Peter Falk

Permanently enshrined in the hearts of television viewers and mystery fans for his Emmy and Golden Globe-winning portrayal of the savvy Lt. Columbo, actor-director-producer Peter Falk was a much-admired star of television, film and stage for over half a century. Falk brought streetwise energy to his comic roles, which included his Oscar-nominated turn in "Pocketful of Miracles" (1961) and the enduring cult favorite "The In-Laws" (1979), but could also be searingly intense in dramas, as he proved in a string of films for his close friend, independent filmmaker John Cassavetes, including "Husbands" (1970) and "A Woman Under the Influence" (1974). After reviving "Columbo" for a string of successful television movies in the late 1980s, he remained a fixture in television movies and feature films, which frequently tapped his boundless charm to play wise grandparents and even the occasional angel. His image as the perennially trenchcoat-clad curmudgeon was an enduring one; he was always ready with an endearing quip, and he became one of the most beloved television characters of all time.