''The Untouchables'' is an American crime drama produced by Desilu Productions that ran from 1959 to 1963 on the

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

Television Network. Based on the memoir of the same name by Eliot Ness and Oscar Fraley, it fictionalized experiences of Elliot Ness as a

Prohibition agent The Bureau of Prohibition (or Prohibition Unit) was the United States federal law enforcement agency formed to enforce the National Prohibition Act of 1919, commonly known as the Volstead Act, which enforced the 18th Amendment to the United St ...

, fighting crime in Chicago in the 1930s with the help of a special team of agents handpicked for their courage, moral character, and incorruptibility, nicknamed the Untouchables. The book was later made into a celebrated film in 1987 by Brian De Palma, with a script by David Mamet, and a second, less-successful

TV series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed betw ...

in 1993. A dynamic, hard-hitting action drama, and a landmark television crime series, ''The Untouchables'' won series star Robert Stack an

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series in 1960.

Series overview

The series originally focused on the efforts of a real-life squad of Prohibition agents employed by the United States Department of Justice and led by Eliot Ness (Stack) that helped bring down the bootleg empire of "Scarface"

Al Capone Alphonse Gabriel Capone (; January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947), sometimes known by the nickname "Scarface", was an American gangster and businessman who attained notoriety during the Prohibition era as the co-founder and boss of the ...

, as described in Ness's bestselling 1957 memoir. This squad was nicknamed "The Untouchables" because of its courage and honesty; squad members could not be bribed or intimidated by the mob. Eliot Ness himself had died suddenly in May 1957, shortly before his memoir and the subsequent TV adaptation were to bring him fame beyond any he experienced in his lifetime. The pilot for the series, a two-part episode entitled "The Untouchables," originally aired on CBS's '' Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse'' on April 20 and 27, 1959. Later re-titled "The Scarface Mob", these episodes, which featured Neville Brand as Al Capone, were the only episodes in the series to be more-or-less directly based on Ness's memoir, and ended with the conviction and imprisonment of Capone. CBS, which had broadcast most of Desilu's television output since 1951 beginning with ''

I Love Lucy ''I Love Lucy'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning six seasons. The show starred Lucille Ball, her husband, Desi Arnaz, along with ...

'', was offered the new series following the success of the pilot film. Chairman

William S. Paley William Samuel Paley (September 28, 1901 – October 26, 1990) was an American businessman, primarily involved in the media, and best known as the chief executive who built the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) from a small radio network into o ...

rejected it on the advice of network vice president Hubbell Robinson. ABC agreed to air the series, and ''The Untouchables'' premiered on October 15, 1959. In the pilot movie, the mobsters generally spoke with unrealistic pseudo-Italian accents, but this idiosyncratic pronunciation was dropped when the series debuted. The weekly series first dramatized a power struggle to establish a new boss in Capone's absence (for the purpose of the TV series, the new boss was

Frank Nitti Frank Ralph Nitto (born Francesco Raffaele Nitto, ; January 27, 1886 – March 19, 1943), known as Frank Nitti, was an Italian-American organized crime figure based in Chicago. The first cousin and bodyguard of Al Capone, Nitti was in charge of ...

, although this was, as usual for the series, contrary to fact). As the series continued, there developed a highly fictionalized portrayal of Ness and his crew as all-purpose, multi-agency crime fighters who went up against an array of 1930s-era gangsters and villains, including Ma Barker, Dutch Schultz, Bugs Moran, Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll,

Legs Diamond Jack "Legs" Diamond (possibly born John Thomas Diamond, though disputed; July 10, 1897 – December 18, 1931), also known as Gentleman Jack, was an Irish American gangster in Philadelphia and New York City during the Prohibition era. A bootle ...

Lucky Luciano Charles "Lucky" Luciano (, ; born Salvatore Lucania ; November 24, 1897 – January 26, 1962) was an Italian-born gangster who operated mainly in the United States. Luciano started his criminal career in the Five Points gang and was instrumenta ...

, and in one episode, Nazi agents. On many occasions during the series run, Ness would blatantly violate suspects' Fourth Amendment rights with no legal ramifications. The terse narration by gossip columnist Walter Winchell, in his distinctive New York accent, was a stylistic hallmark of the series, along with its ominous theme music by

Nelson Riddle Nelson Smock Riddle Jr. (June 1, 1921 – October 6, 1985) was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid-1980s. He worked with many world-famous vocalists at Capitol Records ...

and its shadowy black-and-white photography, which was influenced by

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American ' ...

Controversy

The show drew harsh criticism from some Italian-Americans, including

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...

, who felt it promoted negative stereotypes of them as mobsters and gangsters. The Capone family unsuccessfully sued CBS, Desilu Productions, and Westinghouse Electric Corporation for their depiction of the Capone family. In the first episode of the first season, the character of "Agent (Rico) Rossi", a person of Italian extraction who had witnessed a gangland murder, was added to Ness's team. On March 9, 1961,

Anthony Anastasio Anthony Anastasio (; born Antonio Anastasio, ; February 24, 1906 – March 1, 1963) was an Italian-American mobster and labor racketeer for the Gambino crime family who controlled the Brooklyn dockyards for over thirty years. He controlled Brook ...

, chief of the Brooklyn waterfront and its International Longshoremen's Association, marched in line with a picket group who identified themselves as "The Federation of Italian-American Democratic Organizations". In protest formation outside the ABC New York headquarters, they had come together to urge the public boycott of Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company (L&M) products, including Chesterfield cigarettes, the lead sponsor of ''The Untouchables''. They expressed displeasure with the program, which to them vilified Italian-Americans, stereotyping them as the singular criminal element. The boycott and the attendant firestorm of publicity had the effect Anastasio and his confederates wanted. Four days after the picket of ABC, L&M, denying it had bowed to intimidation, announced it would drop its sponsorship of ''The Untouchables'', maintaining the decision was based on network-scheduling conflicts. The following week, the head of Desilu, Desi Arnaz (who had attended high school with Capone's son Albert), in concert with ABC and the " Italian-American League to Combat Defamation", issued a formal three-point manifesto: * There will be no more fictional hoodlums with Italian names in future productions. * There will be more stress on the law-enforcement role of "Rico Rossi", Ness's right-hand man on the show. * There will be an emphasis on the "formidable influence" of Italian-American officials in reducing crime and an emphasis on the "great contributions" made to American culture by Americans of Italian descent. The series also incurred the displeasure of the powerful director of the

Federal Bureau of Investigation The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...

, J. Edgar Hoover, when the fictionalized scripts depicted Ness and his Treasury agents involved in operations that were actually the province of the FBI. The second episode of the series, for example, depicted Ness and his crew involved in the capture of the Ma Barker gang, an incident in which the real-life Ness played no part. The producers agreed to insert a spoken disclaimer on future broadcasts of the episode stating that the FBI had primary responsibility for the Barker case. ''The Untouchables'' was an unusually violent program for its time and its excessive violence and surprisingly frank depictions of drug abuse and prostitution were described by the National Association for Better Radio and Television as "not fit for the television screen". Several episodes included depictions of violence toward children. In an article titled "The New Enemies of 'The Untouchables'"

Ayn Rand Alice O'Connor (born Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum;, . Most sources transliterate her given name as either ''Alisa'' or ''Alissa''. , 1905 – March 6, 1982), better known by her pen name Ayn Rand (), was a Russian-born American writer and p ...

argued that the persistent, superficial attacks received by ''The Untouchables'' were due to its appeal and its virtues: its moral conflict and moral purpose.

