Columbo is a shrewd and exceptionally observant homicide detective who often disguises his aptitude with his inelegant, shambling manner; trademarks of his blue-collar ethos include his rumpled beige raincoat, cigar and relentless investigative approach.

[3][4] Roger Ebert claimed that Columbo's character was also influenced by Inspector Fichet from the French suspense-thriller film Les Diaboliques.

[6] Due to Columbo's first name being obscure in the show, author Fred L. Worth intentionally included a fictitious entry in The Trivia Encyclopedia, falsely claiming that the character's first name was "Philip" in order to catch copyright infringement of the book.

Columbo classically drives an old beat-up Peugeot 403 car,[9][10][11] which sometimes helps lull suspects into a false sense of security about the detective's competence.

[4] In 2014, a bronze sculptural work with life-sized statues of Columbo and his dog, by the sculptor Géza Dezső Fekete [hu] was erected in Miksa Falk Street, Budapest.