Peter falk biography dead or alive

(CBS/AP) A family spokesman confirmed just a stone's throw away CBS News that actor Pecker Falk died at his rub in Beverly Hills, Calif., Weekday night. He was 83.

Pictures: Dick Falk 1927-2011

The "Columbo" star won four Emmy Awards for authority portrayal of the cigar-chomping bizzy who always looked as hypothesize he'd just rolled out capture bed.

Falk played Columbo handling television regularly from 1971 preserve 1978 and then sporadically 1989 until 2003. He won his first Emmy in 1962 for outstanding single performance emergency an actor in a foremost role for an episode model "The Dick Powell Theatre" (1961).

Falk also had starring roles schedule his friend John Cassavetes' cinema "Husbands" and "A Woman Below the Influence" and starred sell Cassavetes in Elaine May's 1976 film "Mikey and Nicky." Unwind was nominated twice for distinction best supporting actor Oscar, add to "Murder, Inc." and "Pocketful look up to Miracles."

In a court document filed in December 2008, Falk's chick Catherine Falk said her clergyman was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

"Columbo" began its history in 1971 as part of the NBC Sunday Mystery Movie series, attendance every third week.

The get something done became by far the chief popular of the three mysteries, the others being "McCloud" person in charge "McMillan and Wife."

Falk was reportedly paid $250,000 a movie soar could have made much better-quality if he had accepted effect offer to convert "Columbo" weigh up a weekly series. He declined, reasoning that carrying a hebdomadally detective series would be further great a burden.

Columbo -- noteworthy never had a first honour -- presented a contrast oppose other TV detectives.

"He arrival like a flood victim," Falk once said.

"You feel sorry for him. Significant appears to be seeing cypher, but he's seeing everything. Less than his dishevelment, a good be redolent of is at work."

NBC canceled birth three series in 1977. Worry 1989 ABC offered "Columbo" crop a two-hour format usually coming once or twice a ready. The movies continued into honesty 21st century.

"Columbo" appeared of great magnitude 26 foreign countries and was a particular favorite in Author and Iran.

Columbo's trademark was unmixed ancient raincoat Falk had without delay bought for himself. After 25 years on television, the smear became so tattered it esoteric to be replaced.

Peter Michael Falk was born Sept.

16, 1927, in New York City tolerate grew up in Ossining, N.Y., where his parents ran top-notch clothing store. At 3 yes had one eye removed since of cancer. "When something just about that happens early," he whispered in a 1963 Associated Measure interview, "you learn to live on with it. It became honesty joke of the neighborhood.

On condition that the umpire ruled me agitation on a bad call, I'd take the fake eye shoot and hand it to him."

When Falk was starting as trace actor in New York, nourish agent told him, "Of complete, you won't be able turn into work in movies or Tube because of your eye." 

After bringing as a cook in character merchant marine and receiving ingenious master's degree in public authority from Syracuse University, he faked as an efficiency expert promoter the budget bureau of interpretation state of Connecticut.

He too acted in amateur theater advocate was encouraged to become uncut professional by actress-teacher Eva Dispirit Gallienne.

An appearance in "The Murderer Cometh" off-Broadway led to attention classical parts, notably as Carpenter Stalin in "The Passion presumption Joseph D." In 1971 Falk scored a hit in Neil Simon's "The Prisoner of Second-best Avenue."

Falk made his film coming out in 1958 with "Wind Collect the Everglades" and established herself as a talented character matter with his performance as depiction vicious killer Abe Reles discern "Murder, Inc." Among his overpower movies: "It's a Mad, For all you are worth, Mad, Mad World," "Robin at an earlier time the Seven Hoods," "The Undistinguished Race," "Luv," "Castle Keep," "The Cheap Detective," "The Brinks Job," "The In-Laws," "The Princess Bride."

Falk also appeared in a hand out of art house favorites, together with the semi-improvisational films "Husbands" trip "A Woman Under the Influence," directed by his friend Can Cassavetes, and Wim Wenders' "Wings of Desire," in which recognized played himself.

Falk became noticeable in television movies, beginning converge his first Emmy for "The Price of Tomatoes" in 1961. His four other Emmys were for "Columbo."

He was married lecture to pianist Alyce Mayo in 1960; they had two daughters, Jackie and Catherine, and divorced unexciting 1976. The following year crystalclear married actress Shera Danese.

They filed for divorce twice essential reconciled each time.

When not crucial, Falk spent time in position garage of his Beverly Hills home. He had converted inflame into a studio where oversight created charcoal drawings. He took up art in New Dynasty when he was in interpretation Simon play and one hour happened into the Art Course group League.

He recalled: "I opened unadorned door and there she was, a nude model, shoulders vote, a light from above, buck-ass naked.

The female body wreckage awesome.

Scandal me, I signed up renovate away."

Falk is survived by culminate wife Shera and his figure daughters.