Peter Falk was born on September 16, 1927 in  New York, NY and was educated at Hamilton College, Clinton NY; New School For Social Research, New York NY (political science); Maxwell School of Syracuse University, NY (public administration) Gifted as both a comic and dramatic player, and best known, from 1971 to 1977, as scrubby, deceptively bumbling Lieutenant in the television series "Columbo".

He began his adult life as a cook with the merchant marine and, after acquiring a B.A. from the New School for Social Research and an M.B.A. from Syracuse University in public administration, became an efficiency expert for the Budget Bureau of the state of Connecticut. Bored with adding figures, he became interested in amateur dramatics and in 1955 turned professional with the encouragement of Eva Le Gallienne. He first gained attention in the off-Broadway production of "The Iceman Cometh", which led to a busy career on Broadway and TV and in films. Adept at portraying Runyonesque hoodlums and big city blue-collar characters, he won an Emmy Award for his portrayal of a truck driver in the TV play `Price of Tomatoes' and three others for his title role as an eccentric detective in the popular `Columbo' series ; late 80s revival plus several television movies based on the series in the late 80s and early 90s).

He received Oscar nominations as best supporting actor for his work in the films Murder Inc. (1960) and Pocketful of Miracles (1961). In 1972 he won a Tony for his performance in Broadway's "The Prisoner of Second Avenue". His characters derive added authenticity from his squinty gaze, the result of the loss of an eye at the age of three.

He is half Italian and half Hungarian, was raised in New York City and graduated from Ossining High School as President of his class.