Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
The Streets of San Francisco
S4.E20
All episodesAll
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
IMDbPro

Clown of Death

  • Episode aired Feb 26, 1976
  • TV-PG
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
94
YOUR RATING
Karl Malden and Michael Strong in Clown of Death (1976)
ActionCrimeDramaMystery

A terminally ill circus rigger is killed in his hospital bed by someone made up as a clown. At first, the detectives suspect the victim's brother may have done it as a mercy killing, but whe... Read allA terminally ill circus rigger is killed in his hospital bed by someone made up as a clown. At first, the detectives suspect the victim's brother may have done it as a mercy killing, but when the brother is murdered as well, suspicion shifts to the nephew of the two men.A terminally ill circus rigger is killed in his hospital bed by someone made up as a clown. At first, the detectives suspect the victim's brother may have done it as a mercy killing, but when the brother is murdered as well, suspicion shifts to the nephew of the two men.

  • Director
    • Virgil W. Vogel
  • Writers
    • Arthur Rowe
    • Edward Hume
    • Carolyn Weston
  • Stars
    • Karl Malden
    • Michael Douglas
    • David Birney
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    94
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Virgil W. Vogel
    • Writers
      • Arthur Rowe
      • Edward Hume
      • Carolyn Weston
    • Stars
      • Karl Malden
      • Michael Douglas
      • David Birney
    • 2User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Top cast19

    Edit
    Karl Malden
    Karl Malden
    • Detective Lt. Mike Stone
    Michael Douglas
    Michael Douglas
    • Inspector Steve Keller
    David Birney
    David Birney
    • Neil Ruggers
    Michael Strong
    Michael Strong
    • Red Ashburn
    Madlyn Rhue
    Madlyn Rhue
    • Crystal
    Dick Van Patten
    Dick Van Patten
    • Sterling
    Lynne Marta
    Lynne Marta
    • Barbara
    Parley Baer
    Parley Baer
    • Jack Leopold
    Will Hutchins
    Will Hutchins
    • Sparky
    Russell Thorson
    Russell Thorson
    • Freddie Olburn
    Mary Jackson
    Mary Jackson
    • Mrs. Clemons
    Angus Duncan
    Angus Duncan
    • Dr. Harlow
    Don Keefer
    Don Keefer
    • Dr. Mayhill
    Reuben Collins
    • Inspector Bill Tanner
    Ray K. Goman
    Ray K. Goman
    • Mr. MacLeod
    Maurice Argent
    Maurice Argent
    • Sean Murdock
    Dan Caldwell
    • Sergaent Hawlins
    Bernie Valentine
    • Maggie Martins
    • (as Berni Valentine)
    • Director
      • Virgil W. Vogel
    • Writers
      • Arthur Rowe
      • Edward Hume
      • Carolyn Weston
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews2

    7.294
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    Jimmy_the_Gent4

    Circus Murders

    A former circus employee is murdered by a clown.

    A very good episode. A disturbing scene where we see the evil clown disconnect the victim from a respirator in a hospital. David Birney (Bridget Loves Bernie) is a high wire walker and main suspect. Madelyn Rhue (sexy redhead who was in the Space Seed episode of Star Trek) is a sarcastic pony rider. Lynne Marta (in many guest appearances in several TV shows of the time, like Barnaby Jones and Medical Center). Most entertaining part of the show is Stone's fascination with the circus, he even goes undercover as a clown.

    Related interests

    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery

    Storyline

    Edit

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 26, 1976 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • California Pacific Medical Center - 45 Castro St, San Francisco, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Quinn Martin Productions (QM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h(60 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1
      • 4:3

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.