The Barbara Colby Murder - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

callmetootie · 05-06-2001, 10:04 AM

In the first episode of Phyllis, Julie Erkstine is played by Barbra Colby. Shorlty after the episode was filmed, Barbra Colby was murdered by a maniac. She was replaced by Liz Torres. Post your comments on this topic here.

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Andrew Carden

APPLEI · 05-08-2001, 01:00 AM

I THINK I REMEMBER BARBRA COLBY WAS IN THE FIRST 3 EPISODES AND BARBRA COLBY AND HER BOYFRIEND JAMES KIERNAN WHO JUST COMPLETED AN EPISODE OF RHODA WERE GUNNED DOWN IN A DARKED PARKING LOT WHERE THEIR CAR WAS PARKED ON JULY 24 1975 BY A COUPLE OF GANG MEMBERS.SADLY CBS WOULD'NT AIR AN EULOGY A GRIEVING CLORIS LEACHMAN GAVE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO AIR AFTER BARBRA COLBYS FINAL EPISODE AIRED.ONE OF THE SADNESS MOMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF TELEVISION!

callmetootie · 05-08-2001, 06:43 PM

Barbra Colby only played Julie is one episode. If you look on IMDB, it only says that she was in one 1975 episode. She was replcaed by Liz Torres only a few days after the shooting.

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Andrew Carden

07-27-2001, 07:48 PM

barbara colby was on 'three' episodes of phyllis, not just one.

Nanny Fine · 02-22-2004, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TRAVIS
barbara colby was on 'three' episodes of phyllis, not just one.

She was in

Hello Mrs. Lindstrom
Boss, Is You A woman now?
Up For Grabs

Nanny Fine · 02-22-2004, 12:48 PM

Did they ever find out who killed them?

PracTz · 02-22-2004, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nanny Fine
Did they ever find out who killed them?

To the best of my knowledge- no!

BTW, though separated at the time of her murder, Barbara Colby was the daughter-in-law of Ethel Merman who'd attend her funeral and have a strong meltdown over the atrocity!

Nanny Fine · 02-22-2004, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PracTz
To the best of my knowledge- no!
BTW, though separated at the time of her murder, Barbara Colby was the daughter-in-law of Ethel Merman who'd attend her funeral and have a strong meltdown over the atrocity!

That's terrible. So was there a motive for the murder or did the investigators think it was random?

I just watched the 3 episodes with Barbara in them as I taped them for someone and I had not realized what happened until after I watched them.

Very sad.

hawaii five-o · 02-23-2004, 05:43 PM

I heard that Cloris Leachman wanted to give an on air eulogy to Barbara Colby following an episode of "Phyllis", but CBS said no.

TJAMES03 · 09-26-2005, 08:15 PM

Something sounds strange here. While there are murders all of the time, 98 percent of them are not random even if the motive of the murderer itself is trivial. I would think that there would be a major investigation into two such brutal murders. Were they robbed of their belongings, etc? Could it have even been a deranged "fan" of Miss Colby's? It seems as though the murderer(s) knew EXACTLY where Miss Colby and her friend would be and at the exact right moment too. It also seems to me that there was very little (if any) effort to find the culprits. I would think that at the time (I wasn't even born yet), that their murders would have been quite high profile. I find it hard to believe that no one bragged to anyone else that they were indeed the culprits (especially if it was gang related). Was there a reward offered in this case? Like Benjamin Franklin said, "Three people can keep a secret only if two of them are dead." It is human nature (especially for criminals) to brag about something that they have done. Many criminals commit crimes simply for the notoriety factor - yet their murders became a "cold case" almost immediately after they were commited. I think that there is more to this case than meets the proverbial and literal eye.

CeeBO · 11-22-2005, 11:38 PM

The case remains unsolved. who knows if it ever will be. Anything is possible. I have heard that Colby and Kiernan were dating, or at least, very good friends.

Barbara and James were giving an acting class that night in July, 1975. They both had background in stage work. Apparently, Barbara loved the theatre, and had misgivings about joining a television series. She had worked with Cloris before, liked the MTM family, and the money and exposure would be great, even if the show wasn't a hit. The third episode was in the can, and I believe the fourth, "Leaving Home", was in pre-production. Probably Colby already had a script.

The two were approached in a parking garage, and told to put up their hands. Being native New Yorker's they took what they thought was a "mugging" in stride. Shots were fired. Barbara died instantly...at least she didn't suffer. James survived (painfully) for a short while, long enough to relate the account to authorities.

