Special Prosecutor Ed Martin, 15 August 2025

This is perfect in so many ways and sure to give Letitia James a not-so-pleasant weekend. As for the Columbo look, it’s not just fitting for the task, it runs in the family: Ed Martin’s great uncle, actor Thomas Mitchell, actually played Columbo. https://t.co/EELaNlqYFz

— Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) August 15, 2025

Thomas Mitchell, a renowned Irish-American actor, played a pivotal role in the early history of the character Columbo. Although Peter Falk is most famous for portraying the rumpled detective on television, Mitchell was the first to bring Lt. Columbo to the stage. In January 1962, Mitchell starred as Columbo in the stage play "Prescription: Murder," touring the US and Canada. This would become Mitchell’s final acting role.