Why Peter Falk Accepted Columbo's Role | Columbo

Peter Falk reveals why he accepted playing the role of Lieutenant Columbo.
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#Columbo #PeterFalk

[@jamestiscareno4387]

The Columbo series is so incredibly well done, it can never be duplicated, renewed, nor revisited successfully. It's best appreciated left untouched.

[@pamelakilgore7836]

Wow true. Pamela in Detroit

[@violetfem1808]

💯 - and we've seen what they're doing to remakes... just no.

[@exitscreaming4637]

Is it ok if we still watch it ?

[@donnscopman8102]

Best show ever on the

[@donnscopman8102]

Best ever on tv 😊

[@newyorknight]

No one else could play that role. Only Peter Falk made the series an instant classic👍

[@JessieCori]

I watch Columbo over and over again. Never gets old. Beats everything else any day.

[@jolenewitzel7919]

So thankful he took the role. Still giving me many hrs of joy watching.

[@chriswoodward2046]

Columbo is probably the most rewatchable show ever for me. Just watched Suitable For Framing with Ross Martin yesterday for probably the 957th time.

[@NicholasGuccione]

You and me both buddy! The series never gets old 😌

[@aro5490]

" no matter how abstract the painter, he always signs his name realistically" lol classic

[@LordOfAllVikings]

A sweetheart man playing a sweetheart character. 💕

[@drewski1535]

Columbo got his perpetrator without any technology or gizmos we need more detectives like this

[@24magiccarrot]

It's part of the reason there are so few good modern detective shows. Nowadays in real life most crimes are solved in a matter of days by forensics. The more recent shows that were any good act as if modern forensics aren't really a thing, I mean go watch Monk they maybe get a fingerprint or a hair or something but the reality is in real life forensics would have DNA, phone tracing, CCTV footage psychological profiles. Modern police work can narrow down the number of potential suspects from a city of millions to less than 3 or 4 in a matter of hours without doing a single piece of investigating outwith the initial forensic report.

[@kaboom-zf2bl]

he used plenty of it ... BUT unlike NCIS and the rest ... they werent the focus ... the method of the act is what was important ... not some fancy tech doing all the work ... in Columbo the tech just backed up the theory ... NCIS the theory backed up the tech ...

[@Rad-Dude63andathird]

He used tech. He's careful about fingerprints, for example. He was just a clever detective who wasn't a one trick pony.

[@michaelandrews5771]

I found Columbo helped me with my autism. I was late diagnosed at 47 but way before that I took to Columbo's small talk, and I learned from that. I liked his attention to detail which got me hooked. He got a mention in my book 'The Makings of a Sound Engineer'.

[@sundayaito4366]

The great peter falk..wished he were still here with us...love him to death..bless and rest his soul..🙏🙏

[@January.]

*Wish he were here...

[@MustangMike012]

Peter Falk was incredible as Columbo. It's hard imagining anyone else in that role. I feel the same way about Carroll O'connor as Archie Bunker.

[@calvingreene90]

Colombo was also a genuine nice guy.

[@toshibavoodoo]

Love columbo!Columbo!! These interviews are great. The world has moved on and we can still look back.

[@zovalentine7305]

LEGENDS NEVER DIE ❤

[@cartoonpete407]

There won't be another like him.

[@donmon5361]

which is as it should be

[@NondescriptMammal]

It was pretty bold, to create a crime detective drama that was the opposite of a "whodunit"... this was mostly unheard of at the time. Keeping the viewer in suspense as to who did it, was the crux of almost any crime drama... Only with a detective character as appealing and captivating as what Falk did with Columbo could save such a show from failure.

[@24magiccarrot]

In some ways I think the how you catch em formula is a lot better. So many of the traditional whodunnits the solve was some cheap turn up of evidence that wasn't really presented to the audience until the closing summation. Where as with columbo it was more about following the process of how the detective gets their man/woman.

[@mattclements1933]

Between Columbo, Monk and Doc Martin, I realize I love shows about quirky geniuses who solve complex problems. What does that say about me? lol Columbo is one of the top 5 things TV has ever done.

[@christinebutler7630]

Your house is Ravenclaw.....

[@peterpiper831]

Yes, the script was good, but obviously Peter Falk made Columbo who he was. The expressions, the nuances, the timing,... As well as that battered old raincoat, he also chose that battered old Peugeot as his personal transport.