Episodes and cast

Neville Brand as Al Capone The Untouchables 1959

The series had 118 episodes which ran 50 minutes each. Though the book chronicled the experiences of Ness and his cohorts against Capone, and in reality the Untouchables disbanded soon after Capone's conviction, the series continued after the pilot and book ended, depicting the fictitious further exploits of the Untouchables against many, often real life, criminals over a span of time ranging from 1929 to 1935. The television episodes were broadcast in no chronological timeline, but were set mostly in the early 1930s (for example, one episode, "You Can't Pick the Number", begins with Winchell's words, "October 1932: the depth of the Depression"), and another episode "Canada Run" begins at Chicago Stadium at the NFL Playoff Game on December 18, 1932. A few episodes were set primarily in a locale other than Chicago (such as the one dealing with the shootout involving Ma Barker and her gang.) Characters and "facts" in the majority of the episodes were more often than not entirely fictitious or loosely based composites of true-life criminals of that era. The gripping theme music was by Nelson Riddle.

Quinn Martin Quinn Martin (born Irwin Martin Cohn; May 22, 1922 – September 5, 1987) was an American television producer. He had at least one television series running in prime time every year for 21 straight years (from 1959 to 1980). Martin is a membe ...

produced the show's first season, which contained elements that could be found in future TV series produced by Martin. The most prominent Untouchables were portrayed by: * Robert Stack as Agent Eliot Ness *

Nicholas Georgiade Nicholas Georgiade (March 25, 1933 – December 19, 2021) was an American film and television actor, best known for playing Agent Rico Rossi in the television series ''The Untouchables''. Early life and education Georgiade was born in New York C ...

as Agent Enrico "Rico" Rossi * Paul Picerni as Agent Lee Hobson, (second season on) * Abel Fernandez as Agent William Youngfellow * Steve London as Agent Jack Rossman (portrayed in the pilot by Paul Dubov) Other Untouchables members who were prominent at first, but didn't last past the pilot or the first season, were portrayed by : * Jerry Paris as Agent Martin Flaherty, (first season only-portrayed in the pilot by Bill Williams) * Chuck Hicks as Agent LaMarr Kane (first season only-portrayed in the pilot by

Peter Leeds Peter Leeds (May 30, 1917 – November 12, 1996) was an American actor who appeared on television more than 8,000 times and also had many film, Broadway, and radio credits. The majority of his work took place in the 1950s and 1960s. Working ...

) killed off in the first season episode, "The Tri-State Gang." * Anthony George as Agent Cam Allison, (first season only) *

Keenan Wynn Francis Xavier Aloysius James Jeremiah Keenan Wynn (July 27, 1916 – October 14, 1986) was an American character actor. His expressive face was his stock-in-trade; and though he rarely carried the lead role, he had prominent billing in mos ...

as Agent Joe Fuselli (pilot episode only) * Eddie Firestone as Agent Eric Hansen (pilot episode only) * Robert Osterloh as Agent Tom Kopka (pilot episode only) In addition to the Untouchables themselves, there were several recurring allies in more than one episode: * Frank Wilcox as Federal District Attorney Beecher Asbury * Robert Bice as Police Capt. Johnson * Jason Wingreen as Police Capt. Dorset * Raymond Bailey as US Attorney for New York John Carvell * Barbara Nichols as Brandy La France, showgirl and wife/widow of an informant, appearing in both the pilot and premiere *

Dane Clark Dane Clark (born Bernard Zanville; February 26, 1912September 11, 1998) was an American character actor who was known for playing, as he labeled himself, "Joe Average." Early life Clark was born in Brooklyn, New York City, the son of Jewish imm ...

as Dr. Victor Garr * John Gabriel as Dr. Daniel Gilford *

Barbara Stanwyck Barbara Stanwyck (; born Ruby Catherine Stevens; July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American actress, model and dancer. A stage, film, and television star, during her 60-year professional career she was known for her strong, realistic sc ...

as Lt. Agatha Stewart, head of the Missing Persons Bureau * Ed Asner as Frank, one of Agatha Stewart's assistants * Virginia Capers as June, one of Agatha Stewart's assistants The show also had several recurrent gangsters, many of them loosely based on real life gangsters of the time period: *

, Capone's enforcer who takes over the Chicago mob after Capone is imprisoned, portrayed by Bruce Gordon, and appearing in far more episodes than any other gangster * Joe Kulak, portrayed by

Oscar Beregi, Jr. Oscar Beregi Jr. (May 12, 1918 – November 1, 1976) was a Hungarian-born film and television actor. He was the son of actor Oscar Beregi Sr. and often was billed simply as Oscar Beregi. Beregi was most famous for his roles in ''The Twilight ...

* Dutch Schultz, portrayed in different episodes by Lawrence Dobkin,

Robert J. Wilke Robert Joseph Wilke (May 18, 1914 – March 28, 1989) was an American film and television actor noted primarily for his roles as villains, mostly in Westerns. Early years Wilke was a native of Cincinnati. Before going into acting, he h ...

, and Warren J. Kemmerling * Jake "Greasy Thumb" Guzik, portrayed in the pilot by Bern Hoffman, and in the series by Nehemiah Persoff * George "Bugs" Moran, portrayed in different episodes by

Lloyd Nolan Lloyd Benedict Nolan (August 11, 1902 – September 27, 1985) was an American film and television actor. Among his many roles, Nolan is remembered for originating the role of private investigator Michael Shayne in a series of 1940s B movies. Bi ...

, Robert J. Wilke, and Harry Morgan *

Louis Lepke Buchalter Louis Buchalter, known as Louis Lepke or Lepke Buchalter, (February 6, 1897March 4, 1944) was an American mobster and head of the Mafia hit squad Murder, Inc., during the 1930s. Buchalter was one of the premier labor racketeers in New York C ...

, portrayed in different episodes by

Gene Roth Eugene Oliver Edgar Stutenroth (January 8, 1903 – July 19, 1976), known profesionally as Gene Roth, was an American film actor and film manager. Early years Roth was born in Redfield, South Dakota. He was the son of a German father and ...

, Robert Carricart, and

Joseph Ruskin Joseph Ruskin (born Joseph Richard Schlafman; April 14, 1924 – December 28, 2013) was an American character actor. Also appeared in several underworld character roles on the tv series The Untouchables (1959-1963) Early life Ruskin was born ...

, portrayed by Robert Carricart * Pete Konitz, portrayed by Carl Milletaire * Frankie Resko, portrayed by Grant Richards *

, portrayed by Neville Brand, and appearing only in the 2 hour pilot and a 2 part episode *

Louis Campagna Louis "Little New York" Campagna (March 31, 1900 – May 31, 1955) was an American gangster and mobster and a high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit for over three decades. Early years Campagna was born in Brooklyn to parents from mainland Ital ...

, portrayed by Frank de Kova * Augie Viale, portrayed by

John Beradino John Beradino (born Giovanni Berardino, May 1, 1917 – May 19, 1996) was an American infielder in Major League Baseball and an actor. Known as Johnny Berardino during his baseball career, he was also credited during his acting career as John Bera ...

* Little Charlie Sebastino, portrayed by Henry Silva * Louis Latito, portrayed by Joe De Santis * Archie Devlin, Capone's attorney, portrayed by

George N. Neise George N. Neise (February 16, 1917April 14, 1996) was an American character actor. He made over 120 film and television appearances between 1942 and 1978. Early years Born in Chicago, Illinois, Neise was the son of Edwin Neise and Bertha Hagen. ...

