Johnny Staccato

1 9 5 9 – 1 9 6 0 (USA)
27 x 25 minute episodes

Johnny Staccato (John Cassavetes) is a jazz pianist who moonlights as a private detective in New York City.

Johnny was born in Manhattan and lives at 860 West 40th Street. He hangs out at Waldo’s, a mid–Manhattan bar owned by his friend Waldo (Eduardo Ciannelli), an Old World Italian who likes opera but “puts up with” jazz.

Johnny plays piano in the jazz band that plays in the bar and several real-life jazz greats – including Red Norvo, Red Mitchell, Shelly Manne, Johnny Williams, Barney Kessel and Pete Candoli – sat in.

This superb noir series – also known as simply Staccato – ran on NBC for just a single season between September 1959 and March 1960.

Guest stars included Mary Tyler Moore, Martin Landau, Dean Stockwell, Elizabeth Montgomery, Michael Landon, Cloris Leachman, Yvonne Craig, Tina Louise, Norman Fell and Jack Klugman.

Johnny Staccato
John Cassavetes
Waldo
Eduardo Ciannelli