episode, Henry Mancini is forever linked to Columbo through his having written NBC’s iconic Mystery Movie theme tune (view it below). Mancini was nominated for a remarkable 13 Oscars in Original Song and Score categories between 1955 – 1987, winning three, including Best Original Song for Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1962. Probably the most revered of all Columbo alumni is Steven Spielberg. The visionary director of Murder by the Book has a string of Best Picture and Best Director nominations to his name, and claimed Best Director wins for Saving Private Ryan (1998) and Schindler’s List (1994). The latter also scooped Best Picture. Senor Spielbergo isn’t the only Columbo episode director to scoop an Academy Award, mind you. Jonathan Demme was at the helm for Murder Under Glass in 1978. He would win the Best Director Oscar for Silence of the Lambs in 1992. So, who else, might you ask? Well I’ll tell you…

• Kim Hunter (Edna in Suitable for Framing) won Best Supporting Actress for A Streetcar Named Desire in 1952.
• Jose Ferrer, AKA Marshall Cahill from Mind Over Mayhem, picked up the Best Actor Oscar for Cyrano De Bergerac (1951), and was nominated for Best Actor in 1953 for Moulin Rouge; and for Best Supporting Actor for Joan of Arc in 1949.

• Rod Steiger (Strange Bedfellows) won Best Actor for his role in In the Heat of the Night in 1968.
• Dean Jagger (Walter Cunnell in Most Crucial Game) won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Twelve O’Clock High (1950).
• Costume design legend Edith Head had a cameo in Requiem for a Falling Star in 1973. She won a record eight Best Costume Design Oscars in her stellar career – some of which appeared in the background in Requiem. Peter Falk even presented her with one of them, in 1974, for her designs for The Sting. Head’s Columbo episode co-star Anne Baxter also has a statuette of her own, winning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Razor’s Edge in 1947. She was also nominated for Best Actress for All About Eve in 1951, but went home empty handed.

• Celeste Holm had a blast playing hysterical Phyllis Brandt in Columbo episode Old Fashioned Murder. She won the 1948 Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Gentlemen’s Agreement. She also had back-to-back Best Supporting Actress nominations in 1950 and ’51 for Come to the Stable and All About Eve respectively.
• Martin Landau (Double Shock) won Best Supporting Actor for his amazing Bela Lugosi turn in Ed Wood (1995). He was twice nominated in the same category in 1989 and 1990 for his efforts in Tucker: The Man and His Dream, and Crimes and Misdemeanors.
• Myrna Loy from Etude in Black received an Honorary Oscar in 1991 for her exceptional career.
• After missing out in 1966 for her role in Inside Daisy Clover, Ruth Gordon (Try & Catch Me) won Best Supporting Actress for her terrifying role in Rosemary’s Baby in 1969. And she felt ‘absolutely groovy’ about it…

• Faye Dunaway (It’s All in the Game) won Best Actress for her role in Network in 1977. She was runner-up twice in the same category in 1968 (Bonnie & Clyde) and 1975 (Chinatown).
• Don Ameche (Suitable for Framing) won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in Cocoon in 1986.

• Lee Grant (Ransom for a Dead Man) won Best Supporting Actress honours for Shampoo (1973).
• And to wrap up my list, Ray Milland, whose performance as Arthur Kennicut in Death Lends a Hand I rate as the very best non-killer Columbo guest star appearance, won the Best Actor Academy Award for The Lost Weekend (1945).

As you can see, it’s a terrific roll of honour, and having all that talent grace Columbo in all sorts of ways is a great source of pride for fans of the show, and another reason why it has stood the test of time so well. If I’ve missed any Columbo / Oscars connections, do let me know in the comments section below. Thanks, as always, for reading, and I’ll see you all again soon.

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