Why I Love Peter Falk…

Lately I’ve been thinking of stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood who are still with us. Believe it or not, there are quite a few. I don’t like thinking of them leaving us one day soon. To think of them still around, makes me feel grounded and rooted in the old values and principles of their generation. It gives me a sense of order. So as they pass, in my mind, so do the values, principles, and order. I want to devote a few posts to those still with us, their achievements, disappointments, and what they are doing today.

I want to start with Peter Falk who is now 82 years old. I saw him recently in the O’Reilly Factor, still as he always was, funny, confident, and endearing. I love Peter Falk because he reminds me of the many times I have stayed up late with my husband watching classic TV’s Columbo on DVD. I’m a wannabe sleuth, so watching a crime show where the sleuth cracks the case in under an hour is fascinating! Columbo, the eccentric detective who pretends to be a dunderhead, but is actually a genius at detective work, and always 3 steps ahead of the criminal, is the character most of us remember him for. I will never forget the role he played in Murder, Inc ( 1960) his first movie, and first Oscar nomination.

Falk was born September 16, 1927 in my hometown, New York City, but raised in upstate Ossining. Acting came early for him. His first stage role was at the age of 12 in a production of “The Pirates of Penzance.” He graduated Ossining High School, president of his class and star athlete. He joined the Merchant Marine where he served as a cook. He then attended college and got a B.A. in political science, he then went on to get his Masters degree in public administration in 1953. He applied for a job with the CIA which he didn’t get. He went on to get a position as a management analyst with the Connecticut State Budget Bureau in Hartford. In his spare time he acted with Mark Twain Maskers in Hartford and studied at the White Barn Theater in Westport. It is at this time he gave acting some real thought and took the plunge. He left his job and moved to the Village in NYC and basically declared himself an actor!

Peter was lucky enough to land roles in play after play off Broadway for 3 years. He enjoyed success on the stage, but an agent told him not to expect to make it in movies. You see, Peter has a glass eye and it just wasn’t attractive for the movies. His right eye was removed by surgeons when he was three years old due to a tumor. But this didn’t stop Peter from trying to land a movie role, and boy did he. He landed his first role in “Murder Incorporated.” After this first movie he did another 117, and was nominated one more time for an Oscar, and got another 19 wins (Emmys, etc), & 18 nominations. His latest movie is “American Cowslip” (2009) where he plays a priest.

I love Peter Falk because although he was told he wouldn’t make it in films he proved them wrong. I love him because he didn’t let age stop him from using his gifts and passion. Sadly, Peter Falk has advanced stages of Alzheimer’s today. I get a feeling that if he could, he’d overcome that too. In a sense we’ve already lost this Golden Age star and I only wish Lieutenant Columbo could solve this one. I can just see him getting out of his beat up Puegeot with his dingy rain coat (could never figure out why he wore that in sunny California!), mussed up hair, cigar in hand, and walking as if drunk. He looks the disease right in the face with his wonky eye, and stupefied stare, slaps his forehead as if to let out all the confusion, and says, “Excuse ma’am…there’s just one more question…who let you in, and how can I get you out?” Thank you Peter Falk (Columbo) for the memories and for  keeping me grounded and rooted in old school values and principles!