<Ul> <Li> Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher (1984--1996; 264 episodes), a retired English teacher who, after being widowed in her early fifties, becomes a very successful mystery writer . </Li> <Li> William Windom as Dr. Seth Hazlitt (1985--1996; 49 episodes), the local doctor of Cabot Cove and one of Jessica's best friends and most intrepid supporters . There is a hint that Dr. Hazlitt may want to be more than a platonic friend but this possibility was never explored . In the season one finale, Windom portrayed Sam Breen, a lawyer who jointly murdered the victim in that episode . </Li> <Li> Tom Bosley as Sheriff Amos Tupper (1984--1988; 19 episodes), Cabot Cove's sheriff at the start of the series . Tupper later retires and goes to live with his sister . </Li> <Li> Ron Masak as Sheriff Mort Metzger (1988--1996; 38 episodes), a former NYPD officer who takes Tupper's place as sheriff in the mistaken belief that he would be living in a more peaceful place . His unseen wife, Adele, a former Marine capable of prodigious acts of strength, teaches self - defense classes . In an earlier episode, Masak portrayed a different character, a store owner in trouble with the IRS, trying to get out of trouble by selling his business . He also portrayed a police officer investigating the murder of an author in another season one episode . </Li> <Li> Louis Herthum as Deputy Andy Broom (1991--1996, 25 episodes) </Li> </Ul> <Li> Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher (1984--1996; 264 episodes), a retired English teacher who, after being widowed in her early fifties, becomes a very successful mystery writer . </Li> <Li> William Windom as Dr. Seth Hazlitt (1985--1996; 49 episodes), the local doctor of Cabot Cove and one of Jessica's best friends and most intrepid supporters . There is a hint that Dr. Hazlitt may want to be more than a platonic friend but this possibility was never explored . In the season one finale, Windom portrayed Sam Breen, a lawyer who jointly murdered the victim in that episode . </Li> <Li> Tom Bosley as Sheriff Amos Tupper (1984--1988; 19 episodes), Cabot Cove's sheriff at the start of the series . Tupper later retires and goes to live with his sister . </Li>

Who was the first actress considered for jessica fletcher