'Columbo' star died while suffering from Alzheimer's

Peter Falk, the stage and movie actor who became identified as the squinty, rumpled TV detective in 'Columbo', has died.

Falk, 83, died on Thursday in his Beverly Hills home, according to family friend Larry Larson.

In a court document filed in December 2008, Falk’s daughter Catherine said he was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Columbo spanned 30 years in prime-time television and established one of the most iconic characters in police work.

Falk grew up in Ossining, New York, where his parents ran a clothing store. At three he had one eye removed because of cancer and went on to defy entertainment chiefs who said he would never work in TV or films.

“When something like that happens early,” he said in a 1963 interview, “you learn to live with it. It became the joke of the neighbourhood. If the umpire ruled me out on a bad call, I’d take the fake eye out and hand it to him.”

In fact Falk won two Oscar nominations ('Murder, Inc' in 1960 and 'Pocketful Of Miracles' in 1961) and collected five Emmys.

After serving as a cook in the merchant marine and receiving a master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University, he worked as an efficiency expert for the budget bureau of the state of Connecticut. He also acted in amateur theatre and was encouraged to become a professional by actress-teacher Eva La Gallienne.

An appearance in 'The Iceman Cometh' off-Broadway led to other classical parts, notably as Joseph Stalin in 'The Passion Of Joseph D.' In 1971 Falk scored a hit in Neil Simon’s 'The Prisoner Of Second Avenue'.

He made his film debut in 1958 with 'Wind Across The Everglades' and established himself as a talented character actor with his performance as the vicious killer Abe Reles in 'Murder, Inc.' His other movies included 'It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad; Mad World'; 'Robin And The Seven Hoods'; 'The Great Race'; 'Luv'; 'Castle Keep'; 'The Cheap Detective'; 'The Brinks Job'; 'The In-Laws'; and 'The Princess Bride'.

Falk also appeared in a number of art house favourites, including the semi-improvisational films 'Husbands' and 'A Woman Under The Influence', directed by his friend John Cassavetes, and Wim Wenders’ 'Wings Of Desire', in which he played himself.

Falk became prominent in television movies, beginning with his first Emmy for 'The Price Of Tomatoes' in 1961. His four other Emmys were for 'Columbo'.

He was married to pianist Alyce Mayo in 1960. They had two daughters, Jackie and Catherine, and divorced in 1976. The following year he married actress Shera Danese. They filed for divorce twice and reconciled each time.

When not working, Falk spent time in the garage of his Beverly Hills home that he had converted into a studio where he created charcoal drawings. He took up art in New York when he was in the Simon play and one day happened into the Art Students League.

He recalled: “I opened a door and there she was, a nude model, shoulders back, a light from above, buck-ass naked. The female body is awesome. Believe me, I signed up right away.”

Falk is survived by and his daughters.