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Maj. Gen. Martin Hollister: "You don't recognize me?"
Helen Stewart: "Well, no. Should I?"
Maj. Gen. Martin Hollister: "You said that you saw me... shoot somebody today."
— Dead Weight

Dead Weight is the third episode of the first season of Columbo and the fifth episode overall. It first aired on October 27, 1971 and was directed by Jack Smight. In addition to Peter Falk as Columbo, the episode stars Eddie Albert, Suzanne Pleshette and Kate Reid.

In Dead Weight, a retired Marine Corps war hero must romance a woman who witnessed him committing murder into doubting her own story, while Columbo is determined to find out the truth.

Cast[]

  • Eddie Albert as General Martin Hollister, a retired Korean War hero who served in the Marine Corps who later became involved in a scheme to embezzle military funds. When his partner-in-crime threatens to scream, the General guns him down but doesn't count on an eye-witness to his crime.
  • Suzanne Pleshette as Helen Stewart, a troubled divorcee who can never seem to find the right man. She is convinced she saw General Hollister murder his accomplice, but when he starts to work his charm on she second-guesses herself.
  • Kate Reid as Nora Walters, Helen's overbearing mother who is less-than-believing her daughter's story about the murderous Marine.
  • John Kerr Colonel Roger Dutton, General Hollister's skittish co-conspirator in the embezzlement scheme. When the Attorney General announces plans to investigate the plot, Colonel Dutton wants to cut and run, but General Hollister, fearing he could blab, opts to shoot him dead instead.
  • Val Avery as Harry Barns, the owner of the boat-hire company used by Helen and her mother. This is the first of Avery's many cameo appearances on Columbo.
  • Timothy Carey as Bert, the owner of Columbo's favourite chili restaurant. The character has previously appeared in the pilot episode Ransom for a Dead Man.
  • Ron Castro as the young Officer Sanchez.
  • Glen Vernon and Jim Pelham also appear as police officers.
  • Clete Roberts appears as a TV Newsman.
  • James Helfrety plays a Marine Cadet.
Columbo (season 1)
1."Murder by the Book" 2."Death Lends a Hand" 3."Dead Weight" 4."Suitable for Framing" 5."Lady in Waiting" 6."Short Fuse" 7."Blueprint for Murder"
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