Murder, She Wrote: Four Guest Stars Before Their Breakthroughs

Harris as a Witness

In Season 9’s “Lone Witness,” Neil Patrick Harris plays Tommy Remsen, a grocery delivery boy who says he saw Jessica Fletcher’s neighbor Monica Evers dead, with an unknown man nearby. When police find no evidence supporting his account, Remsen flees and comes under suspicion.

Fletcher investigates to clear him. The story describes the role as a departure from Harris’ comic work on Doogie Howser, M.D. and an early step beyond his child-star image.

Selleck’s Crossover Appearance

Tom Selleck appears as private investigator Thomas Magnum in “Magnum on Ice.” Fletcher travels to Hawaii, where Magnum is jailed after being framed for two murders, and investigates to clear his name. The story identifies the episode as part of a crossover with Magnum, P.I., but its season details conflict: it calls “Magnum on Ice” a Season 3 episode, then says the story begins with a Season 7 episode, “Novel Connection.” That earlier episode features Lansbury as Fletcher.

Cox’s Early Role

Courteney Cox plays Carol Bannister, Fletcher’s wealthy grand-niece, in the two-part Season 3 opener “Death Stalks the Big Top.” Carol suspects her long-dead grandfather, Neil, sent her a silver leprechaun as a wedding gift. Neil is eventually found working at a nearby traveling circus under the name Carl Schulman. The story highlights the reunion between Carol and her grandfather before her wedding, as well as Cox’s emotional performance.

Cranston in Season Two

Before his role as Hal on Malcolm in the Middle, Bryan Cranston appeared in Season 2’s “Menace, Anyone?” He plays tennis player Brian East, who is engaged to Carol McDermott, played by Linda Hamilton. East is killed when a car he borrowed from McDermott explodes, making her a suspect. Fletcher discovers that McDermott, rather than East, was the intended target.