John Finnegan

Special Thanks to Ted Kerin for the information and Pictures

Sometimes Credited As: J.P. Finnegan

John Finnegan was the utility player in "Columbo," probably appearing in more episodes than any other supporting actor.  Finnegan  played a wide variety of roles from garbage worker to Chief of Police, then became the proprietor of the beanery where Columbo gets his chili. His career with "Columbo" extends over twenty-five years.

Finnegan also acted with Peter Falk in the movies "A Woman Under the Influence" (1974), "The In-Laws" (1979) (also featuring Ed Begley, a "Columbo" two- or three-timer), and "Big Trouble" (1986), directed by John Cassavetes.


Biographical: 

Real name:

Date of birth (location)
     
"Columbo" Appearances

Carl
Blueprint For Murder

Workman
The Most Dangerous Match

Sergeant
Lovely But Lethal

Lt. Dryer
A Friend In Deed

Guard
Last Salute To The Commodore

Assistant Director
Fade In To Murder

Police Commissioner
Columbo Cries Wolf

Police Chief Quentin Corbett
Columbo And The Murder Of A Rock Star


It's All In The Game

Cook
Strange Bedfellows

Barney
A Trace of Murder - 25th Anniversary

Actor filmography
(1990s) (1980s) (1970s)

  1. Columbo: A Trace of Murder (1997) (TV)
  2. Vegas Vacation (1997) .... Hoover Dam Guide
     ... aka National Lampoon's Las Vegas Vacation (1996) (working title)
     ... aka National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation (1997)
  3. Mars Attacks! (1996) .... Speaker of the House
  4. Last Action Hero (1993) .... Watch Commander
  5. Columbo: It's All In the Game (1993) (TV)
  6. JFK (1991) .... Judge Haggerty
  7. Come See the Paradise (1990) .... Brennan
  8. Last of the Finest, The (1990) .... Tommy Grogan
     ... aka Blue Heat (1990)
     ... aka Street Legal (1990)

  9. Finish Line (1989) (TV) .... Purdy Hall
10. Big Man on Campus (1989) .... Judge Ferguson
     ... aka Hunchback Hairball of L.A., The (1989) (UK title)
     ... aka Hunchback of UCLA, The (1989) (working title)
11. Columbo: Columbo Cries Wolf (1989) (TV)
12. American Tail, An (1986) (voice) .... Warren T. Rat
13. Big Trouble (1986) .... Detective Murphy
14. Journey of Natty Gann, The (1985) .... Logging Boss
15. School Spirit (1985) .... Pinky Batson
16. Natural, The (1984) .... Sam Simpson
17. Rehearsal for Murder (1982) (TV) .... Damon
18. Gloria (1980) .... Frank
19. Little Miss Marker (1980) .... Clerk

20. In-Laws, The (1979) .... Deliveryman #1
21. Opening Night (1979) .... Prop man
22. Killing of a Chinese Bookie, The (1976)
23. Lindbergh Kidnapping Case, The (1976) (TV) .... Artie
24. Capone (1975) .... NY Police Lieutenant
25. Conspiracy of Terror (1975) (TV) .... Sgt. Carroll
26. Columbo: A Friend in Deed (1974) (TV) .... Lt. Dryer
27. Woman Under the Influence, A (1974) .... Clancy
28. Play It As It Lays (1972) .... Frank


Notable TV guest appearances

  1. "Hunter" (1984) in episode: "Black Dahlia, The" (episode # 4.13)
     1/12/1988