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 Peter Falk:

Columbo

  

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Peter Falk

(1927-2011)

"Oh, one more thing..."

 Peter Falk

Peter Falk as Columbo

 Movies and TV History Home>Actor Biography>Peter Falk

 Peter Falk:

Columbo 

Peter Michael Falk (September 16, 1927 – June 23, 2011) --An American actor, who was best known for his role as the rumpled, and somewhat chaotic police detective, Lieutenant Columbo in the television show "Colombo."

Peter Falk was born in 1927 in New York City. At the age of three, young Peter Falk's right eye was surgically removed due to a retinoblastoma, and he wore a glass eye for the rest of his life. As an actor, the glass eye came up when, after Falk failed a screen test at Columbia Pictures, he was told he was not hired by studio boss Harry Cohn, who said that "for the same price I can get an actor with two eyes."

Falk appeared in many movies and televison shows, earning a nomination for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his performance in the film Pocketful of Miracles (1961).

Falk's best known role began in 1968, when he first played the character of Columbo in Prescription: Murder, a 1968 made-for-televsion movie, and then from 1971 to 1978 Columbo aired regularly on NBC as part of the anthology series NBC Mystery Movie, which originally included, in addition to Columbo, the shows McCloud, and McMillan & Wife . All episodes ran in a 90 or 120 minutes slot, including commercials. The show returned on ABC in the form of an occasional series of TV-movies, starring Peter Falk as the rumpled detective from 1989 until 2003.

Peter Falk began to suffer from dementia following dental surgery in 2007. In 2009, Falk's wife, Shera Danese, released this press release on her husband's condition:

"June 4, 2009

 

When Peter Falk, my loving husband of 31 years, became ill shortly after a surgical procedure, one of my main concerns was to respect his privacy. However, Peter's adopted and estranged daughter, Catherine, violated Peter's right to privacy by filing a public petition in the Los Angeles Superior Court to be Peter's conservator.

 

After an evidentiary hearing, the Court appointed me to act as Peter's conservator. Thereafter, my representatives and I were invited to appear on television shows and to speak to numerous news reporters regarding both the legal disputes and about Peter's current medical condition.

 

I, along with my representatives, are now declining all media invitations because I believe that it is more important than ever to respect my husband's privacy at this very difficult time.

 

Shera Danese Falk

Beverly Hills, California"

 

He died at his home on June 23, 2011 of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Peter Falk and Shera Danese

Peter Falk and his wife, Shera Danese

 

 

 Sources and Links on Peter Falk:

Peter Falk Official Website

Peter Falk--Wikipedia Article

'Columbo' actor Peter Falk dies at 83--CNN, June 24, 2011

All-Star Pics--Images of Peter Falk and Shera Danese

Columbo Quotes--Bookrags.com

 

 

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