Peter Falk, best known for his role as television’s dishevelled police detective, dies aged 83.
Published On 25 Jun 201125 Jun 2011
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Falk won four Emmys for his dishevelled and eccentric role as a detective in thehit TV show Columbo [GALLO/GETTY] |
Peter Falk, star of the 1970s hit UStelevision police detective drama “Columbo”, has died at the age of 83 after years of battling Alzheimer’s disease.
Falk passed away peacefully at his Beverly Hills home on Wednesday evening, according to a statement issued by his wife’s attorney.
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The actor had a wide-ranging career in comedy and drama, first in theatre, then in movies and lateron television. He gained fame as the police lieutenant Columbo, whose absent-mindedness was actually a ruse to cover his shrewd questioning of suspects and investigations.
As a child, the actor’s right eye had been surgically removed due to a malignant tumour and was replaced with a glass eye. That handicap became, perhaps, one of Falk’s major assets in his “Columbo” role, as the physical trademark enhanced the detective’s image as a dishevelled and eccentric crime sleuth.
As a fictionallieutenant in the Los Angeles police department, Columbo was a comic variation of the traditional detective.In each episode, Columbo would string his suspects along with questioning and flattery, just before nailing them with the final signature phrase: “Just one more thing…”
It was also the title of his memoir, published in 2006, that documented the appeal of the show.
Falk earned an Oscar, for supporting roles in the 1960’s “Murder Inc” and in “Pocketful of Miracles” the following year. He also won his first Emmy award in a leading role in a 1961 production of “The Dick Powell Theatre”, and 10 years later in 1972 he began a string of fourEmmy wins that would see him claim US television’s top honour four more times as Columbo.
The show became a smash hit after its prime-time debut on NBC in 1971 and continued on television for many years, even spawning several TV movies later in the actor’s life.
Love of acting
Born in Manhattan onSeptember 16, 1927, Falk was the son of a store owner. He began acting as a child in school and later joined the US Merchant Marine because his glass eye made him ineligible for military service.
He left the Merchant Marine after a more than a year and returned to school, eventually receiving a master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University in 1953.
But his love of acting took him to community theatre. From there he moved to off-Broadway productions and eventually the Great White Way. In 1956, he made his Broadway debut in “Diary of a Scoundrel” and thus began a string of stage roles that eventually sent him to Hollywood, aiming for a movie career.
In “Murder, Inc” he was singled out for his sheer ability to look more sinister than his peers as a member of a gang of killers. Yet as Columbo, he was able to turn his slightly menacing look by delivering comic punch lines and conveying the outward appearance of a bumbling detective.
After “Columbo”, Falk enjoyed numerous TV and film roles, continuing to working up until 2009.
In late 2008, his daughter Catherine Falk filed court papers seeking to be put in charge of his business and personal affairs because, Catherine revealed, he was suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Falk was under 24-hour care for several years.
The actor is survived by his wife of three decades, Shera, and his daughters from a previous marriage Catherine and Jackie.
As an enthusiast with demonstrable expertise in the field of film and television, I bring a wealth of knowledge to discuss the life and career of Peter Falk, especially in the context of his iconic role as Lieutenant Columbo in the 1970s hit television police detective drama.
Peter Falk, born on September 16, 1927, was a versatile actor with a wide-ranging career in comedy and drama. His breakthrough came with his portrayal of the disheveled and eccentric police lieutenant Columbo in the television series "Columbo." Falk's performance in this role earned him widespread acclaim, and he won four Emmy Awards for his portrayal of the detective.
One unique aspect of Falk's life that significantly influenced his portrayal of Columbo was his childhood experience. As a child, Falk had his right eye surgically removed due to a malignant tumor, and it was replaced with a glass eye. This physical characteristic became a major asset in his role as Columbo, enhancing the detective's image as a seemingly absent-minded yet shrewd crime sleuth.
Falk's acting career spanned from theatre to movies and later television. He achieved recognition with an Oscar for supporting roles in "Murder Inc" (1960) and "Pocketful of Miracles" (1961). His talent and versatility were further acknowledged with his first Emmy award in a leading role in a 1961 production of "The Dick Powell Theatre."
"Columbo" debuted on NBC in 1971 and became a smash hit, running for many years and even spawning several TV movies later in Falk's life. The character of Columbo was known for his distinctive interrogation style, stringing suspects along with questioning and flattery before revealing his keen insights with the signature phrase: "Just one more thing..."
Falk's love for acting propelled him from community theatre to Broadway and eventually Hollywood. Despite facing challenges, such as his brief stint in the US Merchant Marine due to his glass eye, Falk's career flourished. His ability to transition from sinister roles, as seen in "Murder, Inc," to the comedic charm of Columbo showcased his versatility as an actor.
Beyond his success in "Columbo," Falk continued to enjoy a prolific career in both TV and film roles until 2009. In 2008, it was revealed that he was battling Alzheimer's and dementia, leading to legal proceedings initiated by his daughter Catherine Falk to take charge of his affairs. Peter Falk passed away at the age of 83 in 2011 at his Beverly Hills home, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable contributions to the world of entertainment. He is survived by his wife Shera and daughters Catherine and Jackie.
