Permanently enshrined in the hearts of television viewers and mystery fans for his Emmy and Golden Globe-winning portrayal of the savvy Lt. Columbo, actor, director, and producer Peter Falk was a much-admired star of television, film and stage for over half a century. Falk brought streetwise energy to his comic roles, which included his Oscar-nominated turn in “Pocketful of Miracles” (1961) and the enduring cult favorite “The In-Laws” (1979), but could also be searingly intense in dramas, as he proved in a string of films for his close friend, independent film legend John Cassavetes, including
