# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/41 "2011-06-24T20:49:41Z")
On an episode of _Inside the Actor’s Studio_ James Lipton gave him that poll he gives everybody that ends with the question “If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you get there?” Falk had my favorite answer: “What’d you pay for them shoes?” ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/42 "2011-06-24T21:08:22Z")
Hearing about this today and reading this thread has had me smiling, laughing, and literally shedding more than a few tears. I kinda think that says it all. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/43 "2011-06-24T21:09:30Z")
That’s alright, Max. I’ll push the button now. ☹ ---
**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, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/44 "2011-06-24T21:44:06Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Damn, I’’ miss him. > Columbo was my all-time fave TV show. > What happened to his old filthy raincoat? Falk probably kept it. It was his own raincoat to begin with. ---
**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, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/45 "2011-06-24T21:48:44Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Falk probably kept it. It was his own raincoat to begin with. Don’t remember where I read it (or maybe saw it on a “behind-the-scenes” clip) but there was a whole rack, had to be at least 20, of identical coats (all with tea stains and other grime) in the show’s wardrobe department. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/46 "2011-06-24T21:53:18Z")
A fine actor, a great comic, and an all-around class act. We’ll miss you, Mr. Falk. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/47 "2011-06-24T21:57:54Z")
Truly a sad day. Peter Falk was wonderful. Oh, and my condolences to Mrs. Columbo. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/48 "2011-06-24T21:59:13Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Don’t remember where I read it (or maybe saw it on a “behind-the-scenes” clip) but there was a whole rack, had to be at least 20, of identical coats (all with tea stains and other grime) in the show’s wardrobe department. I’m pretty sure I saw one in the Smithsonian. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/49 "2011-06-24T21:59:14Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > 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 - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wings_of_desire) [He was, despite his short time on screen, the most memorable thing in that movie.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=613570) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/50 "2011-06-24T22:05:41Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > May he rest in peace. At a time like this, I can’t help but think of the German film _Wings of Desire_ According to Wiki, Gorbachev has a cameo in the sequel. ---
**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, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/51 "2011-06-24T22:10:27Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Don’t remember where I read it (or maybe saw it on a “behind-the-scenes” clip) but there was a whole rack, had to be at least 20, of identical coats (all with tea stains and other grime) in the show’s wardrobe department. Probably replicas made by the wardrobe department. According to [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbo#Peter_Falk_as_Columbo), he supplied all of his own clothes for Columbo’s wardrobe, including the trenchcoat. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/52 "2011-06-24T22:13:37Z")
He was also my favorite TV lawyer show star…I first discovered him in “The Law and Mr. Jones.” And I loved him in the Burt Lancaster film “Castle Keep.” He did so many things so well. ---
**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, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/53 "2011-06-24T22:16:36Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Probably replicas made by the wardrobe department. According to [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbo#Peter_Falk_as_Columbo), he supplied all of his own clothes for Columbo’s wardrobe, including the trenchcoat. This would support your version: [Love That Raincoat](http://articles.latimes.com/1997-05-15/entertainment/ca-59099_1_trademark-raincoat) ---
**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, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/54 "2011-06-24T22:34:08Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > This would support your version: [Love That Raincoat](http://articles.latimes.com/1997-05-15/entertainment/ca-59099_1_trademark-raincoat) Here’s even more fun on the coat: > **[Columbo's Raincoat](http://www.columbo-site.freeuk.com/raincoat.htm)** ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/55 "2011-06-24T22:45:04Z")
I will forever hate ABC for not giving us the last Columbo movie. RIP indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/56 "2011-06-24T22:48:33Z")
Besides Lt Columbo (“the first name is lieutenant” as he told one suspect), he was memorable as gangster Abe “Kid Twist” Reles in “Murder, Inc”. One final tribute…the Columbo meets Alias spoof he did a few years ago. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/nSyeQH15evw/hqdefault.jpg "ALIAS MEETS COLUMBO") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSyeQH15evw) ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/57 "2011-06-24T22:54:47Z")
The CNN obit says he lost his eye because of a childhood operation, but it also says he served in the military (presumably during World War II). Did the U.S. military really take one-eyed men during that period? ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/58 "2011-06-24T23:02:37Z")
The sequel to _Wings of Desire_ is _Faraway, So Close!_ (_In Weiter Ferne, So Nah!_). Falk has a bigger role in that one, which mentions his career as an artist as well - his thoughts reveal that he knows he’s only being shown because he’s a famous actor. Gorbachev does, indeed, have a brief cameo at the start. Personally, I like it better than the first one - it’s my favorite film of all time - though I know most disagree. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/59 "2011-06-24T23:53:14Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > RIP Sam Diamond > [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > “That can mean only one thing… and I don’t know what that is…” I never got to see Columbo, but Murder By Death is one of the funniest movies of all time, and Sam Diamond was my favorite character of them all… “Freeze, Winky” “Why can’t you fall in love with the Jap kid and leave me alone?” ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733/60 "2011-06-25T00:03:03Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Certainly _Wings of Desire_, a fantastic film. Great movie, first one I netflixed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-peter-falk/586733.md?page=4)