Peter Falk has died

Phony Scott

Link

Peter Falk, the actor known to a generation as television’s Lt. Columbo, died yesterday in Beverly Hills, according to ABC News. “Falk died peacefully at his Beverly Hills home in the evening of June 23, 2011,” according to the statement from his family. He was 83.


Say Falk’s name and the image that instantly comes to mind is a slope-shouldered figure in a rumpled overcoat, staring down a suspect with one eye while the other roams unnervingly free. Few actors were ever identified with a single character as much as Falk was with Lt. Columbo, the slow-moving, sharp-witted detective he played in more than five dozen TV movies, beginning with 1968’s Presciption: Murder. But like his most famous character, Falk’s genial exterior concealed hidden depths. Falk came late to acting, earning a master’s in public administration and working as a Connecticut bureaucrat before taking legendary teacher Eva La Galienne’s advice to quit his day job. He spent the 1950s playing small roles on- and off-Broadway and eventually made the leap to movies, though not without a few setbacks. Falk’s false right eye — he lost the real one to cancer at the age of 3 — could have ruined his career, or at least confined him to playing eccentrics and psychopaths. But even in small roles, Falk made his mark, garnering back-to-back Supporting Actor Oscar nominations for Murder, Inc. (1961) and Pocketful of Miracles (1962). He lost, but eventually picked up five Emmys.


Falk’s comic skills (best seen in 1979’s The In-Laws) were never in doubt, but as a dramatic actor, in movies like Husbands and A Woman Under the Influence, he was consistently underrated. His instantly recognizable face gave Falk no choice but to play versions of himsef; even as an ex-angel walking the streets of Berlin in Wings of Desire, he’s accosted by children yelling “Columbo!” But Falk never caricatured himself, even if others did, and left a body of work that deserves further investigation.

I thought he died a few years ago, now I wondering who it was who did!

Anyway I've never watched Columbo, but I know its still very popular, even today, but I did enjoy Falk doing the same thing in 'Murder By Death'. RIP.

Birneybau

Peter Falk has died according to the Guardian (can't add link, on phone).

In one of my favourite films ever, 'Wings of Desire'.

Guess there'll be no more 'Just one more thing...'.

delbertgrady

"My wife sir, she loved Columbo..."

mike65

50% of one of the great comic baddie duos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86ZnWc1B7W4

Earthhorse

A great entertainer. I loved him in The Princess Bride. He was perfect.

I always remember this anecdote he told on his appearance on The Actor's Studio.

Wikipedia wrote:

"Falk also studied with Eva Le Gallienne, who was giving an acting class at the White Barn Theatre in Westport, Connecticut. Falk later recalled that he had "lied his way" into the class, which was for professional actors. He drove down to Westport from Hartford every Wednesday, when the classes were held, and was usually late.

In his 1997 interview with Arthur Marx, Falk said "One evening when I arrived late, she looked at me and asked, 'Young man, why are you always late?' and I said, 'I have to drive down from Hartford.'" She looked down her nose and said, "What do you do in Hartford? There's no theater there. How do you make a living acting?" Falk confessed he wasn't a professional actor. According to Falk, she looked at him sternly and said, "Well, you should be." He drove back to Hartford and quit his job.

May he rest in peace.

JP Liz V1

RIP

Cookie is a favourite guilty pleasure film for me

take everything

RIP.
Coolest detective ever.

losthorizon

Wings of Desire is/was one of my favourite films. Its a highbrow film I suppose involing angels in Berlin and an actor called Peter Falk playing himself but its an excellent film. On a side note the main character whose name I cant remember went on to play Hitler in Downfall (he died a few years ago as well). Columbo however will forever be the role associated with Falk and for me it was by far the best detective series out there and it made sense. It gave Spielberg his breakthrough as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEOo640zVMQ

Birneybau

losthorizon wrote: »

Wings of Desire is/was one of my favourite films. Its a highbrow film I suppose involing angels in Berlin and an actor called Peter Falk playing himself but its an excellent film. On a side note the main character whose name I cant remember went on to play Hitler in Downfall (he died a few years ago as well). Columbo however will forever be the role associated with Falk and for me it was by far the best detective series out there and it made sense. It gave Spielberg his breakthrough as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEOo640zVMQ

Bruno Ganz is the name you are looking for, still alive iirc.

krudler

"You're sick, I'll humour you"

loved him in The Princess Bride.

and now for the best Peter Falk impression ever (1.30 in):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eExsLq8DPFc

losthorizon

Birneybau wrote: »

Bruno Ganz is the name you are looking for, still alive iirc.

Thanks, I was under the impression he had died. Looked him up once you supplied the name and yes hes still alive.

pixelburp

RIP; as a fictional detective, the reason why Columbo worked so well was all down to Peter Falk & the way he played the character. All those wonderful facial ticks & mannerisms you just couldn't replicate in another actor. Sure he didn't do much that noteworthy otherwise, but his work on Columbo pretty much guaranteed his immortality.

I don't mind admitting I've spent manys a lazy Saturday / Sunday afternoon just watching Columbo on the TV

Zak Flaps

Loved Peter Falk. The guy was a legend. Check out his wonderful comic performance in the little seen "Aunt Julia And The Scriptwriter" ( alternative title, "Tune In Tomorrow"), he is brilliant.
RIP Peter.

johnny_ultimate

losthorizon wrote: »

Thanks, I was under the impression he had died. Looked him up once you supplied the name and yes hes still alive.

I could have sworn that I heard Ganz had died a few years ago too Distinctly remember because he'd gotten so much acclaim for Downfall. How very weird!

But yeah, only familiar with Falk from Wings of Desire too, and he gives a damn good performance in that in a rare 'as himself' role that actually has depth.

crazygeryy

may he rest in peace.colombo was the best and he portrayed him brilliantly.

DeepBlue

losthorizon wrote: »

Thanks, I was under the impression he had died. Looked him up once you supplied the name and yes hes still alive.

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

I could have sworn that I heard Ganz had died a few years ago too Distinctly remember because he'd gotten so much acclaim for Downfall. How very weird!.

I suspect you guys are confusing Ganz with Ulrich Mühe who died shortly after The Lives of Others was made.
Both German~ish (Ganz is actually Swiss) and both had critically acclaimed foreign language films released within a couple of years of each other.

Anyhow RIP Peter Falk.

losthorizon

Report on Peter Falk - one of his daughters is a real life PI! :eek:

http://www.euronews.net/2011/06/25/colombo-actor-peter-falk-dies/

calex71

R.I.P

Am I the only one who despised Columbo as a character and his portrayal of that character, never found him (character) likable in the least.

I think it's a shame it's the role he'll be remembered most for as he has done so much better work. Not trying to stir / troll here just my genuine opinion.

I also thought he'd died a few years ago and said so when my dad mentioned it earlier.