Peter Falk

Peter Michael Falk September 16 1927 June 23 2011 was an American actor He is best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo on the NBCABC series Columbo 19681978 19892003 for which he won four Primetime Emmy Awards 1972 1975 1976 1990 and a Golden Globe Award 1973 In 1996 TV Guide ranked Falk No 21 on its 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list He received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013 He first starred as Columbo in two 2hour World Premiere TV pilots the first with Gene Barry in 1968 and the second with Lee Grant in 1971 The show then aired as part of The NBC Mystery Movie series from 1971 to 1978 and again on ABC from 1989 to 2003 Falk was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Murder Inc 1960 and Pocketful of Miracles 1961 and won his first Emmy Award in 1962 for The Dick Powell Theatre He was the first actor to be nominated for an Academy Award and an Emmy Award in the same year achieving the feat twice 1961 and 1962 He went on to appear in such films as Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World 1963 alongside Frank Sinatra in Robin and the 7 Hoods 1964 The Great Race 1965 Anzio 1968 Murder by Death 1976 The Cheap Detective 1978 The Brinks Job 1978 The InLaws 1979 The Princess Bride 1987 Wings of Desire 1987 The Player 1992 and Next 2007 as well as many television guest roles Falk was also known for his collaborations with filmmaker actor and personal friend John Cassavetes acting in films such as Husbands 1970 A Woman Under the Influence 1974 Big Trouble 1986 Elaine Mays Mikey and Nicky 1976 and the Columbo episode Étude in Black 1972 He cameoed as a theatergoer in Cassavetes 1977 film Opening Night Description above from the Wikipedia article Peter Falk licensed under CCBYSA full list of contributors on Wikipedia