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"Just One More Thing": Peter Falk (1927 - 2011)

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Miscellaneous | Comments (30)

0_61_falk_peter.jpg

Peter Falk, who had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, passed away today. He was 83. Falk was best known for his role as Columbo in the movies and television series of the same name, which aired from 1971 - 1993. Film fans perhaps knew him best from his roles in the movies of his good friend, John Cassavettes, while children of the 80s and 90s probably recognize him best from his role as the narrating grandfather in The Princess Bride. Not for nothing, but Falk — an Emmy winnner and a two-time Oscar nominee — gained incredible success despite having a glass eye.

Rest in peace, Peter Falk. You will be missed.









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Comments

SERPENTINE SHEL! SERPENTINE!

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at June 24, 2011 4:20 PM

Ah, fuck :(.

Posted by: Aislinn at June 24, 2011 4:29 PM

Spare a thought also for his bizarre role in Wings of Desire, no?

Posted by: sprophet at June 24, 2011 4:30 PM

Damn it. I was an extra in one of his movies (Tune In Tomorrow-don't see it-it's pretty horrible. But if you do, you can see the back of my head in a street scene. Whoooooo!) He seemed nice enough, although I only saw him from afar. I guess unless he was beating someone with a stick he would have looked nice from afar though.

Posted by: Mrcreosote at June 24, 2011 4:44 PM

This is a major bummer.

Posted by: superasente at June 24, 2011 4:46 PM

RIP.

"As you wish"

Posted by: Fredo at June 24, 2011 4:50 PM

Full disclosure:

I have never seen an episode of Columbo in my life.

But I've seen The Princess Bride about fifty million.

I has a sad.

Posted by: Snath at June 24, 2011 4:51 PM

SERPENTINE!

As you wish!

One more thing . . .

Murder by Death

I really hate it when the distinctive actors pass away. There's nobody new coming up who's different. All the newbies look like clones.

What a shame that he had Alzheimer’s disease. May he RIP. I always like him.

Posted by: BWeaves at June 24, 2011 4:53 PM

"You, see sir, my wife she's a huge fan of your work if I could just..."

RIP Lieutenant.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at June 24, 2011 4:55 PM

Thanks to my mom I'm pretty sure I've seen every episode of Columbo. And thanks to my dad I've seen Wings of Desire at least 5 times. RIP Peter. You will be missed.

Posted by: JenVegas at June 24, 2011 4:59 PM

Oh, Columbo. You were easily the best tv detective of my youth. You will be missed.

Posted by: McSquish at June 24, 2011 5:06 PM

Despite knowing him as Columbo far before, I think I will always remember him first as the Grandfather/Narrator in The Princess Bride. I can't even read the book without hearing his voice. My wife is still convinced he says "Shalom" to his grandson rather than "So Long", partially because he reminded her so much of her late Zadie. I have since given up trying to convince her otherwise.

The Grandson: Grandpa, maybe you could come over and read it again to me tomorrow.

Grandpa: As you wish.

Posted by: bleujayone at June 24, 2011 5:08 PM

There's nobody new coming up who's different. All the newbies look like clones.

So you're saying we should gouge out one of Robert Pattison's eyes?
I agree.

Posted by: superasente at June 24, 2011 5:11 PM

He will be missed. Always a fun screen presence.

And I like Tune In Tomorrow.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at June 24, 2011 5:12 PM

A wonderful actor, and a great person. He'll be missed.

RIP

Posted by: The Wanderer at June 24, 2011 5:37 PM

Peter Falk "Vig"

nuff said.


RIP

Posted by: Pookie at June 24, 2011 6:24 PM

The last time that I trusted a dame was in Paris in 1940. She said she was going out to get a bottle of wine. Two hours later, the Germans marched into France.

I always got Sam Diamond and Columbo mixed up. Now that I'm older, I realize that Sam Diamond had better writing.

RIP.

Posted by: Jerry at June 24, 2011 6:45 PM

RIP.

Posted by: Cindy at June 24, 2011 8:45 PM

I grew up watching "Columbo." He was my favorite detective. God Bless You, Peter Falk. We're losing all the good ones, it has me worried.

Posted by: dl at June 24, 2011 8:49 PM

Only one t in Cassavetes.

I was a huge Colombo fan because the show didn't cheat. All of the clues to the murderer's identity were available before the detective did the reveal.

Peter Falk had the chops to act in any role. He and Cassavetes were everything from scenery-chewers to subtle emotional plot-changers.

Posted by: Phibbsy at June 24, 2011 9:16 PM

So sad.

Posted by: Nicolae at June 24, 2011 11:45 PM

Nicolae,

I disagree. Dying isn't sad; living with Alzheimer's is sad, and people suffering from Alzheimer's would probably agree, if they were still capable of a coherent thought.

I love "Columbo" and liked Peter a lot. But I wish he'd gone to his reward years ago.

RIP Jack Kevorkian too, while I'm at it.

Fuck Alzheimer's (and fuck cancer, too, while I'm at it). Thanks, modern medicine, for allowing us to live long enough to die from such horrors.

Posted by: , at June 25, 2011 1:33 AM

I loved him so much in The Great Race. RIP.

Posted by: ChickaBoom! at June 25, 2011 2:35 AM

*still weeping*

How can the Grandpa be dead? Who will read sick children wonderful stories now?

None of the crimes will ever be solved again. Most cops won't stop to ask that one more thing and the CRIMES WILL NEVER BE SOLVED. Nothing matters any more. The grandpa is dead. Heart. Broken.

Posted by: Nadine at June 25, 2011 5:50 AM

I hate death. I hate that we have to lose people who make us happy.

I loved him as The Grandpa in Princess Bride and I remember watching Columbo with my parents and grandparents when I was a kid. I remember them loving that show and talking about the 'one last thing' gimmick and how smart the detective was to play dumb.

Posted by: Viking at June 25, 2011 9:28 AM

:( Sad sad sad day. Such a figure he was.

A funny anecdote; my father's step father (Grandma's second husband) was an actor and he was approached to be Colombo and only reason he did not get it was because after refusing to shell out his own kids (my dad, uncle and aunt) his agent became a total bitch and claimed she did not know my step-grandfather when the Colombo people called. Interestingly, my step-grandfather also had an glass eye from an unfortunate bowing accident with his brother (yes his brother half blinded him). One time I met him he told me he was going to show me his eye cavity. But then he died before the year passed. I wonder what it would have been like if he was the COLOMBO.

Posted by: yocean at June 25, 2011 10:51 AM

Peter, you were so wonderful in those roles!
My late father used to literally "glow" when Columbo would turn around with his "one more thing"... So sad that many people rarely watch programs as a family anymore. Shows like Columbo have left me with such good memories of us all together.

Posted by: Jamie at June 25, 2011 11:11 AM

RIP man and thanks for all the memories.

Posted by: Muteki at June 25, 2011 12:05 PM

the in-laws (not the lame-ass remake) is one of the two or three funniest movies ever made.
and, his character in the great race was the inspiration for muttley...

Posted by: the Fatman at June 25, 2011 12:05 PM

Seeing this one made me sad. RIP you sweet, rumply fellow.

Posted by: Jen at June 26, 2011 2:00 AM