176. Looks Like A Spinoff Into Tragedy - The Senseless Murder Of Barbara Colby

This week’s sad and (like most unsolved cases) totally frustrating case was discovered when Producer Mark read a bio of Academy Award and Emmy-winning actress Cloris Leachman upon her recent passing.   In the article, a fascinating side note about the show “Phyllis,” a spinoff of the “Mary Tyler Moore Show” (which starred Leachman as the title character) mentioned that the spinoff lasted only two seasons, and part of the reason it didn’t continue was because of the deaths of three of its cast members, one of which, Barbara Colby, was murdered after only three episodes of the show had been filmed.  Naturally, this piqued Melissa’s interest – and so she delved into the case, and discovered that Colby and a fellow actor were not only gunned down for what appears to be no particular reason one July night in 1975 in Venice California – but that the case is still unsolved to this day.  Colby – only three weeks past her 36th birthday at the time of her death – had already worked her way into a solid career in television with a reputation as a versatile and creative actor, gaining guest-starring roles in such series as “Columbo,” “The Odd Couple” and “Medical Center.”  Colby’s big break came when she was cast as “Sherry,” a savvy “lady of the night” sharing a jail cell with the hilariously naïve Mary Richards in a now-classic episode of the “Mary Tyler Moore” show.  Reaction was so positive that she was invited back the following season to reprise her role.  Those performances resulted in Moore’s production company handing Colby the role of Julie, Phyllis’ boss on the “Phyllis” sitcom.  But after only three episodes were in the can, Colby and her companion James Kiernan were walking to their car after teaching an acting class when they were suddenly approached by still-unidentified assailants who shot them both, fleeing the scene having stolen nothing and without any explanation of any kind.  Colby was killed at the scene; Kiernan lived long enough to describe the incident to police, but died that same night.  Listen in as Melissa describes the tragedy and some of the weird facts lurking in the background – and maybe, if you hear something that strikes a chord – you, dear Tip-Ster, can help solve this truly tragic and senseless crime.  If you think you can, please contact the Los Angeles Police Department through Crime Stoppers USA at (800) 222-TIPS.