Carl Brimmer

Carl Brimmer was portrayed by Robert Culp (one of his many roles as a Columbo Villain). Here, he appeared in the episode titled "Death Lends a Hand," which originally aired in 1971.
Arthur Kennicut, a wealthy publishing magnate, hires private investigator Carl Brimmer to investigate whether his young wife Lenore is having an affair. Brimmer delivers a falsified report stating that Lenore is not having an affair, while in reality, he knows about her infidelity. Brimmer is willing to keep the affair a secret in exchange for political secrets that Kennicut possesses. However, Lenore discovers Brimmer's deception and confronts him about it. She rejects his offer and threatens to tell her husband about the affair and Brimmer's blackmail attempt. That night, Lenore breaks into Brimmer's house to further confront him. In a fit of rage, Brimmer accidentally kills her during a struggle. He panics and decides to cover up the crime. He thoroughly cleans his house to eliminate any evidence of Lenore's presence and then drives her body to an empty scrapyard where he discards it. Before doing so, he takes a valuable ring from her finger. As the investigation proceeds, Columbo begins to suspect Brimmer's involvement in Lenore's death. After a series of deductions, Columbo ultimately catches Brimmer and proves his guilt in Lenore's murder.

Robert Culp was an American actor, screenwriter, and director. He was born on August 16, 1930, in Oakland, California, and passed away on March 24, 2010, in Los Angeles, California. Culp began his career in the late 1950s with various television roles, including appearances in "Trackdown" and "Zane Grey Theater". He gained widespread recognition for his role in the TV series "I Spy" in the 1960s, for which he received three Emmy nominations. He also appeared in several films, including "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" and "The Pelican Brief". In addition to his acting career, Culp also wrote several screenplays, including for the film "Hickey & Boggs", which he also directed and starred in. He directed several other films, including "A Name for Evil" and "The Hanged Man". Culp was known for his versatile acting abilities and his ability to play both dramatic and comedic roles. He was also a politically active individual, supporting several liberal causes and running for political office in the 1980s.