Peter Falk was born in September 1927 in New York, but his life was marked by tragedies from the very beginning. When he was only 3 years old, doctors diagnosed him with a malignant eye, which required its amputation. It was because of the glass valve that had filled his eye socket since then that his application for the army was rejected. Resigned by the inability to fulfill his dream, he became a ship’s mate and spent over a year on the ship. Later, he returned to Poland and focused on his studies. During this time, he took on various jobs, until he finally took a job in an office. His escape from the boring reality was a theater group, in which he pretended to be… a professional actor.
He was at the beginning of his career when he got nominated for an Oscar. Then Peter Falk created a character that millions loved
Although Falk had no stage experience apart from performing in school plays, he was excellent in every role assigned to him and no one questioned for a moment whether he was truly a professional. This became an impulse for him to quit his corporate job and focus fully on acting. However, the beginnings were not easy, he barely made ends meet, which is why he often accepted offers that had nothing to do with his actual interests. The breakthrough came only in the early 60s, when he starred in the film “Murder Inc.”, receiving his first nomination for . He earned his second one a year later for the comedy-drama “The Aristocracy of the Underground”.
It was after these two productions that his career gained momentum. He began acting on the small and big screen, and also played successfully on Broadway. However, his role of a lifetime is considered to be that of Lieutenant Columbo, which he first played in 1968 in Richard Irving’s thriller “Prescription Murder”. Viewers immediately took to the clumsy but above-average intelligence of the character, and critics did not spare him praise. The equally successful “Columbo” was created on the wave of the detective’s popularity, which immediately became a phenomenon on a global scale, bringing him international popularity, a Golden Globe and a dozen nominations for equally prestigious awards.
He made his mark in cinematography as Lieutenant Columbo. Peter Falk’s private life was not a bed of roses
Few people know that the series brought Falk not only huge fame, but also. On the set of “Columbo” he met Shera Danse, whom he married in 1977. Together they raised two daughters, whom the actor adopted with his previous wife Alice Mayo. It was then that he wanted to focus more on his private life and family, limiting his professional activities to an absolute minimum.
When he stopped playing the role of the lieutenant in 2003, viewers did not hide their disappointment. Four years later, he unexpectedly announced that he would return to the role, but his plans were thwarted by illness. After a series of dental procedures, his symptoms worsened and only two years later he almost completely lost touch with reality. At that time, his wife became his legal guardian, who cut him off from the rest of his family. Peter Falk died on June 23, 2011, at the age of just under 84. If you’d like, please vote in our poll below.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
