Peter Falk
American actor famed for his role as Lieutenant Columbo.
Peter Michael Falk (September 16, 1927 – June 23, 2011) was an American actor who achieved enduring fame for his portrayal of the disheveled detective Lieutenant Columbo. He first played the character in two two-hour television pilot films, the first airing in 1968 with Gene Barry and the second in 1971 with Lee Grant. The series then became a regular feature of *The NBC Mystery Movie* from 1971 to 1978, and was later revived on ABC from 1989 to 2003. For his work as Columbo, Falk won four Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. In 1996, *TV Guide* ranked him number 21 on its list of the 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time, and he received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013.
Born in Manhattan to Jewish parents, Falk lost his right eye to retinoblastoma at age three and wore an artificial eye for the rest of his life, which caused his trademark squint. He was a star athlete and senior class president at Ossining High School, graduating in 1945. After briefly attending Hamilton College, he was rejected from military service due to his missing eye and instead served as a cook and mess boy in the United States Merchant Marine. He later earned a bachelor’s degree from The New School and a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University in 1953.
Falk began acting in community theater in Hartford, Connecticut, and studied under Eva Le Gallienne, who encouraged him to pursue the profession professionally. His film career included two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor, for *Murder, Inc.* (1960) and *Pocketful of Miracles* (1961). He was the first performer to receive both an Academy Award and an Emmy nomination in the same year, achieving this twice. Falk appeared in numerous notable films, including *It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World*, *The Great Race*, *Murder by Death*, *The In-Laws*, *The Princess Bride*, and *Wings of Desire*. He also frequently collaborated with his friend John Cassavetes, appearing in films such as *Husbands*, *A Woman Under the Influence*, and *Mikey and Nicky*, as well as the *Columbo* episode “Étude in Black.”
- born
- September 16, 1927
- died
- June 23, 2011
- field
- Actor
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Portraying Lieutenant Columbo on Columbo
Lore & Background
Falk was born in Manhattan, New York City, to Jewish parents. His right eye was surgically removed at age three due to retinoblastoma, and he wore an artificial eye for most of his life, which caused his trademark squint. He attended Ossining High School, where he was a star athlete and senior class president, and later studied at Hamilton College, the University of Wisconsin, and The New School for Social Research, earning a bachelor's degree in literature and political science in 1951. He also obtained a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University in 1953.
After being rejected by the CIA due to his union membership, Falk worked as a management analyst in Hartford, Connecticut. He began acting in community theater with the Mark Twain Masquers and studied under Eva Le Gallienne. His first New York stage role was in an off-Broadway production of Don Juan in 1956. He made his Broadway debut later that year in Diary of a Scoundrel. Falk's early film roles included small parts in Wind Across the Everglades (1958), The Bloody Brood (1959), and Pretty Boy Floyd (1960).
Falk first played Columbo in two 2-hour TV pilots in 1968 and 1971, then the series aired as part of The NBC Mystery Movie from 1971 to 1978 and on ABC from 1989 to 2003. He collaborated with filmmaker John Cassavetes on several films, including Husbands (1970), A Woman Under the Influence (1974), and Mikey and Nicky (1976). Falk also appeared in notable films such as It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), The Great Race (1965), Murder by Death (1976), The Princess Bride (1987), and Wings of Desire (1987).
Reader's Guide
Peter Falk's legacy is defined by his iconic portrayal of Lieutenant Columbo, a disheveled but brilliant detective, which earned him multiple Emmy Awards and a lasting place in television history. His performance style, marked by a squint from his artificial eye, became a signature. Falk's career spanned stage, film, and television, with two Academy Award nominations early on and a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013. He was a pioneer in being the first actor nominated for both an Academy Award and an Emmy in the same year. His work with John Cassavetes showcased his range in independent cinema, while his role in The Princess Bride introduced him to new generations. Falk's influence endures through the continued popularity of Columbo and his memorable film performances.
Did You Know?
- Falk's right eye was surgically removed at age three due to retinoblastoma, and he wore an artificial eye for most of his life.
- 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).
- Falk served in the United States Merchant Marine as a cook and mess boy after being rejected from the armed services due to his missing eye.
- He received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013.
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