The Illness of Peter Falk

[ZogmoreTheAncient]

I have been told about the tragic demise of Peter Falk, who played Columbo and was in "Murder by Death" and it's really upsetting, the poor lad has apparently become ill through possible healthcare negligence, from what I understood, and is incapable of remembering he even played Columbo...

Life is pretty harsh.

[icetorch]

I have been told about the tragic demise of Peter Falk, who played Columbo and was in "Murder by Death" and it's really upsetting, the poor lad has apparently become ill through possible healthcare negligence, from what I understood, and is incapable of remembering he even played Columbo...

Life is pretty harsh.

Yes, life can be harsh. I've seen how quickly a person can slip into dementia, without "possible healthcare negligence", so we'd best say the jury is out on that one.

[Sgt Sunshine]

I remember him well in one of my favourite Wim Wenders films......"Der Himmel Uber Berlin"......

Cheers
Sgt S

[christoph404]

Falk is 81 years old now and is apparently quite ill, Im not so sure about the stories about his mistreatment, I read that his previously estranged daughter had come forward to try and gain control of his estate from Falks current wife, apparently there was a lot of mud slinging in court by the daughter as she tried to discredit her stepmother, the judge threw her accusations and requests for control out.

[ZogmoreTheAncient]

81 is pretty old.

Did you know Patrick McGoohan was in at least 3 columbo episodes, as three entirely different villainous murderers. It was a shame when McGoohan passed away and I gather that now The Prisoner will be remade by the whore-media, now that their only obstacle (his resilience in preventing them) is out of the way.

Sooner or later Rentaghost will be a film with Johnny Depp or Jude Law (or is he not alive or something) playing Timothy Claypole, who actually turns out to be far more sinister than the original homely comedy (with some very funny moments) made him out to be, on the whole. And the sad thing is, sometimes I'll make a comment as insane as this and 2 years down the line reality is mocking me by making it come true.

[Moor Larkin]

The case went to court ages ago (2009) and seemed to have been satisfactorily resolved on all sides.

In 2005, Falk designated his wife to be his carer and the keeper of his estate.
He is currently living in the guesthouse at his Beverly Hills mansion, which has been specially converted to facilitate 24-hour care.
After yesterday's hearing descended into angry claim and counterclaim, Judge Aviva Bobb ordered lawyers for both sides into her chambers.
They then met in a courthouse hallway to agree a compromise which puts Falk under the guardianship of his wife but allows his daughter to see him.
The meetings will be held in the nearby home of a friend and Shera Falk will not be allowed to attend.
'Peter Falk's dementia means he no longer remembers Columbo,' admits his doctor in court hearing | Mail Online

I watched two episodes of Columbo back to back over Xmas and there's not many shows that would get me to do that. I like to think this is a bit like the gradual changes for Norman Wisdom; and Peter Falk himself is quite content. He should be, he did a great job.

[GRAEME]

It was a shame when McGoohan passed away and I gather that now The Prisoner will be remade by the whore-media, now that their only obstacle (his resilience in preventing them) is out of the way.

Did you miss last year's Prisoner remake with Ian McKellen?

[didi-5]

Might I suggest that this thread should not have the word 'demise' in it? Just for accuracies sake - he hasn't passed yet.

[Windthrop]

Might I suggest that this thread should not have the word 'demise' in it? Just for accuracies sake - he hasn't passed yet.

Yeah I was fooled by that initially - 'decline' would be a better term

[Mr Sloane]

Did you miss last year's Prisoner remake with Ian McKellen?

I don't miss it.

[Bernardo]

I care for a 92 year old relative and it is not easy as I am dealing with a large child-like adult who once was a dominant figure in my life. Sometimes one has to be a bit firm for the welfare of the patient or their neighbours, or indeed to keep the patient away from harm yet use every opportunity to remind them of the happy times past. It is very possible that some, distressed at the decline of a loved one, may find witnessing the day to day care distressing. Also relatives sniff money and try to protect their perceived share as the care involved is expensive. Dementia care in a residential home here averages £2500 a month 'tourist class'.

[RogerThornhill]

I have been following this for some time, it's very sad. I think that Peter Falk is/was an excellent actor, I thought that Columbo was one of the very best TV series. I have all the available DVD episodes and I never tire of them. He brought such a lot of pleasure to so many people, I hope that he isn't in pain or suffering

[jimw1]

I remember him well in one of my favourite Wim Wenders films......"Der Himmel Uber Berlin"......

Cheers
Sgt S

great film with the Great Bruno Ganz ......ill give you a shout about those films soon sgt......sorry for the delay

[ZogmoreTheAncient]

Did you miss last year's Prisoner remake with Ian McKellen?

It seems so.

[ZogmoreTheAncient]

Yes I think I meant the demise of his career rather than himself. Sometimes I use words less like a speaker of words and more like a piler upper of things onto trays.

Other great actors (and actresses) have clearly suffered forms of mental illness in their final years, eg I guess I have heard that Peter Sellers was deeply troubled and also someone told me Peter Cook was paranoid and insane by the end of it, and demonically alcoholic.

But on the other hand you have Jim Morrison or even more horribly tragic there's Kurt Kobain or that guy who played batman recently or the joker or something (like I watch any of these low credibility things) and even in his own way Freddie Mercury... all of whom died pretty goddamn young, and next to that being a bit of a headcase at the end of it isn't much of a clawback I don't think.

I wish that John Lennon, Freddie Mercury, John F Kennedy, and possibly others, yeah Kurt Kobain definitely, potentially even Jim Morrison (but how old would he be now?) - were alive today and able to condemn any particular aspects of modern politics and society that they might themselves have condemned, and it'd be nice to have their voices on the side that they were on.

Let's hope Warren Beatty's dementia is a long time coming.

[Tonch]

I like Peter Falk. But when the sad day inevitably comes, I can't help but picture the lid opening as the coffin is being lowered into the ground and him sitting up with a final "There was just one more thing...." to the mourners.

Yes I know, bad taste.

I'll get my (very crumpled, shabby old) coat

[ShirlGirl]

I like Peter Falk. But when the sad day inevitably comes, I can't help but picture the lid opening as the coffin is being lowered into the ground and him sitting up with a final "There was just one more thing...." to the mourners.

Yes I know, bad taste.

I'll get my (very crumpled, shabby old) coat

I don't really see that as bad taste, Tonch. I think it's a funny and nice memory and I expect he would chuckle at the thought of it himself, if he was capable.

[Bernardo]

I have been following this for some time, it's very sad. I think that Peter Falk is/was an excellent actor, I thought that Columbo was one of the very best TV series. I have all the available DVD episodes and I never tire of them. He brought such a lot of pleasure to so many people, I hope that he isn't in pain or suffering

Well said I would imagine that sums up our feelings precisely.

[ZogmoreTheAncient]

"I almost forgot" is the catchphrase you mean, I think. I use it a lot. Well I used to. I imagine Mr Falk forgets rather a lot of things these days!

[Tonch]

"Just one more thing" is surely the recognised catchphrase, at least one Columbo website goes by that name, as do various "Columbo" DJ mixes, it's even the title of his autobiography:



Oh and..."I almost forgot, Zog...."



... it's also on YouTube!