# RIP Peter Falk **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 24, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733 "2011-06-24T17:38:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/1 "2011-06-24T17:38:35Z")
[CBS tweeting](http://twitter.com/#!/CBSNews) that Peter Falk has died. Still breaking… ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/2 "2011-06-24T17:40:37Z")
[Updated wiki article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Falk) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/3 "2011-06-24T17:43:03Z")
Just one more thing I didn’t want to have happen… ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/4 "2011-06-24T17:44:41Z")
I’m sad, but [precient!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13369079&postcount=17) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/5 "2011-06-24T17:46:07Z")
Damn, damn, damn. I used to love Columbo. Oh, I have just one more question, if you don’t mind. RIP, Peter. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/6 "2011-06-24T17:48:23Z")
_Lowers raincoat to half-mast._ RIP, Mr. Falk. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/7 "2011-06-24T17:49:07Z")
I loved Columbo, too. I try not to grieve at things like this, though. It says he was born in 1927 - what a long and full life he lived. He was 83. He saw so much change in his life. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/8 "2011-06-24T17:50:02Z")
He was iconic as Columbo, of course, but he was also hilarious in _The In-Laws_. A great, deadpan comic actor. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/9 "2011-06-24T17:50:57Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > RIP, Peter. As you wish. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/10 "2011-06-24T17:51:57Z")
Among his many great roles, my favorite by far was his portrayal of Vincent J. Ricardo in [The In-Laws](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079336/). That movie has been cracking me up for over 30 years now. “Serpentine, Shel! Serpentine!” RIP, Peter (and thanks). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/11 "2011-06-24T17:52:29Z")
For some strange reason I don’t understand, A Pocketful of Miracles is one of my favorite movies. It was his first major role, and you can see stardom in his future there. Good night Pete. Rest easy. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/12 "2011-06-24T17:54:30Z")
I got an autograph off Peter Falk when I was a kid, at a pro-am golf tournament. My pen had ran out, so he rummaged through his pockets looking for one. He didn’t have one, but he said “Come on son” and we walked over to borrow one from Christopher Lee. So, anyway, that was a very kind thing to do, and I’m sad that he has died. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/13 "2011-06-24T18:01:10Z")
I will always remember his role of Max the henchman of Professor Fate in the _Great Race_. “Professor!!!” RIP Lieutenant Columbo… ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/14 "2011-06-24T18:02:45Z")
May he rest in peace. At a time like this, I can’t help but think of the German film _Wings of Desire_, in which it was revealed that Falk was actually a former angel who gave up his immortality to experience human life with all its glories and disappointments. > **[Wings of Desire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wings_of_desire)** > > Wings of Desire (German: Der Himmel über Berlin, pronounced \[deːɐ̯ ˈhɪml̩ ˈʔyːbɐ bɛʁˈliːn\] (listen); lit. 'The Heaven/Sky over Berlin') is a 1987 romantic fantasy film written by Wim Wenders, Peter Handke and Richard Reitinger, and directed by Wenders. The film is about invisible, immortal angels who populate Berlin and listen to the thoughts of its human inhabitants, comforting the distressed. Even though the city is densely populated, many of the people are isolated or estranged from their lo... ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/15 "2011-06-24T18:03:36Z")
Registering shock and sadness. Great actor. One of my all-time favorite characters (Columbo). Always reliable to turn in a top-notch performance in any genre. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/16 "2011-06-24T18:06:32Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > As you wish. [Somewhere up there} Oh, well, thank you very much, very nice of you. Your vote of confidence is overwhelming. [/SUT] ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/17 "2011-06-24T18:06:36Z")
Oh - one last question, then I’ll leave you alone. Where did you say you were when this happened? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/18 "2011-06-24T18:08:13Z")
RIP Sam Diamond ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/19 "2011-06-24T18:12:13Z")
Great actor, a thankfully full life, but still a sad loss. Besides _Colombo_, two other roles always stood out for me. The husband in Cassavetes’ _A Woman Under the Influence_, playing very against type as something of a repellent character. And in Wenders’ _The Wings of Desire_ playing “himself” as an angel who has voluntarily forsaken his immortality. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/20 "2011-06-24T18:13:27Z")
Whoa – how often does this happen? – but **Dio** posted exactly what I came in to say. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He was iconic as Columbo, of course, but he was also hilarious in _The In-Laws_. A great, deadpan comic actor. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733.md?page=2)