Actor Peter Falk, who was best known for his role in the TV series “Columbo,” has died, according to a statement released by his family. He was 83.
The statement said that Falk “died peacefully at his Beverly Hills home in the evening of June 23, 2011.” He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Shera, and two daughters from a previous marriage.
A cause of death was not released.
The actor suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and advanced dementia that intensified after a series of dental operations in 2007. In 2009, his wife, Shera, and daughter, Catherine, engaged in a legal tug-of-war over who should be in charge of his personal affairs; a judge ruled that Shera would retain control.
Falk was best known for his role as iconic cop Lieutenant Columbo in the long-running TV series. He won four Emmy awards for his work on the show.
Falk also found success on the big screen. He was nominated for Oscars for his roles in “Murder, Inc.”(1960) and “Pocketful of Miracles” (1961).
He began his career in theater and returned to the stage late in his career. In 1972, Falk won a Tony for Neil Simon’s “The Prisoner of Second Avenue.”
Peter Falk as Columbo roasting Dean Martin
[pro-player width=’530′ height=’353′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuevpFTS_po[/pro-player]
