Peter Falk Has Died

Peter Falk, best known for his roles as the rumpled detective from television's Columbo and as the storytelling grandpa from "The Princess Bride," has passed away. Falk had been struggling in recent years with Alzheimer's disease, but no official cause of death has been released. He was 83-years-old.

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  LOS ANGELES (AP)--Peter Falk, who was best known as the disheveled but deceptively smart TV detective "Columbo," has died at the age of 83. Family members said the actor died peacefully Thursday night at his Beverly Hills home. No cause of death was specified. Falk had suffered in recent years with dementia and Alzheimer's disease, his adopted daughter Catherine Falk told Los Angeles radio station KNX-AM. Despite losing his right eye to cancer at the age of 3, Peter Falk went on to have a successful, decades-long acting career.  Television historian Tim Brooks called Falk "one of the most iconic characters on television. He created the kind of person that was unique to TV, a very relatable person that viewers could feel close to. He was shambling and seemingly absent-minded, but not really. He wasn't just a character but someone you could really like." Falk is survived by his wife of 34 years, Shera, and two daughters from a previous marriage.

• Peter Falk As Columbo At The Roast Of Frank Sinatra

• Peter Falk From "The Princess Bride"