# Best Columbo impressions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [February 2, 2026, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-columbo-impressions/1027316 "2026-02-02T18:35:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-columbo-impressions/1027316/1 "2026-02-02T18:35:21Z")
Peter Falk’s Columbo has such distinctive mannerisms, I’m surprised the character hasn’t been more widely parodied. Here’s eight celebrity impressions I managed to find on YouTube—what do you think of them, and whose do you think are the best? _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-columbo-impressions/1027316/1))_ Got any other good Columbo impressions or parodies to share? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-columbo-impressions/1027316/2 "2026-02-02T23:24:37Z")
I remember Steve Lawrence’s impression on _ **The Carol Burnett Show** _. It was okay, I guess, but (IMHO) nothing special. Can’t comment on the others, since I don’t think I’ve seen any of them. However, I’m sure that Johnny Carson would have done a good one. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-columbo-impressions/1027316/3 "2026-02-03T02:45:53Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Can’t comment on the others, since I don’t think I’ve seen any of them. Fortunately for you, they’re only a click away (and all fairly brief). ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-columbo-impressions/1027316/4 "2026-02-04T00:38:19Z")
Billy Howard was the best. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8o2FNGGaoRA/hqdefault.jpg "Billy Howard - King Of The Cops") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o2FNGGaoRA) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-columbo-impressions/1027316/5 "2026-02-04T17:24:10Z")
After watching all of the above, I’m convinced all it takes to do an “impression” of Lt Columbo is a raincoat and a cigar. 🤨 A friend of mine took a Theatre course in college where the instructor was a true master of disguise. According to my friend, the instructor’s impression of Columbo was eerily realistic. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-columbo-impressions/1027316/6 "2026-02-04T17:49:29Z")
I can’t decide - some of the entries in this list get close with the voice; some get close with the mannerisms and some get the look and movement of the character better than others. I think with all of them, I would immediately get what they’re shooting for, but as an avid Columbo watcher, there’s always just one little thing wrong with any impression. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-columbo-impressions/1027316/7 "2026-02-04T17:54:24Z")
You forgot this one? For shame. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sc1AY1rvE2o/hqdefault.jpg "The Simpsons - Homers Columbo Impression") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc1AY1rvE2o) ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-columbo-impressions/1027316/8 "2026-02-05T03:57:06Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Billy Howard was the best. Not bad, and the contextualization is certainly original. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-columbo-impressions/1027316/9 "2026-02-05T09:36:54Z")
Sesame Street had Colambo: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CJbMd-kmmcY/maxresdefault.jpg "Colambo: Old Mother Hubbard's Heist (Columbo Parody) | Sesame Street Classic") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJbMd-kmmcY) ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-columbo-impressions/1027316/10 "2026-02-05T16:17:28Z")
Yes, performed by puppeteer Joey Mazzarino! It was one of the poll options in the original post. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-columbo-impressions/1027316/11 "2026-02-05T16:53:35Z")
Ha - missed that one! Can’t find it online, but Wayne Brady impersonated Columbo while performing an opera-style number called “Aaahh, Just One More Thing" on the first U.S. version of _Whose Line Is It Anyway?._ ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-columbo-impressions/1027316/12 "2026-02-05T17:25:20Z")
**Hijack** : I’ve watched about 50 _Princess Bride_ reaction videos on Youtube, and have been surprised how few people recognize Peter Falk. My memory is just two reactors say something like “Is that Columbo?”. The reactors are almost all in their 20s or 30s, but I’d have thought there’d be more cultural osmosis, based on the reruns, the decades of Falk playing Columbo, and multinational popularity of the series. The actors most commonly recognized are Andre (by far), Robin Wright (…Jenny?), Fred Savage, Billy Crystal (“I know that voice!”), Elwes (Men in Tights!), and Wallace Shawn (“He’s been in a lot of stuff”). Mandy Patinkin and Carol Kane probably edge out Falk, who ranks about even with Christopher Guest and maybe ahead of Chris Sarandon. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-columbo-impressions/1027316/13 "2026-02-05T19:12:52Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > I’ve watched about 50 _Princess Bride_ reaction videos on Youtube, and have been surprised how few people recognize Peter Falk. This reminds me of [Wayne Brady’s Ed Wynn impression on _Whose Line is it Anyway?_](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2qz312), to which his co-star jokingly reacted, “Can’t you do anyone from the last ten years?” Perhaps I should have started this thread 20 years ago, back when there were more active posters who would have known who I’m talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-columbo-impressions/1027316/14 "2026-02-05T21:05:50Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > to which his co-star jokingly reacted, “Can’t you do anyone from the last ten years?” …in the voice of Peter Lorre.