Peter Falk Could No Longer Recall His Famous Columbo Character Toward the End

But behind the camera, Peter Falk’s life was far more complex than the character he made famous. His journey was one of resilience, artistic commitment, and personal challenges that shaped him both as a performer and as a man.

Early Life and the Loss That Shaped His Future

Born in New York City in 1927, Falk faced hardship early in life. At just three years old, he was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer, and doctors were forced to remove his right eye.

For the rest of his life, he wore a prosthetic eye—a feature that contributed to the distinctive squint that later became part of Columbo’s charm.

Despite this setback, Falk grew up active, energetic, and determined.

He excelled in sports, especially baseball and basketball, and refused to let his disability define him. In a lighthearted 1997 interview with Cigar Aficionado, he recalled an incident from high school baseball:

frustrated with a bad call, he popped out his glass eye, handed it to the umpire, and joked, “Try this.” The crowd erupted in laughter—a moment that perfectly captured his sense of humor. Continue reading…