Peter Falk
Peter Falk (Born September 16, 1927) is an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo. He appeared in numerous films and television guest roles, and has been nominated for an Academy Award twice, and won the Emmy Award on five occasions and the Golden Globe award once. Oscar winning director William Friedkin, when discussing Falk’s role in his 1978 film The Brinks Job said that “Peter has a great range from comedy to drama. He could break your heart or he could make you laugh.”
One of his greatest passions is drawing and sketching; has studio on grounds of Beverly Hills estate.
His right eye was surgically removed at the age of three, because of cancer.
Graduated from Ossining High School.
Worked as an efficiency expert for the Budget Bureau of the state of Connecticut before becoming an actor. Studied acting with Eva Le Gallienne and Sanford Meisner.
Was a certified public accountant.
Falk puts damper on rumor that his trademark Columbo raincoat has been placed in the Smithsonian Institution: says it’s in his upstairs closet.
Columbo’s first name is never mentioned in the series. Though it was reported to be Philip Columbo by Fred Worth in his book ‘Super Trivia’ (1977) and later copied by the makers of Trivial Pursuit in 1984, Worth admitted to having fabricated the name as a means of proof of copyright in case someone were to have pirated his book (which someone did). The case went all the way to the Supreme Court, but was thrown out in the end.
Columbo’s wife, who he speaks of often, is never seen in the series. Interestingly, most of the facts that are supposedly known about Lt. Columbo’s private life are up in the air and sometimes contradictory. This may be due to his character being somewhat forgetful or may be due to him leading a suspect with a ‘likely story’ hoping they will trip up and reveal a clue. His car, a 1959 Peugeot 403 Cabriolet, is in most every episode and is treated almost as a character.
He earned an MPA, Master of Public Administration degree, from Syracuse University in 1953.
Began acting when he was 26, but did not officially declare himself an actor and move to New York until he was 28.
During the June 5, 2000, episode of “The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn” (1999), Craig Kilborn’s third question to Falk during “Five Questions” was this: “Use the words ‘Falk’ and ‘you’ in a sentence”. Falk chuckled a bit, touched his nose, and replied simply: “Falk . . . you!”.
Has his look-alike puppet in the French show “Les guignols de l’info” (1988).
Is a close friend of Patrick McGoohan.
Avatar’s voice in the animated movie Wizards (1977) (voiced by Bob Holt) was modelled after Falk.
He has inspired at least two Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters. Dick Dastardly in “Wacky Races” (1968) was based on Falk’s Max Meen from The Great Race (1965), and Mumbly, the detective dog on “The New Tom & Jerry Show” (1975) was loosely based on Columbo.
In 1961, he became the first actor nominated for an Oscar and an Emmy in the same year, receiving best supporting nominations for the movie Murder, Inc. (1960) and the TV show “The Law and Mr. Jones” (1960). He followed up in 1962 by being doubly nominated again for supporting actor for the movie Pocketful of Miracles (1961) and best actor (he won) for “The Price of Tomatoes,” an episode of “The Dick Powell Show” (1961).
Peter Falk’s great-grandfather was Miksa Falk, a well-known Hungarian writer and politician. He was the editor of the liberal Hungarian newspaper, the Pester Lloyd.
Tested for the role of Ted Henderson in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969).
He was involved in a car accident in June 2008 when he lost control while driving, sustaining a head injury.
Had a hip replacement in June 2008.
Diagnosed with dementia, probably brought on by Alzheimer’s disease, in 2008.
Had been a heavy cigarette smoker since his mid-teens, but after he started playing Columbo he mainly switched to cigars in real life.