[@zovalentine7305]

Rest in powerful peace Peter Falk 🙏 16 September 1927 ~ 23 June 2011⚘

[@passqualecaiazza7728]

No one else could play this role. Along with Columbo, I liked him in The Mad Mad Mad World. As, one of the cab drivers.

[@michaelmerck7576]

I always liked columbo mainly because he was just like my Dad in the way he went about a tv repair ( his profession),he always started with the basics and went from there.He also looked very much like Peter Falk and he was never without his cigar

[@redmustangredmustang]

It's a shame that Peter Falk couldn't get that last episode to send the series off. By that point his health was declining and by 2007 he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Just be glad we got those episodes that were done and written by fantastic writers.

[@24magiccarrot]

Probably could have done without some of the last episodes as you could tell that Peter was struggling which makes them hard to watch.

[@nymphia]

​@24magiccarrot it really sucks because he couldn't even remember playing columbo, or who columbo even was by the end of the year.

[@michaeljohnson5365]

Did know it would take you 86 hours and 51 mins to watch all of Columbo

[@boosqueezy2418]

i still watch this show all the time

[@0ZeroNul0]

I bought all his DVD to enjoy it in my pension time. Thanks for posting again.

[@michaelbabbitt3837]

I did too. Retired and enjoy the better things in life - like watching Colombo and enjoying a show that I appreciate more than when I was young.

[@stevesellers3170]

Love this show. Never miss it. Best show on television

[@kdub1242]

I grew up watching Columbo on the rotating Mystery Movie series. And years after it was done, when I had started graduate school, I saw that Falk was back for more! I watched and enjoyed them all.

[@exitscreaming4637]

Enjoyed them all ? You must not have seen " No Time to Die " then lol

[@keepitsimple4629]

Falk told a producer "I'd kill for that role" He was meant for it. Nobody could ever play it like him. Somebody proposed Bing Crosby. How ridiculous.

[@gregorylapointe4157]

Peter Falk came across as a very likeable person, he was perfect as Columbo. I also loved how he ripped into Vince Vaughn's character in the movie Made. Had me laughing out loud!

[@johntrevy1]

Columbo is like the Cardassian justice system, they are all guilty but we get to find out step by step how they are guilty.

[@yorkhawk]

I don't anyone has ever been as perfectly cast for a role as Peter Falk was for Columbo.

[@frglee]

Yes, Peter Falk was wonderful in this role. Just so relaxed, natural and comfortable doing it. This wonderful tv series was also unusual in that the murders were explained to us before Columbo solves the crime. So the episode becomes more about the culprit's attemps to escape from being found out and get one over on Columbo. Not realising until it's too late, that appearances are very deceptive and the 'dishevelled detective' is actually very intelligent and observant as well as being very dogged and focused. The character is also quite likeable, polite, and even kind. A gentleman. 'Oh, and just one last thing', my other favorite detective series are 'Monk' and 'Vera', both of which seem to have inherited some of the Columbo magic.

[@kev3d]

I actually saw some of Falk's art at an art school in the San Fernando Valley in the late 90's. I was impressed with how expressive it was!

[@qualityman1965]

I grew up watching him in the mid 70s, and still watch. I want the whole series set on DVD.

[@kleptrep94]

I always wonder if anyone ever tried to reboot Columbo then they should instead focus on one of the many cousins that Columbo has rather than recasting someone to play Peter Falk!Columbo

[@richardkonkle5079]

I was hoping to hear something about the evolution of the character from the 1968 PILOT MOVIE (which we see momentary clips of in this video). They obviously hadn’t yet finalized the character. In the pilot, Lt. Columbo was an intense, focused, buttoned-up detective. He got impatient and angry. He CARRIED his raincoat more than he wore it! Once the series started, however (in 1971, as a recurring part of the NBC Mystery Movie), Columbo was the deceptively rumpled, “bumbling” character we know and love. I like to think that Peter Falk himself had some input into that. We miss you, Mr. Falk!

[@beacee]

I recently rediscovered this series. He will always be Columbo to me.

[@larrysmith6797]

Falk didn't "accept the role." He was never considered by the producers. His agent (who was representing an other actor wanted by the producers) sent him a copy of the script. Falk called Levinson and Link and said, "I'll kill to play that cop."

