“Peter Michael Falk (September 16, 1927 – June 23, 2011) was an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo. He appeared in numerous films and television guest roles and was nominated for an Academy Award twice (for 1960's Murder, Inc. and 1961's Pocketful of Miracles), and won the Emmy Award on five occasions (four for Columbo) and the Golden Globe award once. Director William Friedkin, when discussing Falk's role in his 1978 film The Brink's Job said that «Peter has a great range from comedy to drama. He could break your heart or he could make you laugh».

In 1968, he starred with Gene Barry in a ninety-minute television pilot about a highly-skilled, laid-back detective. Columbo eventually became part of an anthology series titled The NBC Mystery Movie, along with McCloud and McMillan & Wife. The detective series stayed on NBC from 1971 to 1978, took a respite, and returned occasionally on ABC from 1989 to 2003. He was «everyone's favorite rumpled television detective», wrote historian David Fantle. Describing his role, Variety columnist Howard Prouty wrote, «The joy of all this is watching Columbo dissemble [sic] the fiendishly clever cover stories of the loathsome rats who consider themselves his better»”. – Wikipedia

American actor Peter Falk. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images). 1963

American actor Peter Falk, best known for his role as TV detective Columbo. (Photo by Harry Benson/Express/Getty Images). 4th October 1965

Actor Peter Falk (R) and his Wife Shera Danese attend the 2nd Annual TV Land Awards held at The Hollywood Palladium, March 7, 2004 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

Actor Peter Falk attends a dinner celebrating the publication of “Gucci by Gucci” and their 85th Anniversary at the Bel Air Hotel on October 25, 2006 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Marsaili McGrath/Getty Images)

Actor Peter Falk greets fans at the Variety Screening Series of “The Thing About My Folks” at the Arclight Theaters on October 3, 2005 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

Peter Falk arrives for the NBC 75th Anniversary celebration taking place live in Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center in New York City, May 5, 2002. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect)