The actor Peter Falk, famous for his role in the TV detective series Columbo, died at his Beverly Hills home, aged 83.
According to The Guardian, a friend of the star, Larry Larson said that he died peacefully at his Beverly Hills home on Thursday evening.
The actor, who had reportedly been suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease is survived by his wife of 34 years, Shera, and two adopted daughters, Catherine and Jackie.
Falk won four Emmys for his popular starring role in Columbo, which ran from 1971 until 2003, and one for his role in the TV drama The Price of Tomatoes.
He received Oscar nominations for Murder, Inc, his breakthrough film role, in 1960, and the comedy-drama Pocketful of Miracles, a year later.
Born in New York in 1927 to a shop owner, the actor began his career on the stage and appeared in community theatre and Broadway productions before moving to Hollywood.
As a child, Falk's right eye was surgically removed because of a tumour, and was replaced with a glass eye. When starting his career in New York, an agent told the star: "Of course, you won't be able to work in movies or TV, because of your eye."
However Falk's handicap became Columbo's trademark and enhanced the detective's image as a dishevelled crime sleuth.
Falk last appeared in the feature film American Cowslip in 2009.
He married pianist Alyce Mayo in 1960, and they had two daughters, Jackie and Catherine, but divorced in 1976. A year later he wed actress Shera Danese.