* Lucky Quinn, portrayed by John Kellogg *

Joe Aiello Giuseppe "Joe" Aiello (; September 27, 1890 – October 23, 1930) was a Sicilians, Sicilian bootlegger and organized crime leader in Chicago during the Prohibition in the United States, Prohibition era. He was best known for his long and bloody ...

portrayed in two episodes (where he's killed off in both episodes) by

H. M. Wynant H. M. Wynant (born Chaim Winant; February 12, 1927) is an American film and television actor. Biography Wynant was born in Detroit, Michigan. He made his feature film debut as an Indian in Samuel Fuller's ''Run of the Arrow'' (1957). In the ...

and Grant Richards * Phil D'Andrea, portrayed by Wally Cassell, and appearing only in the pilot and premiere * "Fur" Sammons, portrayed by

Richard Benedict Richard "Pepe" Benedict (born Riccardo Benedetto, January 8, 1920 – April 25, 1984) was an Italian-American television and film actor and director. He was born in Palermo, Italy. He appeared in dozens of television programs and movies from t ...

, and appearing only in the pilot and premiere * Tony "Mops" Volpe, portrayed by Herman Rudin, and appearing only in the pilot and premiere Finally, heard in every episode, but never shown onscreen: * Announcer: Les Lampson * Narrator: Walter Winchell Paul Picerni and Nicholas Georgiade were cast as gangsters in Capone and Nitti's mob in the 1959 pilot before being cast in the series. * Steve London's character of Untouchable Jack Rossman (played in the "Scarface Mob" pilot by Paul Dubov), was in the series since the original season-one series episode, "The Empty Chair", not from season two on as is commonly reported. ** The character of Untouchable William Youngfellow, portrayed by Abel Fernandez, has been mistakenly referred to by '' Saturday Night Live'' actor

Dan Aykroyd Daniel Edward Aykroyd ( ; born July 1, 1952) is a Canadian actor, comedian, producer, musician and writer. He was an original member of the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" on ''Saturday Night Live'' (1975–1979). During his tenure on ''SNL'' ...

as "Youngblood". This name is incorrect.

Guest stars

''The Untouchables'' (due to Robert Stack's star power as a successful motion picture actor), was notable for the large number of past and future motion picture and television stars who signed and appeared as guest stars on the show during its four-year run. These include: (S#=Season number, E#=Episode number) * Luther Adler in S2/E3 "Nicky", S2/E22 "Murder Under Glass", S3/E17 "Takeover" *

William Bendix William Bendix (January 14, 1906 – December 14, 1964) was an American film, radio, and television actor, who typically played rough, blue-collar characters. He is best remembered for his role in ''Wake Island'', which earned him an Academy ...

in S1/E9 The Tri-State Gang Dec'59 *

Herbie Faye Herbie Faye (February 2, 1899 – June 28, 1980) was an American actor and vaudeville comedian who appeared in both of Phil Silvers' CBS television series, ''The Phil Silvers Show'' (1955–1959) and ''The New Phil Silvers Show'' (1963–1964 ...

in S3E12 "Fall Guy" * Jason Wingreen in S2E5 "The Mark of Cain", S2E14 "The Masterpiece", S2E20 "The Antidote", S2E30 "The King of Champagne", S3E5 "The Matt Bass Scheme", S4E5 "The Pea", S4E7 "The Eddie O'Gara Story", S4E28 "The Torpedo" * John Hoyt in S1E19 "The Big Squeeze" * Ted de Corsia in S1E5 "Ain't We Got Fun", S4E9 "Come and Kill Me" * Anne Helm in S3/E8 "Mankiller" * Carole Eastman in S2E26 "Death for Sale" *

Claude Akins Claude Aubrey Akins (May 25, 1926 – January 27, 1994) was an American character actor with a long career on stage, screen, and television. He was best known as Sheriff Lobo on the 1979–1981 television series ''B.J. and the Bear'', and l ...

in S1/E20 "The Unhired Assassin" Part 1, S3/E28 "The Monkey Wrench", S4/E23 The Spoiler * Richard Anderson in S1E28 "The Frank Nitti Story" *

Norma Crane Norma Crane (born Norma Anna Bella Zuckerman; November 10, 1928 — September 28, 1973) was an American actress of stage, film, and television best known for her role as Golde in the 1971 film adaptation of ''Fiddler on the Roof''. She also star ...

in S1/E14 "Noise of Death", S2/E2 "Jack Legs Diamond", S2/E21 "The Lily Dallas Story" * Joseph Campanella in S4E11 "The Floyd Gibbons Story" * Vince Edwards in S1/E7 " Mexican Stake out " * Jack Elam in S1E13 in "Syndicate Sanctuary", S2E23 "Testimony of Evil", S3E26 "Pressure" * James MacArthur in S2/E26 "Death for Sale" * Robert Gist in S1E21 "The Unhired Assassin" Part 2 *

Larry Gates Lawrence Wheaton Gates (September 24, 1915December 12, 1996) was an American actor. His notable roles include H.B. Lewis on daytime's ''Guiding Light'' and Doc Baugh in the film version of ''Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'' (1958). He played the role o ...

in S1E17 "One Armed Bandit", S2E9 "The Larry Fay Story" *

J.D. Cannon John Donovan Cannon (April 24, 1922 – May 20, 2005) was an American actor. An alumnus of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, he is best known for his co-starring role of Chief of Detectives Peter B. Clifford in the tele ...

in S4/E2 The Cooker in the Sky, S4/E21 "The Man in the Cooler" *

Jeff Corey Jeff Corey (born Arthur Zwerling; August 10, 1914 – August 16, 2002) was an American stage and screen actor who became a well-respected acting teacher after being blacklisted in the 1950s. Life and career Corey attended New Utrecht High ...

in S2E20 "The Antidote" * Thomas Mitchell in S1E26 "The Underworld Bank" * Gloria Talbott in S3E25 "The Contract" * Michael Ansara in S2E3 "Nicky" and S2E16 "The Jamaica Ginger Story" * Val Avery in S1E26 "The Underworld Bank", S2E6 "A Seat on the Fence" * Edward Asner in S3/E16 "The Death Tree", S4/E1 "The Night They Shot Santa Claus " and Frank in two episodes, S4/E8 "Elegy", S4/E13 "Search for a Dead Man", * Paul Frees as radio announcer ''uncredited'' in S1E21 "The Unhired Asssassin": Part 2 *

Gene Lyons Gene Lyons is an American political columnist who has defended former U.S. President Bill Clinton. Writing He and Joe Conason co-authored '' The Hunting of the President: The 10 Year Campaign to Destroy Bill and Hillary Clinton'', a documentary ...

in S2E6 "A Seat on the Fence" * Lee Phillips in S2E17 "Augie 'The Banker' Ciamino" * Peggy Ann Garner in S4E8 "Elegy, S4E25 "The Giant Killer" * Larry Parks in S2E21 "The Lilly Dallas Story" * Jim Backus in S1/E15 "Star Witness" * Kevin Hagen in S2E27 "Stranglehold" and S3E27 "Arsenal" *

Albert Paulsen Albert Paulsen (born Albert Paulson; 13 December 1925 in Guayaquil, Ecuador – 25 April 2004 in Los Angeles, California) was an Ecuadorian-American actor who appeared in many American television series beginning in the 1960s, playing charac ...

