Peter Falk
(James "Pop Up" Morse)

Peter Falk has enjoyed enormous success in film, television and stage productions. During his impressive career he has accumulated two Academy Award® nominations, five Emmys®, one Golden Globe® and, in 2003, the 5th Annual Method Fest Independent Film Festival's Lifetime Achievement Award. He is perhaps best known for the inimitable television character Columbo, for which he earned four Emmys. His Columbo character began in 1968 with Prescription: Murder, the first of two made-for-television movies. Thirty-five years later, this cultural icon is still being produced. The most recent episode, Columbo Likes the Nightlife, aired on ABC in February 2003, and the next installment is currently in development. Columbo's incredible worldwide appeal is reflected in its current top 10 ratings throughout Europe and Asia.

Falk received his first Oscar® nomination in 1960 for Murder, Inc. and his second nomination the following year for his performance in Frank Capra's Pocketful of Miracles, in which he starred with Bette Davis and Glenn Ford. Falk most recently starred in Undisputed with Wesley Snipes and Ving Rhames, directed by Walter Hill. Falk's film credits include three notable films with his close friend, the late John Cassavetes: A Woman Under the Influence, with Gena Rowlands; Husbands, with Cassavetes and their mutual friend Ben Gazzara; and Mikey and Nicky, with Cassavetes and directed by Elaine May. He starred in two features written by Neil Simon: Murder by Death, with Peter Sellers, and The Cheap Detective, with Stockard Channing. His other film credits include The In-Laws, with Alan Arkin and directed by Arthur Hiller; The Princess Bride directed by Rob Reiner; Robin and the 7 Hoods, with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin; Wings of Desire; The Great Race; Tune in Tomorrow; Faraway, So Close!; Roommates; and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

Falk will next be seen in the made for television movie John Christmas. Additional television credits include a two-part miniseries adaptation of the classic The Lost World, with Bob Hoskins; A Town Without Christmas, in which he starred with Patricia Heaton; and The Sunshine Boys, written by Neil Simon and in which he starred with Woody Allen.

Falk most recently appeared on stage in Defiled at Los Angeles' Geffen Playhouse in 2000 and in A Storm in Summer, directed by Robert Wise and written by Rod Serling, in 1999. In 1998, he starred in Arthur Miller's play Mr. Peter's Connections, and in 1986 he toured with David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Glengarry Glen Ross with Joe Mantegna. He won a Tony® in 1971 for his performance in Neil Simon's play The Prisoner of Second Avenue, directed by Mike Nichols. Falk made his professional debut off-Broadway in Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh at The Circle in the Square Theater in New York City's Greenwich Village.