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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 (1971---77; 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.
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