The cast and crew of "Phyllis" were, of course, stunned. Leachman was especially saddened by the tragedy, and has remarked that it was an event that was extremely difficult for her. She and Colby had become close, and enjoyed working together.

A brief eulogy was filmed, and I understand that Cloris wanted to air it before the third episode aired. The show had yet to hit the airwaves, and MTM President Grant Tinker decided against it. I think it was felt that the home audience (who was promised a night full of laughs with the line-up of "Rhoda", "Phyllis", "Maude" and "All In The Family") would find it too depressing. Probably the network had the final say.

I have most of the transcript of what Cloris said in the eulogy, if anyone is interested.

Grant Tinker said of Barbara Colby: "If there was a kinder, nicer lady, I have never met her. She was loved by everyone".

I know that she was only in the show a brief time, and I love Liz Torrez. But check out the chemistry Colby, Leachman and Schaal share in the second episode, "Bess, Is You A Woman Now?". Great stuff.

Christopher

TVFactFan · 11-23-2005, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CeeBO

The case remains unsolved. who knows if it ever will be. Anything is possible. I have heard that Colby and Kiernan were dating, or at least, very good friends.

Barbara and James were giving an acting class that night in July, 1975. They both had background in stage work. Apparently, Barbara loved the theatre, and had misgivings about joining a television series. She had worked with Cloris before, liked the MTM family, and the money and exposure would be great, even if the show wasn't a hit. The third episode was in the can, and I believe the fourth, "Leaving Home", was in pre-production. Probably Colby already had a script.

The two were approached in a parking garage, and told to put up their hands. Being native New Yorker's they took what they thought was a "mugging" in stride. Shots were fired. Barbara died instantly...at least she didn't suffer. James survived (painfully) for a short while, long enough to relate the account to authorities.

The cast and crew of "Phyllis" were, of course, stunned. Leachman was especially saddened by the tragedy, and has remarked that it was an event that was extremely difficult for her. She and Colby had become close, and enjoyed working together.

A brief eulogy was filmed, and I understand that Cloris wanted to air it before the third episode aired. The show had yet to hit the airwaves, and MTM President Grant Tinker decided against it. I think it was felt that the home audience (who was promised a night full of laughs with the line-up of "Rhoda", "Phyllis", "Maude" and "All In The Family") would find it too depressing. Probably the network had the final say.

I have most of the transcript of what Cloris said in the eulogy, if anyone is interested.

Grant Tinker said of Barbara Colby: "If there was a kinder, nicer lady, I have never met her. She was loved by everyone".

I know that she was only in the show a brief time, and I love Liz Torrez. But check out the chemistry Colby, Leachman and Schaal share in the second episode, "Bess, Is You A Woman Now?". Great stuff.

Christopher

Chris is the "Bess Is you a Woman Now?" one of the eps you sent me? I don;t have the list in front of me

CeeBO · 11-24-2005, 04:06 AM

Yes. You have all three of the Barbara Colby episodes, wich I included as a bonus. The unedited version of "Bess, Is You A Woman Now?" is on the vhs.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

TVFactFan · 11-24-2005, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CeeBO

Yes. You have all three of the Barbara Colby episodes, wich I included as a bonus. The unedited version of "Bess, Is You A Woman Now?" is on the vhs.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

Ok. Your Tape will be done and shipped on Monday

MikeLutton · 12-23-2005, 05:33 AM

does anyone got any pics of late Barbera colby so we can see what she am use look like.any availabel

05-06-2001, 10:04 AM	#1
callmetootie Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 06, 2001 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 4,768	The Barbara Colby Murder In the first episode of Phyllis, Julie Erkstine is played by Barbra Colby. Shorlty after the episode was filmed, Barbra Colby was murdered by a maniac. She was replaced by Liz Torres. Post your comments on this topic here. ------------------ Andrew Carden

07-27-2001, 07:48 PM	#4
TRAVIS Guest Posts: n/a	barbara colby was on 'three' episodes of phyllis, not just one.
TRAVIS Guest Posts: n/a

05-08-2001, 01:00 AM	#2
APPLEI Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 16, 2000 Location: JACKSON MI. 49203 Posts: 810	I THINK I REMEMBER BARBRA COLBY WAS IN THE FIRST 3 EPISODES AND BARBRA COLBY AND HER BOYFRIEND JAMES KIERNAN WHO JUST COMPLETED AN EPISODE OF RHODA WERE GUNNED DOWN IN A DARKED PARKING LOT WHERE THEIR CAR WAS PARKED ON JULY 24 1975 BY A COUPLE OF GANG MEMBERS.SADLY CBS WOULD'NT AIR AN EULOGY A GRIEVING CLORIS LEACHMAN GAVE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO AIR AFTER BARBRA COLBYS FINAL EPISODE AIRED.ONE OF THE SADNESS MOMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF TELEVISION!

