A Star Is Dead

Episode Summary

A Star Is Dead is the third episode of Season 1 of _Quincy, M.E._. It was originally broadcast on **November 28, 1976** on NBC’s Sunday Mystery Movie. The episode centers on the suspicious overdose of a high-profile Hollywood actress and Quincy’s struggle when evidence points to his friend in politics.

Synopsis

Famed movie star **Roberta Rhodes** (guest star Donna Mills) is discovered dead in her bedroom from an apparent overdose. While police are quick to close the case as suicide, Quincy grows skeptical when inconsistencies surface:

• Toxicology doesn’t align with her known prescription history.
• A tabloid editor informs Quincy that **Congressman Charles Sinclair** (Robert Foxworth)—an old friend—is implicated in her last-known whereabouts :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
• Journalist **Paul Reardon** (William Daniels) claims he has proof Sinclair was with Roberta the night she died :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
• Roberta’s mother, Clara Rhodes, insists her daughter was murdered—claiming she witnessed Sinclair forcing barbiturates into her :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.

Despite political pressure and personal loyalty, Quincy pushes forward. Through forensic evidence and emotional inquest testimony, he exposes a tangled web of lies, tabloid influence, and unreliable witnesses, ultimately clarifying that Roberta’s death was a tragic overdose—but not the conspiracy some suspected :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.

Cast

• **Dr. R. Quincy, M.E.** – Jack Klugman
• **Sam Fujiyama** – Robert Ito
• **Lt. Frank Monahan** – Garry Walberg
• **Danny Tovo** – Val Bisoglio
• **Dr. Robert Astin** – John S. Ragin
• **Roberta Rhodes** (guest star) – Donna Mills :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
• **Paul Reardon** (guest star) – William Daniels :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
• **Congressman Charles Sinclair** (guest star) – Robert Foxworth :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
• **Clara Rhodes** – Roberta’s mother :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Themes

• Tension between political influence and forensic truth
• The human cost of fame and media sensationalism
• Loyalty vs. professional integrity in investigating close associates

Notable Facts

• This is one of the earliest episodes to feature Quincy confronting a high-level political figure and resisting institutional pressure :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
• The plot echoes real-world high-profile celebrity overdoses and the role of tabloids during the 1970s :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.

Reception

Contemporary viewers praised Jack Klugman’s performance, with episode reviews noting the “Quincy gets on his soapbox” moment when he pushes back against both media hype and political influence :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.

Quotes

• “Just because she was famous doesn’t mean she wasn’t murdered.” – Quincy :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
• During the inquest: “We have eyewitnesses and evidence. We owe it to her to find the truth.” – Quincy

See Also

• Episodes
• Quincy vs. Political Influence
• Celebrity Death Investigations