‘Columbo’ star, Peter Falk dies at 83

News of the loss of a well-loved Hollywood name is never easy to hear but reports are beginning to bubble that Peter Falk, who engaged audiences for almost ten years as ‘Columbo’ has died from the effects of Alzheimer’s Diseases. He was 83.

“Peter Falk, 83-year-old Academy Award nominee and star of television series, Columbo, died peacefully at his Beverly Hills home on the evening of June 23, 2011.” says the official announcement.

The rep continued, “Peter Falk is survived by his wife, Shera, of 34 years and two daughters from a previous marriage.”

Despite having only one real eye [his left one was removed at age 3 to cure a tumor] Peter had a sturdy career, appearing in more than 107 separate productions and securing four Emmys and two Academy Award nominations.

His debut as ‘Columbo’ in 1971 was directed by a 25-year-old film-making novice named Steven Spielberg, but the lovable, much-crumpled detective was not Peter’s only success on the screen; He also starred in the 1987 cult film ‘Princess Bride’ with Cary Elwes, ‘Brigadoon’ and the Jack Lemmon 1965 slapstick classic ‘The Great Race.’

The Alzheimer’s symptoms began to emerge in 2007 and Falk’s second wife, Shera and his daughter Catherine were soon locked in a bitter and drawn-out legal fight to manage his life and all his legal affairs. A Judge gave Shera the job and Peter was rarely seen from then on.

Funeral arrangements are unknown at this time.

Source: TMZ