05-08-2001, 06:43 PM	#3
callmetootie Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 06, 2001 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 4,768	Barbra Colby only played Julie is one episode. If you look on IMDB, it only says that she was in one 1975 episode. She was replcaed by Liz Torres only a few days after the shooting. ------------------ Andrew Carden

02-22-2004, 12:48 PM	#6
Nanny Fine Justine and Holden.. Senior Member Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Watching The Ellen Degeneres Show and luvin' it Posts: 2,852	Did they ever find out who killed them?

02-23-2004, 05:43 PM	#9
hawaii five-o Book 'Em, Dano Senior Member Join Date: Jun 27, 2003 Location: At home, eating cereal straight out of the box Posts: 1,406	I heard that Cloris Leachman wanted to give an on air eulogy to Barbara Colby following an episode of "Phyllis", but CBS said no.

09-26-2005, 08:15 PM	#10
TJAMES03 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 25, 2005 Posts: 193	Something sounds strange here. While there are murders all of the time, 98 percent of them are not random even if the motive of the murderer itself is trivial. I would think that there would be a major investigation into two such brutal murders. Were they robbed of their belongings, etc? Could it have even been a deranged "fan" of Miss Colby's? It seems as though the murderer(s) knew EXACTLY where Miss Colby and her friend would be and at the exact right moment too. It also seems to me that there was very little (if any) effort to find the culprits. I would think that at the time (I wasn't even born yet), that their murders would have been quite high profile. I find it hard to believe that no one bragged to anyone else that they were indeed the culprits (especially if it was gang related). Was there a reward offered in this case? Like Benjamin Franklin said, "Three people can keep a secret only if two of them are dead." It is human nature (especially for criminals) to brag about something that they have done. Many criminals commit crimes simply for the notoriety factor - yet their murders became a "cold case" almost immediately after they were commited. I think that there is more to this case than meets the proverbial and literal eye.

11-22-2005, 11:38 PM	#11
CeeBO Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 14, 2005 Posts: 50	The case remains unsolved. who knows if it ever will be. Anything is possible. I have heard that Colby and Kiernan were dating, or at least, very good friends. Barbara and James were giving an acting class that night in July, 1975. They both had background in stage work. Apparently, Barbara loved the theatre, and had misgivings about joining a television series. She had worked with Cloris before, liked the MTM family, and the money and exposure would be great, even if the show wasn't a hit. The third episode was in the can, and I believe the fourth, "Leaving Home", was in pre-production. Probably Colby already had a script. The two were approached in a parking garage, and told to put up their hands. Being native New Yorker's they took what they thought was a "mugging" in stride. Shots were fired. Barbara died instantly...at least she didn't suffer. James survived (painfully) for a short while, long enough to relate the account to authorities. The cast and crew of "Phyllis" were, of course, stunned. Leachman was especially saddened by the tragedy, and has remarked that it was an event that was extremely difficult for her. She and Colby had become close, and enjoyed working together. A brief eulogy was filmed, and I understand that Cloris wanted to air it before the third episode aired. The show had yet to hit the airwaves, and MTM President Grant Tinker decided against it. I think it was felt that the home audience (who was promised a night full of laughs with the line-up of "Rhoda", "Phyllis", "Maude" and "All In The Family") would find it too depressing. Probably the network had the final say. I have most of the transcript of what Cloris said in the eulogy, if anyone is interested. Grant Tinker said of Barbara Colby: "If there was a kinder, nicer lady, I have never met her. She was loved by everyone". I know that she was only in the show a brief time, and I love Liz Torrez. But check out the chemistry Colby, Leachman and Schaal share in the second episode, "Bess, Is You A Woman Now?". Great stuff. Christopher

11-24-2005, 04:06 AM	#13
CeeBO Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 14, 2005 Posts: 50	Yes. You have all three of the Barbara Colby episodes, wich I included as a bonus. The unedited version of "Bess, Is You A Woman Now?" is on the vhs. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

12-23-2005, 05:33 AM	#15
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,870	does anyone got any pics of late Barbera colby so we can see what she am use look like.any availabel