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

Published: Feb. 2, 2021, 5:01 a.m.

This week\u2019s 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.\xa0 \xa0In the article, a fascinating side note about the show \u201cPhyllis,\u201d a spinoff of the \u201cMary Tyler Moore Show\u201d (which starred Leachman as the title character) mentioned that the spinoff lasted only two seasons, and part of the reason it didn\u2019t 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.\xa0\xa0Naturally, this piqued Melissa\u2019s interest \u2013 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 \u2013 but that the case is still unsolved to this day.\xa0\xa0Colby \u2013 only three weeks past her 36th birthday at the time of her death \u2013 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 \u201cColumbo,\u201d \u201cThe Odd Couple\u201d and \u201cMedical Center.\u201d\xa0\xa0Colby\u2019s big break came when she was cast as \u201cSherry,\u201d a savvy \u201clady of the night\u201d sharing a jail cell with the hilariously na\xefve Mary Richards in a now-classic episode of the \u201cMary Tyler Moore\u201d show.\xa0 Reaction was so positive that she was invited back the following season to reprise her role.\xa0\xa0Those performances resulted in Moore\u2019s production company handing Colby the role of Julie, Phyllis\u2019 boss on the \u201cPhyllis\u201d sitcom.\xa0\xa0But 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.\xa0 Colby was killed at the scene; Kiernan lived long enough to describe the incident to police, but died that same night.\xa0\xa0Listen in as Melissa describes the tragedy and some of the weird facts lurking in the background \u2013 and maybe, if you hear something that strikes a chord \u2013 you, dear Tip-Ster, can help solve this truly tragic and senseless crime.\xa0 If you think you can, please contact the Los Angeles Police Department through Crime Stoppers USA at (800) 222-TIPS.