in S4E5 "The Pea" * Al Ruscio in S1E8 "The Artichoke King", S3E19 "Element of Danger", S4E23 "The Spoiler" * Arlene Martel in S2E6 "A Seat on the Fence", S3E4 "The Genna Brothers" *

in S1E7 "Mexican Stake-Out", S2E14 "The Masterpiece", S2E29 "The Seventh Vote", S3E3 "Tunnel of Horrors", S3E20 "The Maggie Storm Story", S4E17 "Blues for a Gone Goose" * Linda Watkins in S2E21 "The Lily Dallas Story" * Mort Mills in S1E10 "The Dutch Schultz Story", S3E17 "Takeover" *

Paul Genge Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) *Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity *Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chris ...

in S2E23 "Testimony of Evil", S3E2 "Power Play", S4E2 "Cooker in the Sky" *

Sam Jaffe Shalom "Sam" Jaffe (March 10, 1891 – March 24, 1984) was an American actor, teacher, musician, and engineer. In 1951, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in '' The Asphalt Jungle'' (1950) and ap ...

in S2E17 "Augie 'The Banker' Ciamino" * Martin Balsam in S3/E3 "Tunnel of Horrors", S3/E21 "Man in the Middle" *

June Dayton June Dayton (born Mary June Wetzel; August 24, 1923 – June 13, 1994) was an American television actress who appeared in a variety of shows from the 1950s into the 1980s. Early life Dayton was born in Dayton, Ohio. She used her hometown of Da ...

in S2E16 "The Jamaica Ginger Story" * Bernard Kates in S1E26 "The Underworld Bank", S2E17 "Augie 'The Banker' Ciamino" * John Dehner in S2E28 "The Nero Rankin Story" * Milton Selzer in S2E15 "The Organization, S3E5 "The Matt Bass Scheme", S3E22 "Downfall", S4E2 "Cooker in the Sky" * Richard Deacon in S1E20 "The Unhired Assassin part 1" *

Robert Emhardt Robert Emhardt (July 24, 1914 – December 26, 1994) was an American character actor who worked on stage, in film and on television. Emhardt was frequently cast as a villain, often a crooked businessman or corrupt politician. Early years Em ...

in S2E9 "The Larry Fay Story", S3E12 "Fall Guy", S4E27 "The Jazz Man" * Rebecca Welles in S2E17 "Augie 'The Banker' Ciamino" *

Whit Bissell Whitner Nutting Bissell (October 25, 1909 – March 5, 1996) was an American character actor. Early life Born in New York City, Bissell was the son of surgeon Dr. J. Dougal Bissell and Helen Nutting Bissell. He was educated at the Allen-S ...

in S1E11 "You Can't Pick the Number" * Robert Cornthwaite in S2E23 "Testimony of Evil", S2E29 "The Seventh Vote" * John Larkin in S3E25 "The Contract", S4E22 "The Butcher's Boy" *

Peter Whitney Peter Whitney (born Peter King Engle; May 24, 1916 – March 30, 1972) was an American actor in film and television. Tall and heavyset, he played brutish villains in many Hollywood films in the 1940s and 1950s. Early years Whitney was born ...

in S2E2 "Jack Legs Diamond", S4E21 " Man in The Cooler" * Joan Blondell in S2E18 "The Underground Court" * Robert F. Simon in S1E13 "Syndicate Sanctuary", S2E12 "The Big Train": Part 1 * Mickey Shaughnessy in S2E8 "Kiss of death Girl" * Barbara Luna in S1E7 "Mexican Stake out", S3E16 "The Death Tree" *

Than Wyenn Than Wyenn (May 2, 1919January 30, 2015) was an American character actor. His acting career spanned more than forty years with more than 150 credits in film and television. He may be best known for his role in the 1960 '' Twilight Zone'' episode ...

in S3E11 "The Canada Run", S4E20 "Junk Man" *

John McIntire John Herrick McIntire (June 27, 1907 – January 30, 1991) was an American character actor who appeared in 65 theatrical films and many television series. McIntire is well known for having replaced Ward Bond, upon Bond's sudden death in Novem ...

in S2/E6 "A Seat on the Fence" * Nan Martin in S4E6 "Bird in the Hand" * Scott Brady in S4/E11 "The Floyd Gibbons Story" *

Robert Brubaker Robert Brubaker (October 9, 1916 – April 15, 2010) was an American character actor best known for his roles in television and movie westerns, including '' Gunsmoke'' and ''40 Guns to Apache Pass''. Early years Brubaker was born in Robinson ...

in S2E23 "Testimony of Evil" *

Charles Bronson Charles Bronson (born Charles Dennis Buchinsky; November 3, 1921 – August 30, 2003) was an American actor. Known for his "granite features and brawny physique," he gained international fame for his starring roles in action, Western, and war ...

in S3/E16 "The Death Tree" * Ruth White in S4E1 "The Night They Shot Santa Claus" *

Philip Pine Phillip Pine (July 16, 1920 – December 22, 2006) was an American film and television actor, writer, film director, and producer. Despite incorrect biographical information repeated on many entertainment sites, he was not related to Robert P ...

in S1E3 "The Jake Lingle Killing", S2E3 "Nicky", S2E27 "Stranglehold" S3E15 "The Whitey Steele Story", S4E18 "Globe of Death" *

George Matthews George Matthews may refer to: * George Matthews (soldier) (1726–1798), soldier and signatory of the 1790 Pennsylvania Constitution * George E. Matthews (1855–1911), American publisher of the ''Buffalo Courier-Express'' * George Matthews (music ...

in S3E27 "Aresnal", S4E4 "The Economist" * William Schallert in S2E13 "The Big Train Part 2" *

Arthur Malet Arthur is a common male given name of Brythonic origin. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. The etymology is disputed. It may derive from the Celtic ''Artos'' meaning “Bear”. Another theory, more wi ...

in S3E26 "Pressure", S4E25 "The Giant Killer" * Frank Ferguson in S1E12 "The Underground Railway" * Adam Williams in S1E2 "Ma Barker and Her Boys", S4E15 "The Snowball" * Victor Buono as Melanthos Moon in S2/E25 "Mr. Moon" and as Parnise Surigao in S3/E13 "The Gang War" * James Caan in S4/E10 "A Fist of Five" * Jeremy Slate in S1E22 "The White Slavers", S4E30 "A Taste for Pineapple" * Steve Cochran in S2/E7 "The Purple Gang", S2/E32 "90-Proof Dame" *

Constance Ford Constance Ford (born Cornelia M. Ford; July 1, 1923 – February 26, 1993) was an American actress and model. She is best known for her long-running role as Ada Lucas Hobson on the daytime soap opera '' Another World'', which she played from 1 ...

in S2E31 "The Nick Acropolis Story" * Anthony Caruso in S1E13 "Syndicate Sanctuary" * Phyllis Coates in S1E5 "Ain't We Got Fun", S1E28 "The Frank Nitti Story", and S4E10 "A Fist of Five" *

James Coburn James Harrison Coburn III (August 31, 1928 – November 18, 2002) was an American film and television actor who was featured in more than 70 films, largely action roles, and made 100 television appearances during a 45-year career.AllmoviBi ...

in S2/E16 "The Jamaica Ginger Story" * Mike Connors in S4/E7 "The Eddie O'Gara Story" * Richard Conte in S2/E15 "The Organization", S4/E3 "The Chess Game" *

