Christine Belford

Question: We all know that the late George Peppard played John "Hannibal" Smith on The A-Team, but I seem to remember that there was another show that he starred in where he played an insurance investigator. I think I saw it on A&E a little while ago, but I cannot remember the name of the show. Can you help?

Answer: That I can, Cliff.

Peppard played Polish-American (and I specify ethnicity here because it was a big part of the show's flavor) private-eye Thomas Banacek in the series, which was called (surprise!) Banacek. In it the Boston-based detective went after vanished goods and then claimed the reward money from insurance companies when he solved the capers. Ralph Manza and Murray Matheson were also regulars on the show, and Christine Belford came on board in the second season to add a little romance.