Skip page navigation
> > Peter Falk, TV’s Columbo, Dies At 83

Charlie Toft

| e-mail

Charlie Toft used to win awards for book criticism, but decided that reading was too much work. As a TV writer, his specialty is an encyclopedic and possibly unhealthy knowledge of American Idol.

Peter Falk, TV’s Columbo, Dies At 83

Charlie Toft June 24, 2011

columbo-falk6

Peter Falk, who created one of the most memorable characters in television history as the surprisingly shrewd detective Columbo, died Thursday night as a result of complications from Alzheimer’s Disease. He was 83. The news was released by his family.

Falk had a long career as a character actor in films, earning Oscar nominations for two of the first movies he ever appeared in: Murder, Inc. (1960) and A Pocketful of Miracles (1961). Later roles included the possibly insane CIA agent in The In-Laws and the grandfather in The Princess Bride. But few careers as long as Falk’s become as associated with one role as his was with Lieutenant Columbo, who he first played in a 1968 made-for-TV movie.

In 1971, NBC brought back the Columbo character as part of its rotating group of “mystery movies” on Sunday nights. Columbo was unusual in that there really wasn’t any “mystery” component to the episodes – the perpetrator of the crime of the week was always identified at the outset. The fun was in seeing how Columbo would outwit the perps. Always wearing a ratty-looking tan raincoat and seeming perpetually loopy and distracted, Falk’s character appeared harmless enough; but Columbo would invariably lull his suspects into a false sense of security, and solved the crime by the end of the night, often by getting the guilty to confess.

The series ran on NBC until 1978, but ABC revived the character in 1989 for similarly formatted movie specials that ran occasionally until 2003. Falk had the rare honor of winning Emmys for playing the same character on two different networks, winning the award for Best Actor in a Drama in 1972, 1976, and 1990, and also Best Actor in a Miniseries/Movie for playing Columbo in 1975.


Tags: , , ,

comments
  • John Wesley Weaver Jr.

    I remember watching Columbo when I was young and enjoyed his antics & the humor of the way he did things in his character role.  he was a great actor, no one can deny.  He has & will be missed.  Most of the “Real Actors” have left us, when acting was acting.  I would like to see the series run again on a DTV network.  I hope & pray for his family, that our God, the Lord Jesus, & the Holy Spirit send comfort, Love & Peace through their time of loss.

    John Wesley, S. Mills, NC

  • Carolyn

    Hey Charlie, thanks for the info, I had wondered what had happened to Peter Falk. My mother recently passed at 85 also and when I heard about this, it reminded me how we would enjoy sitting around the TV when this excellent actor came on. Even though we knew who dun it, the writers had us thinking that Columbo may not get it. Today, I think we would say Columbo possibly had ADHD or mild OCD, ;-)

  • Carolyn

    Hey Charlie, thanks for the info, I had wondered what had happened to Peter Falk. My mother recently passed at 85 also and when I heard about this, it reminded me how we would enjoy sitting around the TV when this excellent actor came on. Even though we knew who dun it, the writers had us thinking that Columbo may not get it. Today, I think we would say Columbo possibly had ADHD or mild OCD, ;-)

  • ted m.

    remember those sunday night mysterys.I was always thrilled when I saw it was columbo that week.loved them all.peter falk was the best.he will be missed.but fondly remembered.