Marc Lawrence Marc Lawrence (born Max Goldsmith; February 17, 1910 – November 28, 2005) was an American character actor who specialized in underworld types. He has also been credited as F. A. Foss, Marc Laurence and Marc C. Lawrence. Early life Lawrence w ...

in S1E15 "Star Witness", S3E4 "The Genna Brothers", S4E17 "Blues for a Gone Goose" * Dan Dailey in S4/E9 "Come and Kill Me" * Robert Duvall in S4/E17 "Blues for a Gone Goose" *

Peter Falk Peter Michael Falk (September 16, 1927 – June 23, 2011) was an American film and television actor. He is best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the long-running television series ''Columbo'' (1968–1978, 1989–2003), for which he ...

in S1/E26 "The Underworld Bank", as Nate Selko in S3/E1 "The Troubleshooter" *

Betty Field Betty Field (February 8, 1916 – September 13, 1973) was an American film and stage actress. Early years Field was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to George and Katharine (née Lynch) Field. She began acting before she reached age 15, and went ...

in S1E22 "The White Slavers" *

Ford Rainey Ford Rainey (August 8, 1908 – July 25, 2005) was an American film, stage, and television actor.Myrna Oliver"Ford Rainey, 96; Performed Shakespeare, Shepard and Variety of Film, TV Roles" ''Los Angeles Times'', July 26, 2005. Early life Rainey ...

in S4E9 "Come and kill Me", S4E29 "Line of Fire" * John Marley in S1E18 "Little Egypt", S2E23 "Testimony of Evil" *

Louise Fletcher Estelle Louise Fletcher (July 22, 1934 – September 23, 2022) was an American actress who portrayed the antagonist Nurse Ratched in '' One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (1975), which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress, a BAFTA Award, ...

in S1E2 "Ma Barker and Her Boys" as a girlfriend to one of Ma's boys * Woodrow Parfrey in S4E8 "Elegy", S4E24 "One Last Killing" *

Anne Francis Anne Francis (also known as Anne Lloyd Francis; September 16, 1930 – January 2, 2011) was an American actress known for her ground-breaking roles in the science-fiction film ''Forbidden Planet'' (1956) and the television action-drama seri ...

in S1/E24 "The Doreen Maney Story" * Harry Guardino in S1/E17 "One-Armed Bandits", S2/E19 "The Nick Moses Story", S3/E25 "The Contract" * Dan Seymour in S1E23 "Three Thousand Suspects", S2E19 "The Nick Moses Story", S2E28 "The Nero Rankin Story", S4E12 "Doublecross" * Norman Fell in S2E1 "The Rusty Heller Story" * Dick Foran in S1E28 "The Frank Nitti Story" * Dabbs Greer in S2E21 "The Lily Dallas Story", S3E11 "The Canada Run", S4E18 "Globe of Death" * Clu Gulager as S1/E6 Vincent 'Mad Dog' Coll *

Alan Hale, Jr. Alan Hale Jr. (born Alan Hale MacKahan; (March 8, 1921 - January 2, 1990) was an American actor and restaurateur. He was the son of actor Alan Hale Sr. His television career spanned four decades, but he was best known for his secondary lead role ...

in S1E9 "The Tri State Gang" *

Marianna Hill Marianna Hill ( Schwarzkopf, February 9, 1942) is an American actress. She predominantly worked in American television and is known for her starring roles in the Western films '' El Condor'' and ''High Plains Drifter'' and the cult horror film '' ...

in S4E10 A Fist of Five * Michael Constantine, in S2E19 "The Nick Moses Story", S2E30 "The king of Champagne", S3E5 "The Matt Bass Scheme", S4E3 "The Chess Game", S4E20 "Junkman" * Arthur Hill in S3E11 "The Canada Run" *

Florence Halop Florence Halop (January 23, 1923 – July 15, 1986) was an American actress. Best known for her roles as surly patient Mrs. Hufnagel on the drama '' St. Elsewhere'' and the raspy-voiced bailiff Florence Kleiner on the sitcom ''Night Court''. H ...

in S1E9 "The Tri State Gang" *

Anne Jackson Anne Jackson (September 3, 1925 – April 12, 2016); retrieved April 16, 2016Archivedfrom the original on April 16, 2016. was an American actress of stage, screen, and television. She was the wife of actor Eli Wallach, with whom she often co-sta ...

in S4/E2 The Cooker in the Sky *

Werner Klemperer Werner Klemperer (March 22, 1920 – December 6, 2000) was an American actor. He was known for playing Colonel Wilhelm Klink on the CBS television sitcom ''Hogan's Heroes'', for which he twice won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in ...

in S2E7 "The Purple Gang" * Richard Bakalyan in S1E16 "The St. Louis Story", S2E12 "The Big Train Part 1", S2E19 "The Nick Moses Story", S3E16 "The Death Tree", S4E17 "Blues for a Gone Goose", S4E29 "Line of Fire" * Dennis Patrick in S2E22 "Murder Under Glass" *

Christopher Dark Christopher Dark (born Alfred Francis DeLeo, April 21, 1920 – October 10, 1971) was an American actor. He graduated from Cornell University and did post graduate work at Columbia University. He served as an army medic in the Philippine ...

in S1E24 "The Doreen Maney Story", S4E26" The Charlie Argos Story" * Sheldon Allman in S2E24 "Ring of Terror", S3E28 "The Monkey Wrench", S4E19 "An Eye for An Eye" * George Tobias in S3E6 "Loophole" *

Howard Caine Howard Caine (born Howard Cohen; January 2, 1926 – December 28, 1993) was an American character actor, probably best known as Gestapo Major Wolfgang Hochstetter in the television series '' Hogan's Heroes'' (1965–71). He also played L ...

in S2E24 "Ring of Terror, S2E29 "The Seventh Vote" * Malachi Throne in S4E4 "The Economist", S4E12 "Doublecross", S4E18 "Globe of Death" *

Connie Hines Connie Hines (March 24, 1931 – December 18, 2009) was an American actress best known for playing Alan Young's wife, Carol Post, on the 1960s sitcom ''Mister Ed''. Biography Hines was one of four children born in Dedham in Norfolk Coun ...

in S1E24 "The Doreen Maney Story" *

Patricia Owens Patricia Molly Owens (January 17, 1925 – August 31, 2000) was a Canadian-born American actress, working in Hollywood. She appeared in about 40 films and 10 television episodes in a career lasting from 1943 to 1968. Early work Owens moved ...

in S4E26 "The Charlie Argos Story" * Salome Jens in S3/E27 Arsenal, S4/E21 "The Man in the Cooler" * Walter Burke in S2E24 "Ring of Terror", S4E18 "Globe of Death" * Brian Keith in S2/E16 "The Jamaica Ginger Story" *

George Kennedy George Harris Kennedy Jr. (February 18, 1925 – February 28, 2016) was an American actor who appeared in more than 100 film and television productions. He played "Dragline" opposite Paul Newman in ''Cool Hand Luke'' (1967), winning the Academ ...

as 'Birdie' the mute in S2/E30 "The King of Champagne" *

Jack Klugman Jack Klugman (April 27, 1922 – December 24, 2012) was an American actor of stage, film, and television. He began his career in 1950 and started television and film work with roles in ''12 Angry Men'' (1957) and '' Cry Terror!'' (1958). D ...

