Tribute to Late 'Columbo' Star Peter Falk

Best known for Columbo on television, has died at 83. But I remember him best for his partnership with Alan Arkin in The In-Laws… or, as they say, “Serpentine!”

Reprehensible 2003 version. I'm talking about the sublime 1979 original, starring Alan Arkin and the late Peter Falk, who died Thursday at age 83.

If you haven't seen it, I implore you to add it to your Netflix queue immediately, to head straight away to your closest Redbox, to run as fast as you can to Hastings. Get your hands on it and marvel at its brilliance. This is farce of the highest order.

If you need more convincing, check out the video I posted with Falk's obituary. It exemplifies the silly, go-for-broke laughs that make the movie so special. Or watch the scene embedded here, when Shelly (Arkin) starts to realize his future in-law is, to put it mildly, a little nuts.

Another of Peter's co-star, Patricia Heaton, remembered him as someone who was "a joy to work with". Co-starring with the late actor in 2001's "A Town Without Christmas", she said, "He had a great sense of humor and was a master of his craft, with an ease and subtlety that made it look so easy. I consider it a privilege to have gotten to work with him."

Other celebrities took to Twitter to mourn the two-time Oscar nominee. Seth Meyers and Ralph Macchio, in particular, remembered him through his 1979's "The In-Laws". Seth wrote, "RIP Peter Falk. 'The In-Laws' still one of the funniest movies of all time. #SerpentineShelSerpentine." Meanwhile, Ralph tweeted, "RIP Peter Falk. 'The In Laws' one of the all time great classic comedies!"

Some others remembered Peter for his other works. Rainn Wilson tweeted, "RIP Peter Falk - He was one of the greats. Watch 'Wings of Desire' to see him at his best. ,) [one eyed emoticon]," while Kevin Pollak wrote, "Peter Falk will always be one of my favorite actors. Check his work in Murder Inc. Oscar-nominated, I believe. Sad..."

The cause of Peter's death was not released, but he had been suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's. In 2009 about two years after he developed dementia, a court put him under a conservatorship that settled up a dispute over his affairs between his daughter, Catherine, and his wife, Shera.