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Murder in Malibu is the sixth and final episode of the ninth season of Columbo and the fifty-fifth episode overall. It first aired on May 14, 1990 and was directed by Walter Grauman. In addition to Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo, the episode stars Andrew Stevens, Brenda Vaccaro and Janet Margolin.

Murder in Malibu turns the Columbo formula somewhat on its head, centering on a murder investigation that takes a few more twists than even Columbo himself is anticipating; a romance novelist is found shot to death in her Malibu home, and all the evidence points at her gold digger fiancée. When it transpires that he could not have committed the murder, suspicion turns to the dead woman's sister. Columbo, however, is still not convinced and must dig deeper to reveal the true culprit.

Cast[]

  • Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo.
  • Andrew Stevens as Wayne Jennings, playboy, lothario and all-round Casanova. He may or may not have murdered Theresa after she changed her mind about accepting his marriage proposal... No one's really sure.
  • Brenda Vaccaro as Jess McCurdy, Theresa's fiery older sister and literary agent. She really really doesn't like Wayne Jennings but that might be because she's jealous.
  • Janet Margolin as Theresa Goren, a best-selling romance novelist and the object of Wayne's affections. Well maybe her bank account is actually. When she "dumps" him he shoots her in the heart even though she's already dead.
  • Floyd Levine as Lieutenant Schultz, a laconic L.A.P.D. detective with the Robbery Division who gets teamed up with Columbo for this case.
  • Laurie Walters as Helen Ashcroft, Wayne's insurance agent. A phone call he makes to her helps provide him with an alibi for the time of Theresa's murder... Her second murder, that is.
  • Sondra Currie as Mrs. Rocca, the wife of some bigshot Hollywood producer that Wayne is sleeping with. Meaning the wife, obviously.
  • Mary Margaret Lewis as Mavis, Theresa's secretary. I don't have anything funny to say about her.
  • Yolanda Lloyd as Rosa, Jess' housekeeper who has probably been shagged by Wayne at some point in the past.
  • Peter Jolly as Charlie, an utterly terrible private detective hired by Jess to spy on Wayne.
  • Concetta D'agnese as Jess' weepy secretary.
  • Jill Remez, credited as Jill Beber, plays the waitress who can't seem to resist Wayne's advances.
  • Marr Nealon, credited as, well, Marr Nealon, plays the nurse who can't seem to resist Wayne's advances.

Additionally, Tom Dreesen plays the host of the TV show that Theresa appears on to announce her engagement; Maggie Mellin, Linda Burroughs, Annie Waterman and Virginia Binghamm appear as Theresa's barmy fans who bombard her with questions, while Michele Bernath and Sandra Giles play equally demented devotees at the book signing.

Columbo (season 9)
1."Murder: A Self Portrait" 2."Columbo Cries Wolf" 3."Agenda for Murder" 4."Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo" 5."Uneasy Lies the Crown" 6."Murder in Malibu"
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