Peter Falk

When I was young, I was looking for people to look up to - role models I could respect.

The whole thing was an actor's dream - getting a character that tickles you so much you can't wait to act as him.

You thought the stage, you thought Broadway: that was the pot at the end of the rainbow. The idea of being in Hollywood was like going to the Moon or Mars.

When I was a kid growing up, you maybe secretly wanted to be an actor, but you never said.

I watch practically no TV - ah, what the hell do I watch? Oh, I was for a long time addicted to CNN.

Even the first year of 'Columbo,' 'Columbo' was Jesus Christ, No. 1, you know.