Studio executives live in fear of passing on a blockbuster. Universal, Paramount and Disney all decided George Lucas' first "Star Wars" movie wasn't worth the risk (and, if not for Alan Ladd Jr., 20th ...

Sure, he was famous as Lieutenant Columbo (no first name), the grizzled police detective who taught 35 years’ worth of snooty killers that however crafty they thought they were, he was smarter. Every ...