Peter Falk
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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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 TV 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 And Wife. The detective series stayed on NBC from 1971–1978, took a respite, and returned occasionally on ABC from 1989–2003. He was "everyone's favorite rumpled television detective", writes historian David Fantle. Describing his role, Variety columnist Howard Prouty writes, "The joy of all this is watching Columbo dissemble the fiendishly clever cover stories of the loathsome rats who consider themselves his better."
Filmography
Film | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
1959 | The Bloody Brood | Nico | |
1960 | Murder Inc. | Abe Reles | Nominated for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor |
The Secret of the Purple Reef | Tom Weber | ||
1961 | Pocketful of Miracles | Joy Boy | Nominated again for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor |
1962 | Pressure Point | Young Psychiatrist | |
1963 | The Balcony | Police Chief | |
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World | Cab Driver | ||
1964 | Robin and the 7 Hoods | Guy Gisborne | |
Attack and Retreat (Italiani Brava Gente) | Medic | Italian production | |
1965 | The Great Race | Max | |
1966 | Penelope | Lieutenant Horatio Bixbee | |
Too Many Thieves | Danny | ||
1967 | Luv | Milt Manville | |
1968 | Anzio | Corporal Jack Rabinoff | Alternative titles: The Battle of Anzio, Lo Sbarco di Anzio (Italian) |
1969 | Machine Gun McCain | Charlie Adamo | Alternative titles: For a Price, Gli intoccabili (Italian) |
Castle Keep | Sergeant Rossi | ||
1970 | Husbands | Archie Black | Alternative title: Husbands: A Comedy About Life, Death and Freedom |
1974 | A Woman Under the Influence | Nick Longhetti | |
1976 | Murder by Death | Sam Diamond | |
Mikey and Nicky | Mikey | ||
Griffin and Phoenix: A Love Story | Geoffrey Griffin | ||
1978 | The Cheap Detective | Lou Peckinpaugh | Alternative title: Neil Simon's The Cheap Detective |
Scared Straight! | Himself - Host | Documentary; directed by Arnold Shapiro | |
1979 | The In-Laws | Vincent J. Ricardo | |
1981 | …All the Marbles | Harry Sears | Alternative title: The California Dolls |
"The Great Muppet Caper" | Tramp | (uncredited) | |
1987 | The Princess Bride | Grandfather/Narrator | |
Happy New Year | Nick | Directed by John G. Avildsen | |
Wings of Desire | Himself | Directed by Wim Wenders | |
1988 | Vibes | Harry Buscafusco | Alternative title: Vibes: The Secret of the Golden Pyramids |
1989 | Cookie | Dominick "Dino" Capisco | |
1990 | Tune in Tomorrow | Pedro Carmichael | Alternative title: Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter |
1993 | Faraway, So Close! | Himself | Directed by Wim Wenders |
1995 | Roommates | Rocky Holzcek | |
1998 | Money Kings | Vinnie Glynn | |
2001 | Made | Max | |
Corky Romano | Francis A. "Pops" Romano | Alternative title: Corky Romano: 'Special' Agent | |
2002 | Undisputed | Mendy Ripstein | |
2004 | Shark Tale | Don Feinberg | Voice |
2005 | The Thing About My Folks | Sam Kleinman | |
2005 | Checking Out | Morris Applebaum | |
2007 | Next | Irv | |
2008 | American Cowslip | Father Randolph | |
Television | |||
Year | Show | Role | Notes |
1958 | Kraft Suspense Theatre | Izzy | 1 episode |
1959 | Decoy | Fred Dana | 1 episode |
1960 | Have Gun–Will Travel | Waller | 1 episode |
The Untouchables | Duke Mullen | 1 episode, "The Underworld Bank" | |
1961 | The Twilight Zone | Ramos Clemente | 1 episode "The Mirror" |
The Barbara Stanwyck Show | Joe | 1 episode, "The Assassin" | |
1962 | The New Breed | Lopez | 1 episode |
1963 | Wagon Train | Gus Morgan | 1 episode |
1964 | Ben Casey | Dr. Jimmy Reynolds | 2 episodes |
1965–1966 | The Trials of O'Brien | Daniel O'Brien | 22 episodes |
1968 | A Hatful of Rain | Polo Pope | 1 episode |
1968–2003 | Columbo | Lieutenant Columbo | 69 episodes |
1971 | The Name of the Game | Lewis Corbett | 1 episode |
1978 | Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (comedy) | Guest appearance | with Frank Sinatra – Watch |
1995 | The Sunshine Boys | Willie Clark | Television movie |
2001 | The Lost World | Reverend Theo Kerr | Television movie |
2001 | A Town Without Christmas | Max | Television Movie |
2003 | Finding John Christmas | Max | Television movie |
2004 | When Angels Come To Town | Max | Television Movie |