in S3/E6 "Loophole", S4/E19 "An Eye for an Eye" * Gail Kobe in S1E13 "Syndicate Sanctuary", S4E28 "The Torpedo" * Steven Hill in S2E2 "Jack Legs Diamond", S3E22 "Downfall" * Cloris Leachman in S3E7 "Jigsaw", S3E21 "Man in the Middle" * Sam Levene and June Havoc in S2E9 "The Larry Fay Story" * Marge Redmond in S4E25 "The Giant Killer" *

Jack Lord John Joseph Patrick Ryan (December 30, 1920 – January 21, 1998), best known by his stage name, Jack Lord, was an American television, film and Broadway actor, director and producer. He starred as Steve McGarrett in the CBS television progra ...

in S1/E3 "The Jake Lingle Killing" *

Harold J. Stone Harold J. Stone (born Harold Hochstein, March 3, 1913November 18, 2005) was an American stage, radio, film, and television character actor. Early life and stage career Stone was born to a Jewish acting family. At age six, Stone debuted on stage ...

in S2E1 "The Rusty Heller Story", S2E11 "The Tommy Karples Story", S2E24 "Ring Of Terror", S3E10 "Hammerlock", S3E26 "Pressure", S4E24 "One Last Killing" *

Dan O'Herlihy Daniel Peter O'Herlihy (May 1, 1919 – February 17, 2005) was an Irish actor of film, television, and radio. With a distinguished appearance and rich, resonant speaking voice, O'Herlihy's best known-roles included his Oscar-nominated portraya ...

in S1E19 "The Big Squeeze" * Gavin MacLeod as a minor criminal with almost the exact same last name of "McLeod" in S1E9 "The Tri State Gang", also S2E12 & S2E13 "The Big Train" part 1 & 2, S3E6 "Loophole", and S3E21 "Man in the Middle" * Dorothy Malone in S4/E11 "The Floyd Gibbons Story" *

Joe Mantell Joseph Mantell (né Mantel; December 21, 1915 – September 29, 2010) was an American film and television actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as best friend Angie in the 1955 film '' Marty'', which h ...

as George Ricci (Brandy LaFrance's husband) in the 2 hour pilot, and as Giuseppe Zangara in S1E20 & S1E21 "The Unhired Assassin" part 1 & 2 *

Frank Silvera Frank Alvin Silvera (July 24, 1914 – June 11, 1970) was a Jamaican-born American character actor and theatrical director. Born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in Boston, Silvera dropped out of law school in 1934 after winning his first stage ...

in S2E6 "A Seat on the Fence" * Lee Marvin in S2/E31 "The Nick Acropolis Story", S3/E19 "Element of Danger", S4/E10 "A Fist of Five" * Robert Middleton as Mayor Anton Cermak in S1E20 & S1E21 "The Unhired Assassin" part 1 & 2, also S2E14 "The Masterpiece", S2E30 "The King of Champagne" * Martin Landau in S1/E7 "Mexican Stakeout", S3/E6 "Loophole" *

Dolores Dorn Dolores Dorn (March 3, 1934 – October 5, 2019) was an American film and television actress, who was the co-star of '' The Bounty Hunter'' (1954), ''Uncle Vanya'' (1957), ''Underworld U.S.A.'' (1961), and several other films through 1985. On ...

in S3E28 "The Monkey Wrench" *

Bert Freed Bert Freed (November 3, 1919 – August 2, 1994) was an American character actor, voice-over actor, and the first actor to portray Detective Columbo. Life and career Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Freed began acting while attending P ...

in S1E23 "Three Thousand Suspects" * Ricardo Montalban in S2/E27 "Stranglehold" *

in S1E15 "Star Witness", S3E04"The Genna Brothers", and S4E17 "Blues for a Gone Goose" * Wesley Lau in S2E8 "Kiss of Death Girl" * Elizabeth Montgomery as Rusty Heller (received a nomination for the 13th Primetime Emmy Award for an "Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor or Actress in a Single Program") S2/E1 "The Rusty Heller Story" (1960) *

Joanna Moore Joanna Moore (born Dorothy Joanne Cook, November 10, 1934 – November 22, 1997) was an American film and television actress, who, between 1956 and 1976, appeared in 17 feature films and guest-starred in nearly a hundred television series episod ...

in S2/E28 The Nero Rankin Story * Harry Morgan as Bugs Moran in S4/E12 "Doublecross" * Lawrence Dobkin as Dutch Schultz in S1E6 "Vincent Mad Dog Call", S1E10 "The Dutch Schultz Story", S2E2 "Jack Legs Diamond" * Vic Morrow in S2E11 "The Tommy Karpeles Story", S3E20 "The Maggie Storm Story" *

J. Carrol Naish Joseph Patrick Carrol Naish (January 21, 1896 – January 24, 1973) was an American actor. He appeared in over 200 credits during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Naish received two Oscar nominations for his supporting roles in the films '' Sahara ...

in S1E14 "The Noise of Death" * Simon Oakland in S3/E11 "The Canada Run", S3/E22 "Downfall", S4/E27 "The Jazzman" *

Robert H. Harris Robert H. Harris (born Robert H. Hurwitz; July 15, 1911 – November 30, 1981) was an American character actor. Stage A veteran of the Yiddish Art Theater from his teens, Harris made his first Broadway appearance in 1937 in ''Schoolhouse on the ...

in S2E8 "Kiss of Death Girl" * Patricia Neal in S3/E20 "The Maggie Storm Story" * Barbara Nichols in Pilot of The Untouchables, S1E1 The Empty Chair * Henry Jones and Edward Andrews in S1E25 "Portrait of a Thief" * Leslie Nielsen in S1/E23 "Three Thousand Suspects", who'd later co-star with Robert Stack in '' Airplane!'', satirizing their serious roles in dramas like ''The Untouchables'' * Sheree North in S4/E13 Search for a Dead Man * John Kellogg in S3E13 "Gang War", S3E20 "The Maggie Storm Story", S4E!2 "Doublecross" * Albert Salmi in S3E2 "Power Play" * Vaughn Taylor in S1E2 "Ma Barker and Her Boys", S2E24 "Ring of Terror", S3E6 "Loophole" * Leonard Nimoy in S3/E17 "Takeover" * Joe De Santis in S1E12"The Underground Railway", S2E3 "Nicky", S2E19 "The Nick Moses Story", S4E20 "Junk Man", S4E29 "Line of Fire" * Warren Oates in S3/E26 "Pressure" * Susan Cummings in S1E18 "Little Egypt" * Carroll O'Connor in S3/E2 "Power Play", S4/E6 "Bird in the Hand" * Jay Adler in S1E9 "The Tri State Gang", S2E9 "The Larry Fay Story", S3E8 "ManKiller", S4E3 "The Chess Game" *

Susan Oliver Susan is a feminine given name, from Persian "Susan" (lily flower), from Egyptian '' sšn'' and Coptic ''shoshen'' meaning "lotus flower", from Hebrew ''Shoshana'' meaning "lily" (in modern Hebrew this also means "rose" and a flower in general), ...

in S2E15 "The Organization" * Victor Jory in S3E19 "Element of Danger" * Nehemiah Persoff as Jake "Greasy Thumb" Guzik in three episodes, S1E1 "The Empty Chair", S2/E29 "The Seventh Vote", S4/E12 "Doublecross", also S1/E27 "Head of Fire- Feet of Clay", S2/E4 "The Waxey Gordon Story", S3/E18 "The Stryker Brothers" * Harry Guardino in S1/E17 "One Armed Bandits", S2/E19 "The Nick Moses Story", S3/E25 "The Contract" *

Robert Redford Charles Robert Redford Jr. (born August 18, 1936) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is the List of awards and nominations received by Robert Redford, recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Awards, Academy Award from four nomi ...

in S4/E15 "Snowball" * Sterling Holloway in S1E21 "The Unhired Assassin: Part 2" * Madlyn Rhue in S1E27 "Head of Fire- Feet of Clay", S2E11 "The Tommy Karpeles Story" * Cliff Robertson in S1/E12 "The Underground Railway" *

Ruth Roman Ruth Roman (born Norma Roman; December 22, 1922 – September 9, 1999) was an American actress of film, stage, and television. After playing stage roles on the east coast, Roman relocated to Hollywood to pursue a career in films. She appeare ...

in S3/E8 Man Killer * Telly Savalas in S2/E20 "The Antidote", S3/E5 "The Matt Bass Scheme", S4/E14 "The Speculator" * Johnny Seven in S1E10 "The Dutch Schultz Story", S2E23 " Testimony of Evil ", S2E31 " The Nick Acropolis Story ", S3E27 Arsenal, S4E24 " One Last Killing" * Henry Silva as Little Charlie Sebastino in two episodes, S1E14 "The Noise of Death", S2E5 "The Mark of Cain", also S3E15 "The Whitey Steele Story" *

in S4/E8 Elegy, S4/E13 Search for a Dead Man * Suzanne Storrs in S1/E6 Vincent 'Mad Dog' Coll,S2/E2 Jack 'Legs' Diamond *

Nita Talbot Nita Talbot (born Anita Sokol) (born August 8, 1930) is an American actress. She received an Emmy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the 1967–68 season of '' Hogan's Heroes''. Film Born in New York City on Aug ...

in S1E22 "The White Slavers", S4E1 "The Night They Shot Santa Claus" * Mike Kellin in S1E14 "Noise of Death", S1E22 "The White Slavers", S3E9 "City Without a Name" * Frank Sutton in four episodes, S3E18 "The Stryker Brothers", S3E25 "The Contract", S4E14 "The Speculator", S4E22 "The Butcher's Boy" * Joyce Van Patten in S4E23 "The Spoiler" *

Rip Torn Elmore Rual "Rip" Torn Jr. (February 6, 1931 – July 9, 2019) was an American actor whose career spanned more than 60 years. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his part as Marsh Turner in '' Cross Creek'' ...

as aka "Pittsburgh Phil" in S2/E14 "The Masterpiece", S4/E23 "The Spoiler" *

Claire Trevor Claire Trevor ( Wemlinger; March 8, 1910April 8, 2000) was an American actress. She appeared in 65 feature films from 1933 to 1982, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in ''Key Largo'' (1948), and received nomina ...

as Ma Barker in S1E2 "Ma Barker and her Boys" * Lee Van Cleef in S1E20 & E21 "The Unhired Assassin" part 1 & 2 * Robert Vaughn as Charlie Argos S4/E26 The Charlie Argos Story * Viveca Lindfors S2E24 "Ring of Terror" * Jack Warden in S1/E4 "The George 'Bugs' Moran Story", S1/E27 "Head of Fire-Feet of Clay", S2/E10 "The Otto Frick Story" *

Jack Weston Jack Weston (born Morris Weinstein; August 21, 1924 – May 3, 1996) was an American actor. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1976 and a Tony Award in 1981. Career Weston, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, usually played comic roles in f ...

in S1/E8 The Artichoke King *

Joanna Barnes Joanna Barnes (November 15, 1934 – April 29, 2022) was an American actress and writer. Early life and education Barnes was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the eldest daughter of John Pindar Barnes and Alice Weston Mutch. She had two younger ...

in S2E32 "90-Proof Dame" * David White in S1E10 "The Dutch Schultz Story", and S2E1 "The Rusty Heller Story"; in the latter, appearing with his later ''

Bewitched ''Bewitched'' is an American fantasy sitcom television series that originally aired for eight seasons on ABC from September 17, 1964, to March 25, 1972. It is about a witch who marries an ordinary mortal man and vows to lead the life of a typic ...

'' colleague Elizabeth Montgomery * Dick York in S1E22 "The White Slavers" *

John Anderson John Anderson may refer to: Business *John Anderson (Scottish businessman) (1747–1820), Scottish merchant and founder of Fermoy, Ireland * John Byers Anderson (1817–1897), American educator, military officer and railroad executive, mentor of ...

in S2E6 "A Seat on the Fence", S4E16 "Jake Dance", S4E28 "The Torpedo" *

Ned Glass Nusyn "Ned" Glass (April 1, 1906 – June 15, 1984) was a Polish-born American character actor who appeared in more than eighty films and on television more than one hundred times, frequently playing nervous, cowardly, or deceitful characters. ...

in S1E23 "Three Thousand Suspects", S2E26 "Death for Sale", S3E1 "The Troubleshooter", S4E3 "The Chess Game" * Ed Nelson in S2E21 "The Lily Dallas Story", S3E13 "The Gang War", S4E29 "Line of Fire" * Fred Clark in S1E18 "little Egypt" * Jeanne Cooper in S3E23 "The Case Against Eliot Ness", S4E24 "One Last Killing" *

Leo Gordon Leo Vincent Gordon (December 2, 1922 – December 26, 2000) was an American character actor and screenwriter. During more than 40 years in film and television he was most frequently cast as a supporting actor playing brutish bad guys but oc ...

in S1E16 "The St. Louis Story", S1E27 "Head of Fire: Feet of Clay" * Warren Stevens in S2E32 "90-Proof Dame" * Richard Devon in S2E18 "The Underground Court" * Vic Perrin in S2E5 "The Mark of Cain", S2E18 "The Underground Court", S3E9 "City Without a Name", S4E25 "The Giant Killer" * Paul Richards in S3E9 "City Without A Name", S4E25 "The Giant Killer" *

Theodore Marcuse Theodore may refer to: Places * Theodore, Alabama, United States * Theodore, Australian Capital Territory * Theodore, Queensland, a town in the Shire of Banana, Australia * Theodore, Saskatchewan, Canada * Theodore Reservoir, a lake in Saskatche ...

in S1E17 "One Armed Bandits", S3E9 "City Without a Name", S3E16 "The Death Tree", S4E6 "Bird in the Hand", S4E29 "Line of Fire" * Antony Carbone in S1E15 "Star Witness", S2E2 "Jack 'Legs' Diamond", S3E4 "The Genna Brothers", S4E13 "Search for a Dead Man" * Oscar Beregi in S2E2 "Jack 'Legs' Diamond", S2E15 "The Organization", S2E27 "Stranglehold", S3E10 "Hammerlock", S3E15 "The Whitey Steele Story", S3E17 "Takeover", S3E25 "The Contract", S3E28 "The Monkey Wrench" * Leonard Stone in S2E31 "The Nick Acropolis Story" *

David Brian Brian James Davis (August 5, 1914 – July 15, 1993), better known as David Brian, was an American actor. He is best known for his role in ''Intruder in the Dust'' (1949), for which he received critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination. ...

in S1E16 "The St. Louis Story", S2E23 "Testimony of Evil" * Sean McClory in S3E15 "The Whitey Steele Story", S4E7 "The Eddie O'Gara Story"

Broadcast history

''The Untouchables'' originally aired as a segment of the anthology series ''Desilu Playhouse'' in 1959. It was picked up as a regular series by ABC for the 1959 season and was aired on Thursdays from 9:30 to 10:30pm from 1959 to 1962, switching to Tuesday evenings from 9:30 to 10:30pm for its final season (1962–63). Desilu Productions president Desi Arnaz had originally offered the role of Ness to Van Johnson. Johnson's wife and manager rejected the deal, and demanded double the salary offer. Arnaz refused and signed Stack instead. Arnaz had had a long business relationship with CBS, which had aired many Desilu programs, including ''I Love Lucy'' and ''

The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

''. When CBS refused to buy the program, Arnaz sold it to ABC. Neville Brand reprised his role as Al Capone in the 1961 film ''

The George Raft Story ''The George Raft Story'' is a 1961 American biographical film of Hollywood film star George Raft. Ray Danton portrays Raft and the film was directed by Joseph M. Newman. The picture was retitled ''Spin of a Coin'' for release in the United Ki ...

