Since Columbo speaks about his wife to suspects, mentioning her hobbies, interests and idiosyncrasies, we can assume that some of what he says is far from true, and serves more in engaging the suspects in conversation or build a personal relationship with them.

It cannot be explained otherwise how her hobbies and interests fit the profession or the interests of the suspect so well. Mrs. Columbo enjoys painting if the suspect is a painter. If he is a cook, Mrs. Columbo collects recipes and follows those presented in television shows. In a pilot, Mrs. Columbo enjoyed traveling and, during a discussion with a photographer, - quite clearly - Mrs. Columbo photographed with a passion.

Nevertheless, we do sometimes learn things that seem to be true about her. In some episodes, the viewer learns that Mrs. Columbo is slightly shorter than her husband and has long black hair that she wears tied back in a bun. Furthermore, Columbo tells about his wife’s weight issues in an episode.

Moreover, his wife is a feisty woman with broad areas of interest and endless amounts of energy. She keeps her husband constantly and he is, at least in spirit, always with her.

The 69 episodes confirm that Mrs. Columbo likes singing and dancing, and, while not particularly well, she also plays the piano and enjoys the compositions by the likes of Beethoven and Chopin. Mr. Columbo also enjoys listening to classical music, whereby his wife may sometimes relax to rock music as well.

Moreover, both like waltzes by Strauss. Mrs. Columbo enjoys watching Bette Davis movies with her husband, loves soap operas and believes that the movie Citizen Kane is a masterpiece of film history.

Mrs. Columbo hates untidiness and is a good housekeeper, although she is not particularly keen on cooking. She loves flowers, especially African violets, and speaks with them. Nevertheless, she seems to have no knack for flowers and plants, since hers deteriorate rapidly.

Columbo, a caring husband, takes a dried cyclamen with him in one of the episodes to ask a suspect for his expert opinion on whether it could still be saved. Moreover, Mrs. Columbo takes little notes for her husband that she hands him in the morning, representing things to do or take care of during the day.

Like her husband, Mrs. Columbo likes dancing and bowling. Mrs. Columbo is even engaged in church-related activities and attends an evening school.

After the first season about her husband presented great success, the production company wanted to benefit it. Thus, the previously invisible Mrs. Columbo became a crime star. However, the new series, starring Kate Mulgrew, did not gain the same popularity as Inspector Columbo, so it was cancelled pretty quickly. Nevertheless, Kate Mulgrew did the part of Mrs. Columbo justice, because, although 16 years later, it paid off: she played the role of Captain Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager.

Mrs. Columbo's first name is not known, however. And yet, we can reveal it to you. Incidentally, we also know what the first name of Inspector Columbo is. Speaking of which, you may see Peter Falk’s appearance as Columbo in a show by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.