[@stevethomas211]

I loved Columbo, there will never be another Actor as Peter played.

[@christopherkraft1327]

Lieutenant Columbo!!! Just the name conjures up the image of a rumpled raincoat & a disheveled man, a bit forgetful, bumbling around!!! All the while this brilliant detective is reeling in the guilty party, giving him or her a false sense of security!!! Then comes the A-ha moment & he politely lowers the boom!!!! Thank you Peter Falk for so many years of continued entertainment!!! 🙏🙏

[@dianethompson3751]

I loved it because Peter Falk was Columbo. He mastered that characted..the scripts were fun and the stories were interesting..They tried it again with Monk..but there was only 1 Columbo🙂

[@miaouew]

"I'm just so grateful" And so are we!

[@BeasleyStreet]

Peter Falk is Columbo... Colombo is Peter Falk.

[@violetfem1808]

@ 2:43 Is one of my very favorite later episodes! I had that on dvd and played it every morning for weeks :D Also the Mortuary one with Rue McClanahan 🖤❣

[@lisashapiro4714]

He doesn't have a phoney bone in his body ,and lacks no self esteem issues. He was that bright with his character

[@lynbeck2359]

We love Colombo!

[@jonnysupreme]

The one with Billy Connolly has always been my favourite episode! Gotta love the Bigyin!

[@zovalentine7305]

Wow, it was his personal trench coat! FUN FACT!

[@petermostyneccleston2884]

As a professional Gardener for over 30 years, I have never seen one dressed like Columbo before.

[@jensmith1063]

Awesome show

[@b01tact10n]

I love Peter Faulk, long before Monk ever appeared this was my show best ever there is never gonna be another show just like this. May you rest well God Bless you!

[@zovalentine7305]

Love his view on foreign language 📣

[@sheilasingleton2166]

Columbo,he's the man.the best 100

[@DeltaStar777]

He did not ”accept” the role, he got hold of the manuscript and called them up begging for the role but we are all glad he did

[@TyMarshall007]

Peter Falk was just Perfect for the Roll

[@ramthian]

Great 👍

[@bloqk16]

A person can learn a lot from watching Columbo episodes, such as with being observant with minute (pronounced 'my-noot') details. An episode I particular enjoyed and learned a lot from was "Any Old Port in a Storm," where I learned about how to be a 'wine snob,' as Donald Pleasence played the part superbly.

[@arjunratnadev]

He was born to play Columbo the detective

[@SpottedSharks]

Wow, if I saw those sketches I'd buy a few even if unaware they were Falks.

[@GokuBlackZamasu_]

Always loved him my favourite detective

[@jamesfeeney3016]

Brilliant TV series!! I still watch it on peacock!!

[@jackclements2163]

Thank you, Frank!

[@russellthompson9271]

I miss Peter Falk terribly. I cried a lot when he died.

[@paulflint6254]

Such a wonderful character, watched all the episodes and even have the dvd boxset. Just watched Death hits the jackpot

[@patrickhannon4217]

Johnathan Creek has a (severely) lessened yet similar appeal to me here in the UK, comedian Alan Davies as a quirky magician who lives in a windmill solving murders, it wasn't as enduring as Columbo, deservedly so, but that similar quirkiness is the appeal I tend to enjoy

[@harvey2906]

I like Columbo. He was a great detective. And Peter Falk was a great actor. Thank you for all the good times in front of the TV with my family. 👏

[@ravsingh5347]

Such a great fascinating character our lieutenant... Greatly missed 👍🇬🇧😊🙏

[@tomlemery8490]

Falk told the co-creator of Columbo that he'd kill to play that cop.

[@stelvis7413]

One of the greatest shows in television history.

[@evanescapades2513]

Always with us.. Both Peter and Comimbo...

[@booboolips6053]

Hopefully they don’t remake Columbo with a blue haired tattooed female.😱

[@Lorna8264]

Adore Columbo

[@bassbymichele]

He was one of a kind ❤

[@jeannekstrole6891]

Sometimes, when I am stressed and can't sleep, I fall asleep to old Colombo episodes streaming on my computer. I had a dream a few weeks ago where I was being framed for murder and Colombo helped exonerate me. Much like Star Trek, I grew up with this super sharp, rumpled detective. Colombo is part of our lives in this generation.

