There’s something magical about the way Peter Falk, the legendary star of Columbo, saw the world. According to his daughter, Catherine Falk, her dad had a knack for reading people that was nothing short of extraordinary. “The greatest lesson I learned from my father was how to size people up,” Catherine shares with Closer. “He had this incredible ability to analyze gestures, body language, and even the subtle movements people make. It’s like he could see right through you, but in the best way possible.”
Peter Falk: A Detective in Real Life?
Peter Falk wasn’t just a great actor—he was a master observer of life. The Emmy-winning star, who became America’s favorite TV detective over three decades, shared more than a few traits with his on-screen character, Lieutenant Columbo. Catherine laughs as she recalls her dad’s uncanny ability to ask the same question in 20 different ways until he got the exact answer he was looking for. “He was endlessly curious about everything,” she says. “And that curiosity? It was just as much a part of him off-screen as it was on-screen.”
It’s no surprise, really. Peter Falk played a big role in shaping the character of Columbo, which might explain why the two seemed so alike. “My mom used to joke that my dad was Columbo long before Columbo found him,” Catherine adds. “He was that guy who could walk into a room and just know what was going on. It was like a superpower.”
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Family Life: A Divorce That Didn’t Diminish Love
Catherine and her sister, Jackie, were born from Peter’s first marriage to Alyce Mayo, his college sweetheart. Even though the couple divorced in 1976 after 16 years together, they remained the best of friends. “They were inseparable,” Catherine recalls fondly. “I remember going to L.A. Kings hockey games with both my parents. Afterward, we’d end up at a diner, laughing and telling stories about their college days. As a teenager, it was amazing to see how much they still cared for each other.”
These moments weren’t just fun—they were formative. Watching her parents maintain such a positive relationship after divorce taught Catherine the importance of kindness and understanding, even in challenging situations. “It was a beautiful lesson in how to treat people with respect and love, no matter what,” she says.
Peter Falk’s Quirky Side: The Absent-Minded Genius
Like his iconic character, Peter Falk could be hilariously absent-minded when it came to practical matters. “He would park his car and then completely forget where he’d left it,” Catherine recalls with a chuckle. “We’d have to drive around with security guards trying to find his old Mercedes. He was so wrapped up in his art, music, and politics that he didn’t even know what color his car was!”
Driving with Peter was an adventure in itself. “My dad loved making eye contact with us while he drove,” Catherine says. “But since he only had sight in his left eye, he’d turn his whole head around to see us. It was chaos! He’d run red lights or end up on the sidewalk because he was so focused on talking to us. We were always yelling, ‘Dad, watch the road!’”
Family time was incredibly important to Peter Falk. In his second marriage to actress Shera Danese, he continued to prioritize spending quality moments with his daughters. Whether it was bringing them to movie premieres, letting them visit the set, or taking them ice skating, Peter made sure his girls felt loved and included. “He loved racing around the rink,” Catherine reminisces. “It was one of his favorite things to do with us.”
Peter Falk’s Creative Side: An Artist Beyond Acting
Peter Falk wasn’t just an actor—he was an artist in every sense of the word. “His art studio was his happy place, second only to the golf course,” Catherine explains. “He was amazing with charcoal sketches. He loved music, drawing, photography, visiting museums, and watching great films. He had this insatiable passion for creativity.”
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Peter’s life was filled with challenges, too. At just six years old, he battled cancer in his eye, leaving him with vision in only one eye. But instead of letting it hold him back, he used it as fuel to live life to the fullest. “He used to tell me, ‘I see more with one eye than most people see with two,’” Catherine says. “And you know what? He was absolutely right.”
