We lost a TV icon today. Peter Falk was best known for his TV show, Columbo. I watched Columbo as a kid with my parents. He was appealing to me because of his slouchy, wrinkled, can’t find his glasses, goofy demeanor. You couldn’t help but like him. He came across as bumbling and not too bright, but that is where those he was investigating made their fatal mistakes. He was a genius detective under the wrinkled raincoat.
He was famous for the line, “Just one more thing”. He would then ask a question that didn’t seem to make sense or have anything to do with the case he was working on. As a viewer you loved it when he would be on his way out the door and then stop, turn around and apologetically say, “Just one more thing.” Those he questioned usually began to loose their patience with him and he would act lost and apologize. Towards the end of the show his irritating questions would lead all those present to his solving the case.
You knew what was coming every week, but you still loved it. I think it was all because of Peter Falk. He made that character everything his fans loved. Another thing that made him lovable, believe it or not, was his glass eye. All I can say is it gave him the extra something needed to make him stand out. You didn’t look upon it as something wrong or bad, it was just part of Peter Falk.
I didn’t learn until today that some people refused to hire him because of the glass eye. I have to say that is about the silliest thing I read today. Boy did they miss the mark with that decision. He was also a movie and stage actor. In the early 1960s he was nominated for two Oscars. And won an off-broadway award, called the Obie for his stage performance in “The Iceman Cometh”.
William Link and Richard Levinson created the Columbo series. They were looking for the average every day guy. The kind that went home at the end of the day and enjoyed a few beers. Then they wanted the every day kind of guy to also be a super detective. Cue Peter Falk in his wrinkled suit and raincoat, glasses on his head and usually his hair looking like it had not seen a comb in some time.
Columbo was on with other famous crime solving shows on NBC during the 70s, such as McMillian and Wife, and McCloud. All of these shows started as mystery movies on NBC and then later became series. McMillian and Wife with Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James was another favorite. Hudson, despite our learning later that he was a homosexual, had chemistry with Saint James just as he did with Doris Day. Dennis Weaver was McCloud, the law enforcement officer who always wore a white hat while talking like he was very country and slow, but very far from it.
All of those shows bring back memories of the 70s and what was popular during that time. I remember also watching, Barnaby Jones with Buddy Ebsen, Streets of San Fransico, and Cannon.
He was from New York City, NY and after military service he earned a Masters Degree in public administration. After working for a few years he said he was doing exactly what he was not born to do, which turned out to be acting. He started out in small local theaters and as they say; the rest is history.
In the last few years he has been troubled with Alzheimer’s according to his daughter. He leaves behind his wife of 34 years and two daughters.
Columbo is a part of my childhood. I am thankful for the many hours of entertainment he gave us. Mr. Falk was 83. I am sure before he took this final journey he turned around one last time and said; “Just one more thing.”
Take care and stay safe,
KJ
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