Columbo villains an influence for Dr. Breen?

[Hudson]

The first episode of the Columbo TV series was directed by a young Steven Spielberg and first aired in 1971. In it you see the villain played by Jack Cassidy wearing an outfit that has a similarity to what you see Dr. Breen wearing in Half-Life 2. Jack Cassidy appeared in 2 other episodes, but tragically died in a house fire in 1976.

The villain of the second episode of Columbo was played by Robert Culp who appeared in 3 other episodes and obviously went on to play the role of Breen. When Robert Culp passed away in March 2010 Valve made a news post mourning his death.

It makes sense to me that the staff at Valve grew up watching the show and paid homage to it with their character design of Wallace Breen in Half-Life 2.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Columbo_episodes#Season_1_(1971–72)

 

[turtlechief117]

As long as it's not another fucking HL3 theory I'll like it.

 

[Black Rain (1989)]

 

[vtipoman]

 

[Samurai]

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I'm pretty sure the influence for Breen has to do with people apart of the hadron collider project. Although I suppose its not impossible multiple people could of been used as reference.

Spoiler

Can't find my own copy of the image amongst my image folder this one will do.

*edit found a better image of it