R.I.P. PETER FALK – AT 12:33 P.M. ET:  Peter Falk, who made "Columbo" into one of the most famous characters in TV and detective-fiction history, has died at 83.

In the early years of our marriage, my wife and I had two favorite television shows, "Mission Impossible" and "Columbo."  "Columbo" had a classic suspense format:  You knew who the killer was early in the show, and the question was how Lieutenant Columbo would solve the crime.  It was the same format used in Alfred Hitchcock's films. 

The writing was often superb.  Peter Falk was a highly educated, well-trained actor who knew that the whole show had to be good, not simply his part.  And the plot had to be good.  But it was Falk's portrayal of Columbo, the disheveled, seemingly confused, low-class, but always incisive detective that made "Columbo" the classic series it became.  Columbo would bring low the often upper-class or professionally powerful villains, always played by fine actors like Ray Milland or Jack Cassidy.  The actors around Falk were as good as he was, and it was to his great credit that he understood how important that was.  A great cast doesn't take away from the star, it makes the star look better.   

"Columbo," with Peter Falk, first appeared regularly in the early 1970s as part of a "wheel," a TV term for a group of separate series that appear under one overall show title, in this case "NBC Mystery Theater."  Other shows in the wheel included "McCloud" and "McMillan and Wife."  "Columbo" reappeared many years later on ABC, but was less successful.

In a way, "Columbo" was a blessing and a curse for Falk, who was a gifted all-around actor.  On the one hand, it made his career and gave him fame most actors can only dream of.  On the other, it was hard to think of Falk being anyone other than Lieutenant Columbo once the series became successful.  It limited his career. 

Peter Falk will be well remembered.  There is no other "Columbo."  Roger Moore could replace Sean Connery as James Bond, and the movies still worked.  "Columbo," without Peter Falk, would be another detective film.

June 25, 2011