A spokesperson for the family of Peter Falk has confirmed the actor passed away Thursday night in his sleep. Falk was 83, and had been suffering from Alzheimer's Disease in recent years.
Falk, a hugely gifted actor, will forever be associated with Columbo, the character he played on the long-running detective series of the same name. Columbo's format put an ingenious spin on the old detective genre: Rather than spending every episode searching for the killer, the show revealed killers up front, and the mystery to solve was in figuring out how the perpetrators committed the crimes. (In that way, it broke ground for a show like House more than it did for shows like CSI.) Falk's character—usually unshaven and clad in a rumbled trench coat, always unassuming and disarmingly polite—belied a brilliant deductive mind at work. His catchphrase— "Just one more thing"—was enough to strike mortal fear in any killer's heart. He always got his man.
Watch this example of Lt. Columbo at work, confronting a guilty suspect with his crimes—it still holds up as great TV.
R.I.P., Peter Falk.
To him i owe him how to think, how to go about , being perspective .
I watched all episodes from season 1 to season 12, each episode i looked forward too.
But the 70's ones were the best.
Dana Stevens wrote in the online magazine Slate(1) that nothing got by Peter Falk and his hyper-alert vigilance always seemed to emerge from an underlying stillness, a state of openness to his fellow actors and to the moment. Stevens talked about Falk’s films and special scenes in the films, scenes that highlighted his talents. I’ll let you read her fine obit about the Peter Falk she remembers: a man who doggedly felt his way to the truth, that is the truth about the fictional murder of the week, and the truth of the scene. Squinting at his interlocutor with his one good eye, and listening, Falk came into our worlds week after week. His physical trademark of one eye enhanced his detective's image as a dishevelled, oddball crime sleuth. -Ron Price with thanks to (1) Dana Stevens, Brow Beat: Slate's Culture Blog, 24 June 2011.moreless
Another one of a dying era is gone. Farewell you will always be remembered.
R.I.P
Lt. Columbo unforgettable!R.I.P. Peter Falk!
It is sad to see that Peter Falk is dead. We will miss you Peter Falk.
R.I.P Peter. You were a family favourite.
An era is passing. Falk's death means the original stars of both the NBC Mystery Movie and The Name of the Game (with the exception of Susan Saint James) are all dead. Only two small gripes about the article, though: the term is "rumpled," not "rumbled"; and the point of most Columbo episodes was how the Lieutenant was going to get the killer to admit his crime and his motive, since the audience usually saw how the killer did it at the beginning.
Columbo still remains one of my favourite TV shows. Sad to hear such a gifted man has died.
He was great as Columbo. He will be missed. R.I.P Peter.
Thank you for all the great television memories. Rest in Peace, Peter.
I cannot remember the episodes now but that was a great show, since then I used to call one of my friend as "columbo" instead of his real name and other friends are also used to call him the same name that way he is in our hearts and no one can erase it. My condolenes to his family and friends.
We will never forget you, Peter!
I don't remember that episode but that was a great show and the character was brilliant and could still stand up against even the best modern day tv detective all of whom have things a little easier because of Peter Falk and LT. Columbo R.I.P
We're going to miss him. My condolenes to his family and friends.
Farewell, Columbo!!!
Legend
Rest in Peace, Peter Falk. The world is sad to see you go. :(
This is sad news. He was one of the greats.
A legend is gone. It was always a pleasure to watch his special way of solving his cases. Thanks for many a joyful hour - rest in peace, Mr. Falk.
RIP Peter Falk
RIP Peter Falk. Columbo is legendary
Oh my god... Seth Abramovitch wrote an article that has nothing to do with Glee or a twitter scandal... oh and RIP Columbo...
RIP Peter Falk!!!!
Oh man, that sucks, he'll always be remembered.
RIP Peter Falk aka Columbo
Oh, just one more thing....RIP Mr. Falk.