I couldn’t possibly leave the passing of one of my favorite actors of all time unacknowledged.
Peter Falk, of “COLUMBO” fame, died this past week.
I was a fan before the great detective series. He was a gentleman of the old Hollywood school. An accomplished character actor. He was an artist. One of the nicest gifts I ever received was a book featuring some of his paintings and sketches, and he was very talented.
I remember him from productions in the 60s, from film—even from a favorite “Twilight Zone” episode, in which he played a Castro-like dictator who seemed to have trouble trusting those around him. :grin:
But yes, I absolutely adored him in the role of Lieutenant Columbo. I loved his dog. His old car. That cheap, chewed-up cigar. His tenaciousness. His dedication to the ever-absent Mrs. Columbo. And that raincoat, that rumpled, wrinkled, ichonic raincoat of his that he never seemed quite dressed without.
I drew this sketch some years back, initially for practice, but mostly because I really loved this character. It was wonderful Peter Falk that breathed life into Columbo, and who, I hope, will be remembered always for that, if not for everything else he accomplished.
And with that, I’ll whistle my way on…to the tune of one of the character’s favorite themes…
“This old man, he played one…”
