Death Hits the Jackpot is the fourth episode of the tenth season of Columbo and the fifty-ninth episode overall. It first aired on December 15, 1991 and was directed by Vincent McEveety. In addition to Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo, the episode stars Rip Torn, Jamie Rose and Gary Kroeger.
In Death Hits the Jackpot, a photographer going through a divorce thinks his luck has changed when he wins big in the lottery; unfortunately for him, his soon-to-be-ex-wife and his devious uncle have been sleeping together and are scheming to kill him and take the winnings for themselves.
Cast[]
- Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo.
- Rip Torn as Leon Lamarr, a jeweller who faces bankruptcy. After Freddy wins the lottery, Leon kills him so as to claim the winnings as his own.
- Jamie Rose as Nancy Brower, Freddy's estranged wife who is secretly having an affair with Leon and later assists him in his plot to bump off Freddy and steal his newfound fortune.
- Gary Kroeger as Frederick "Freddy" Brower, Leon's photographer nephew. Not wanting to have give up his lotto winnings in the divorce settlement with Nancy, he hatches a plan with his uncle to have Leon claim the winning ticket and then split it with Freddy after the divorce has been finalized. Of course rather than staying true to his word Leon instead drowns poor Freddy in the bathtub to keep the money for himself.
- Betsy Palmer as Martha Lamarr, Leon's wife. She is heartbroken over Freddy's untimely "accidental" death.
- Brit Lind as Trish, Freddy's friend who discovers his body.
- Anthony Ponzini as Gergory Lopiccolo and Penny Santon as Momma Lopiccolo, Freddy's Italian neighbours.
- Shane McCabe as Meyer McGinty, Freddy's neighbour who owns Joe the monkey. Freddy "chimpsits" for Meyer while he's on vacation, and Joe's presence at Freddy's apartment on the night of the murder provides Columbo with a vital clue.
- Peter Schreiner as Otto, Elizabeth Lambert as Leda and Victoria Boa as Shari, more of Freddy's eccentric neighbours and friends.
- Warren Berlinger as Detective Jack Stroller, Robert Alan Browne as Detective Lancer and Daniel Trent as Detective Braverman.
- Marilyn Tokuda as Judy, Leon's personal assistant.
- Michael Prince and Anita Dangler as Mr. and Mrs. Weatherford, customers of Leon's.
Additionally, Donald Craig plays the auctioneer, Dick Patterson plays the Master of Ceremonies, and Robert Rothwell plays the Minister who presides over Freddy's funeral.
Columbo (season 10) |
---|
1."Columbo Goes to College" 2."Caution: Murder Can Be Hazardous to Your Health" 3."Columbo and the Murder of a Rock Star" 4."Death Hits the Jackpot" 5."No Time to Die" 6."A Bird in the Hand..." 7."It's All in the Game" 8."Butterfly in Shades of Grey" 9."Undercover" 10."Strange Bedfellows" 11."A Trace of Murder" 12."Ashes to Ashes" 13."Murder with Too Many Notes" 14."Columbo Likes the Nightlife" |