Peter Falk

Peter Falk

1927-09-16 – 2011-06-23 (age 83) New York City, New York, USA
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Biography

Peter Michael Falk (September 16, 1927 – June 23, 2011) was an American actor. He is best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo on the NBC/ABC series Columbo (1968–1978, 1989–2003), for which he won four Primetime Emmy Awards (1972, 1975, 1976, 1990) and a Golden Globe Award (1973). In 1996, TV Guide ranked Falk No. 21 on its 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list. He received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013.

He first starred as Columbo in two 2-hour "World Premiere" TV pilots; the first with Gene Barry in 1968 and the second with Lee Grant in 1971. The show then aired as part of The NBC Mystery Movie series from 1971 to 1978, and again on ABC from 1989 to 2003.

Falk was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for Murder, Inc. (1960) and Pocketful of Miracles (1961), and won his first Emmy Award in 1962 for The Dick Powell Theatre. He was the first actor to be nominated for an Academy Award and an Emmy Award in the same year, achieving the feat twice (1961 and 1962). He went on to appear in such films as It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), alongside Frank Sinatra in Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964), The Great Race (1965), Anzio (1968), Murder by Death (1976), The Cheap Detective (1978), The Brink's Job (1978), The In-Laws (1979), The Princess Bride (1987), Wings of Desire (1987), The Player (1992), and Next (2007), as well as many television guest roles.

Falk was also known for his collaborations with filmmaker, actor, and personal friend John Cassavetes, acting in films such as Husbands (1970), A Woman Under the Influence (1974), Big Trouble (1986), Elaine May's Mikey and Nicky (1976) and the Columbo episode "Γ‰tude in Black" (1972). He cameoed as a theatergoer in Cassavetes' 1977 film Opening Night.

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Known For

...All the Marbles
...All the Marbles

1981

as Harry Sears

Shark Tale
Shark Tale

2004

as Don Feinberg (voice)

The Princess Bride
The Princess Bride

1987

as The Grandfather

Next
Next

2007

as Irv

Undisputed
Undisputed

2002

as Mendy Ripstein

The Player
The Player

1992

as Peter Falk

Wings of Desire
Wings of Desire

1987

as The Filmstar

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

1963

as Third Cab Driver

The Great Race
The Great Race

1965

as Max

Prescription: Murder
Prescription: Murder

1968

as Columbo

Vibes
Vibes

1988

as Harry Buscafusco

Opening Night
Opening Night

1977

as Self (uncredited)

Made
Made

2001

as Max

Roommates
Roommates

1995

as Rocky Holzeck

A Woman Under the Influence
A Woman Under the Influence

1974

as Nick Longhetti

Anzio
Anzio

1968

as Cpl. Jack Rabinoff

Castle Keep
Castle Keep

1969

as Sgt. Rossi

Murder by Death
Murder by Death

1976

as Sam Diamond

Pocketful of Miracles
Pocketful of Miracles

1961

as Joy Boy

Checking Out
Checking Out

2006

as Morris Applebaum