''. Some segments were released to theaters as movies: ''The Scarface Mob'' (from the two-part pilot), ''The Alcatraz Express'' (from "The Big Train"), and ''The Gun of Zangara'' (from "Unhired Assassin"). On November 10, 1991, NBC ran the two-hour film ''The Return of Eliot Ness'', with Robert Stack as Ness. It was set in 1947, after Capone's death, and depicted Ness investigating the death of an Untouchables agent named Labine.

Legacy

''The Untouchables'' was a landmark television series that has spawned numerous imitators over the decades, such as ''

S.W.A.T. In the United States, a SWAT team (special weapons and tactics, originally special weapons assault team) is a police tactical unit that uses specialized or military equipment and tactics. Although they were first created in the 1960s to ...

'', ''

The F.B.I. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...

'', '' Crime Story'', the original '' Hawaii Five-O'' (Five-O's creator and executive producer,

Leonard Freeman Leonard Freeman (October 31, 1920 – January 20, 1974) was an American television writer and producer who is best remembered as the creator of the CBS series ''Hawaii Five-O'' in 1968. He appeared in a 1953 episode (#112) of the TV serie ...

, served as executive producer on ''The Untouchables'' final season), Robert Stack's two later series, '' Strike Force'' and ''

Most Wanted Most Wanted may refer to: Law enforcement A most wanted list used by a law enforcement agency to alert the public, such as: *FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives *FBI Most Wanted Terrorists *ICE Most Wanted *List of Mexico's 37 most-wanted drug lords *Lis ...

'', '' The Hat Squad'', and the 1993 ''The Untouchables'' syndicated TV series. It also inspired films such as ''

'' starring

Rod Steiger Rodney Stephen Steiger (; April 14, 1925July 9, 2002, aged 77) was an American actor, noted for his portrayal of offbeat, often volatile and crazed characters. Cited as "one of Hollywood's most charismatic and dynamic stars," he is closely assoc ...

, '' The Untouchables'' (with Kevin Costner), '' Gangster Squad'', ''

Mulholland Falls ''Mulholland Falls'' is a 1996 American neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Lee Tamahori, written by Pete Dexter, and starring an ensemble cast featuring Nick Nolte, Jennifer Connelly, Chazz Palminteri, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Melanie ...

'', and others. ''The Untouchables'' is one of two series from 1959, the other being ''

The Detectives A detective is a professional investigator. Detective(s) or The Detective(s) may also refer to: Films (Chronological) * ''Detectives'' (1928 film), an American silent comedy film by MGM, directed by Chester Franklin * ''Detective'' (1954 film) ...

'', together credited with the concept of depicting a ''group'' of crime fighters. Previously, most TV crime dramas had followed one of two formats: either a duo composed of a stalwart police officer or detective and his trusty sidekick/partner (''Dragnet'', ''The Lineup''), or a lone-wolf

private eye ''Private Eye'' is a British fortnightly satire, satirical and current affairs (news format), current affairs news magazine, founded in 1961. It is published in London and has been edited by Ian Hislop since 1986. The publication is widely r ...

or police detective (''Peter Gunn'', ''Richard Diamond'', ''M-Squad''). Warner Bros. Television spoofed the Untouchables series in the 1963

Merrie Melodies ''Merrie Melodies'' is an American animation, animated series of comedy short films produced by Warner Bros. starting in 1931, during the golden age of American animation, and ending in 1969. Then some new cartoons were produced from the late 197 ...

cartoon short '' The Unmentionables'', with Bugs Bunny playing the role of Elegant Mess, a crime fighter assigned to infiltrate a black market ring operated by

Rocky and Mugsy The '' Looney Tunes'' and '' Merrie Melodies'' series of animated shorts released by Warner Bros. feature a range of characters which are listed and briefly detailed here. Major characters from the franchise include Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer ...

. The series was also spoofed on an episode of the 1961-62 ABC-TV/

Hanna Barbara Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ( ) was an American animation studio and production company which was active from 1957 to 2001. It was founded on July 7, 1957, by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera following the decision of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to ...

cartoon series '' Top Cat'' entitled "The Unscratchables". NBC's ''Saturday Night Live'' spoofed ''The Untouchables'' several times during the 1970s, with

playing Eliot Ness.On a 1981 telecast of NBC-TV's The Tonight Show ,the Untouchables was spoofed with a skit entitled: "The Video Untouchables", with host

Johnny Carson John William Carson (October 23, 1925 – January 23, 2005) was an American television host, comedian, writer and producer. He is best known as the host of ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' (1962–1992). Carson received six Pr ...

portraying Agent "Eliot Nielsen" , whose squad appreheaded citizens who unlawfully videotaped T.V. programs . (Video Available on YouTube). In their 1988 book, ''The Critics' Choice—The Best of Crime and Detective TV'', authors Max Allan Collins and John Javna chose ''The Untouchables'' as one of the "Top 10 Best Police TV Series (Police Procedurals) of All Time". The Lebanon (Pa.) ''Daily News'' said of ''The Untouchables'': "Between the hard-nosed approach, sharp dialogue, and a commendably crisp pace (something rare in dramatic TV at the time), this series is one of the few that remains fresh and vibrant. Only the monochrome presentation betrays its age. ''The Untouchables'' is one of the few Golden Age TV shows that deserves being called a classic." In 2019, a 60th Anniversary Retrospective title
''The Untouchables Retrospective''
was undertaken to celebrate the show's cultural impact and legacy in television and film history through mixed media, including extensive episode reviews, a podcast, and a making-of documentary. To date, the retrospective has interviewed several surviving participants involved with the program, including Pat Crowley and Nehemiah Persoff.

Episodes

In 1997, the episode "The Rusty Heller Story" was ranked number 99 on ''TV Guide''s 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time''.

Home media

Region 1

CBS DVD (distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment) have released all four seasons of ''The Untouchables'' on DVD in region 1, all digitally remastered from the original negatives and presented uncut, unedited and in its original broadcast order. The first two seasons have also been released in region 4. On May 10, 2016, CBS DVD released ''The Untouchables- The Complete Series'' on DVD in Region 1.

Region 2

Paramount Home Entertainment released the first three seasons of ''The Untouchables'' on DVD in the UK. These releases are full-season sets as opposed to Region 1 and 4, where each season has been split into two volumes. The complete series (all 4 seasons) was released on DVD in the UK on May 29, 2017 by Medium Rare Entertainment.

Merchandising

The TV show was also adapted into a comic book by Dan Spiegle, distributed by Dell Comics.

References

External links