[@paradoxdea]

I just love, love, love Colombo!!!

[@miker00I]

Just awesome

[@bamakaze]

Columbo is literally the American blue collar Sherlock Holmes.

[@bbenjoe]

He has a statue in Budapest, Hungary! :) (and so does Bud Spencer)

[@ionlybowtogod9268]

I've been marathoning it on Tubi.

[@wierdsmabob]

Still watch it on Vision TV in Canada.

[@fredrikharutunian2768]

Great actor

[@edtrine8692]

To me Falk looks like he has fun playing the role?

[@makeminefreedom]

I always liked it when Columbo made the murderer think they got away with it by saying, Sir I don't know how I'm going to explain this to my supervisor. Well you can't win them all. Goodbye sir. Then after the murderer was relaxed he would come knocking on their door again. No one could ever replace Columbo.

[@rabbiswhy]

I didn't cry 💞💞💞🤣😭

[@jrpipik]

But he DOES care whether or people think he's average. In fact, he counts on it!

[@dance2jam]

Peter Falk's work and talent are easy to appreciate. I recently had the chance of watching the series again after decades. The thing that becomes apparent, other than his work, is that the show somehow got stereotyped in its pursuit of the wealthy criminal (man and woman) whom was nearly always Caucasian (Memory does not serve me to recall a single minority villain - unless you count the middle eastern episode). Alas, toward the end, the writing became fairly predictable, and the joke lines "just one more thing" less fresh. Perhaps I'm alone in wishing that such an intelligent man (as the character) would have evolved with time as all good detectives do, and that such an evolution would have shown in the character. Peter will always be a favorite of mine. Perhaps his line to the third base umpire that called him out sums it up best: He allegedly popped out his glass eye and handed it to the umpire with the quip "Here, I think you need this more than I do". Classic Falk.

[@sonnestt]

Someone asked him if his coat was in the Smithsonian....he said....it is if the Smithsonian is located upstairs in my closet 😂😂😂

[@kazamamuramasa8201]

Well you should lovable man. I admire the man you were. But I love you so much more for Detective. Whenever we went through all the thrift stores looking for a raincoat just like yours. Finding my mother made one so I could be you for Halloween when year. Enter my surprise your raincoat is in a Smithsonian. Thank you for all the fun memories. And I still watch the reruns.

[@00Snake77]

I'm getting Veto Scaletta vibes from Mr. Falk

[@robertwheatley2471]

Peter Falk as Columbo is the second most iconic and irreplaceable character in TV history. IMO only one ranks ahead of him. When you think of the literally hundreds throughout the decades being second isn't too shabby..

[@BeasleyStreet]

I don't know who you are referring to, and I'm not really bothered...

[@robertwheatley2471]

@@BeasleyStreet --Carroll O' Connor is THE most iconic and irreplaceable character actor in TV history, period end of story. He's #1, Falk #2. I'm not really bothered by what you may think either..

[@BeasleyStreet]

@@robertwheatley2471 had you have been more open instead of being so obtuse I wouldn't have been also...🤝

[@robertwheatley2471]

@@BeasleyStreet -Well I'm just so elated that I was able to set the record straight and put your mind at ease..

[@darnick54]

Marvellous

[@spacemissing]

WHY wear a RAINCOAT in L.A.??? At best he would be too warm most of the time. Still, the best detective stories I've seen on TV or anywhere else.

[@eliskamikusiakova7606]

Moja láska, top

[@master-kq3nw]

columbo will always be the legend raincoat old peugeot just one more thing

[@omransalem4263]

♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@FIREBRAND38]

I wonder which documentary this is taken from?

[@larrysmith6797]

Probably from a bonus video in one of the DVD sets.

[@FIREBRAND38]

@@larrysmith6797 Yeah, if you don't know don't guess.

[@theopasanduka1146]

Who doesn’t watch Columbo?

[@venitastrong4707]

👍

[@mister62085]

Did you see his movie career prior to the show some actors know when they see a good thing

[@richardmckrell4899]

It was the Money.

[@pfflyer3381]

He forgot humble

[@dmathmothtutinean8950]

yes...I trained Colombo....... jus' kidding