Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Peter Falk
Peter Falk Facts
| Sign | Virgo |
| Born |
Sep 16, 1927 New York City, NY |
| Died |
Jun 23, 2011 Beverly Hills, Los Angeles |
| Age | Died at 83 |
| Total Facts | 39 |
Harry Cohn, head of Columbia Pictures and renowned for his boorishness and vulgarity, rejected Falk, declaring, "For the same money, I can get an actor with two eyes!".
After high school, he briefly attended Hamilton College in upstate New York. He was a merchant marine after he dropped out of college. He went to New York City where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the New School for Social Research in New York City. He earned his Master's Degree in public administration from Syracuse University in Syracause, New York.
At 29 years old, he studied acting with the Mark Twain Masquers in Hartford, Connecticut, and studied with Eva Le Gallienne at the White Barn Theater in Westport, Connecticut.
Avatar's voice in the animated movie Wizards (1977) (voiced by Bob Holt) was modelled after Falk.
Began acting when he was 26, but did not officially declare himself an actor and move to New York until he was 28.
Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 153-154. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
Children: Catherine, Jackie
Columbo's wife, who he speaks of often, is never seen in the series. Interestingly, most of the facts that are supposedly known about Lt. Columbo's private life are up in the air and sometimes contradictory. This may be due to his character being somewhat forgetful or may be due to him leading a suspect with a 'likely story' hoping they will trip up and reveal a clue. His car, a 1959 Peugeot 403 Cabriolet, is in most every episode and is treated almost as a character.
Diagnosed with dementia, probably brought on by Alzheimer's disease, in 2008.
During the June 5, 2000, episode of "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn" (1999), Craig Kilborn's third question to Falk during "Five Questions" was this: "Use the words 'Falk' and 'you' in a sentence". Falk chuckled a bit, touched his nose, and replied simply: "Falk . . . you!".
Falk puts damper on rumor that his trademark Columbo raincoat has been placed in the Smithsonian Institution: says it's in his upstairs closet.
Graduated from Ossining High School.
Had a hip replacement in June 2008.
Had a street renamed after him in his hometown of Ossining, New York. To unveil the Peter Falk Place street sign, he pulled off a trademark raincoat covering the sign. [2005]
Had been a heavy cigarette smoker since his mid-teens, but after he started playing Columbo he mainly switched to cigars in real life.
Has his look-alike puppet in the French show "Les guignols de l'info" (1988).
He and his good friend John Cassavetes made 6 movies together: Husbands (1970), Machine Gun McCain (1969), Mikey and Nicky (1976), Opening Night (1977), Big Trouble (1986), A Woman Under the Influence (1974) and one movie made for TV: "Columbo: Étude in Black (#2.1)" (1972)
He earned an MPA, Master of Public Administration degree, from Syracuse University in 1953.
He has inspired at least two Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters. Dick Dastardly in "Wacky Races" (1968) was based on Falk's Max Meen from The Great Race (1965), and Mumbly, the detective dog on "The New Tom & Jerry Show" (1975) was loosely based on Columbo.
He was involved in a car accident in June 2008 when he lost control while driving, sustaining a head injury.
His daughter, Catherine Falk, is a private detective in real life.
His father was of Russian Jewish ancestry and his mother was of Polish Jewish, with a mix of Hungarian and Czech Jewish ancestry further back. So, contrary to Falk's public image, he is not an Italian but a mixture of very hardy Jewish Eastern European stock.
His remains were interred at Westwood Memorial Park in Westwood, Los Angeles, California upon his death.
His right eye was surgically removed at the age of three, because of cancer.
Honored as Knight of Arts and Letters by the Ministry of Culture of France; the medal was given to him by Gérard Depardieu in March 1996.
In 1961, he became the first actor nominated for an Oscar and an Emmy in the same year, receiving best supporting nominations for the movie Murder, Inc. (1960) and the TV show "The Law and Mr. Jones" (1960). He followed up in 1962 by being doubly nominated again for supporting actor for the movie Pocketful of Miracles (1961) and best actor (he won) for "The Price of Tomatoes," an episode of "The Dick Powell Theatre" (1961).
In his first foray into acting, he took the role of detective in a high school play when original student-actor fell sick. He left college to serve as a cook in the Merchant Marines. He later received political science degree from NY's New School, then graduated from Syracuse University. He applied at the CIA, but was turned down. He took state budget department job in Hartford, CT. Five years after he started taking acting lessons, he earned first Oscar nomination.
Is a close friend of Patrick McGoohan.
Lt. Columbo's first name is explicitly and even doggedly never revealed in the series (i.e. "What's your first name? Lieutenant...") However, with modern freeze-frame capabilities, when Columbo flashes his badge in the episode "Dead Weight" (Season 1 Episode 3), the name 'Frank' can clearly be seen on his ID. (If I can figure out how to post photo, I'll show the blow-up...).
Numerous press obits incorrectly stated that Falk won a 1972 Tony award for Best Actor in a play for Neil Simon's "The Prisoner of Second Avenue". As listed on a Tony Awards website search, Cliff Gorman won the 1972 Tony award for the play "Lenny". In addition, Falk was never nominated for a Tony in his career.
Once when he was playing in a Little League game, the umpire called him out. Falk thought that he was safe. He pulled his glass eye out of its socket and handed it to the umpire, telling him, "Here, I think you might need this."
One of his greatest passions is drawing and sketching; has studio on grounds of Beverly Hills estate.
President of his class.
Tested for the role of Ted Henderson in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969).
Underwent a series of major dental operations in 2007.
Wanted to join the Marines when he was seventeen, but was rejected because of his blind eye.
Was a certified public accountant.
When actors are required to move from one location to another during filming on a sound stage, the exact spot they are to move to is marked on the floor, usually with a piece of tape. This is to ensure that they stand in the area that is pre-set for the correct camera angle, lighting, sound, etc. Part of Falk's trademark behavior, as Columbo was out of necessity, as he pretended to scratch or touch his forehead over his left eye. In reality, he blocked the camera view of his good eye, so as he was looking down, he could locate the tape on the floor. That is how his trademark "pensive Columbo look" got its start.
Worked as an efficiency expert for the Budget Bureau of the state of Connecticut before becoming an actor. Studied acting with Eva Le Gallienne and Sanford Meisner.