Columbo star Peter Falk's daughter and his wife have started a bitter battle in court over conservatorship of the ailing actor.
Falk is battling dementia and his daughter Catherine has filed for conservatorship of her father, claiming her stepmother Shera has refused to let her see the actor.
During the opening day of the conservatorship hearing on Wednesday, Catherine told a court in Los Angeles her stepmother repeatedly slammed the door on her and her sister when they tried to visit their father at his home in Beverly Hills.
Falk's daughter also confessed she had become estranged from her father but chose to build a relationship with the star after he underwent hip replacement surgery last year.
She told the court she and her father fell out over a financial dispute.
Catherine Falk filed a petition for conservatorship in December, and, as a result, she was allowed a court-ordered visit with her father, who didn't recognise her.
Shera Falk’s attorney, Marshal Oldman, told reporters outside court that he feared the daughter's primary motive was financial, explaining, "There is certainly concern about finances on the part of Catherine. Whether that’s the primary motive, we’ll let the court decide."
The legal spat will resume on Monday when Shera Falk is expected to testify.
Falk is battling dementia and his daughter Catherine has filed for conservatorship of her father, claiming her stepmother Shera has refused to let her see the actor.
During the opening day of the conservatorship hearing on Wednesday, Catherine told a court in Los Angeles her stepmother repeatedly slammed the door on her and her sister when they tried to visit their father at his home in Beverly Hills.
Falk's daughter also confessed she had become estranged from her father but chose to build a relationship with the star after he underwent hip replacement surgery last year.
She told the court she and her father fell out over a financial dispute.
Catherine Falk filed a petition for conservatorship in December, and, as a result, she was allowed a court-ordered visit with her father, who didn't recognise her.
Shera Falk’s attorney, Marshal Oldman, told reporters outside court that he feared the daughter's primary motive was financial, explaining, "There is certainly concern about finances on the part of Catherine. Whether that’s the primary motive, we’ll let the court decide."
The legal spat will resume on Monday when Shera Falk is expected to testify.
- 5/28/2009
- WENN
The cars raced by Steve McQueen in Bullitt and David Hasselhoff in Knight Rider have made a new top 10 list of cars driven by TV and film law enforcers. The Green Hornet's 1966 Chrysler Crown Imperial and the Ferrari Testarossa Crockett and Tubbs cruised around Miami in on Miami Vice also made the AOL car countdown.
The list also features Magnum P.I.'s Ferrari 308 GTS and Columbo's Peugeot 403.
The list also features Magnum P.I.'s Ferrari 308 GTS and Columbo's Peugeot 403.
- 2/5/2009
- WENN
The builder of a hotel complex in Los Angeles has launched legal action against singer Nancy Sinatra and Columbo actor Peter Falk - accusing the pair of attempting to derail the project.
The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills is currently undergoing redevelopment, and local residents - including Sinatra and Falk - have opposed the scheme.
People living in the area are due to vote on the proposed expansion in November, and Sinatra and Falk plan on publishing their thoughts on the project in a leaflet, which will be included inside the ballot papers.
And now the developer, Karim Kano, has filed a complaint against the plans - insisting voters should not be given "misleading details" about the expansion, according to TMZ.com.
The suit, filed on Tuesday against the City Clerk of Beverly Hills and the Registrar of Voters of L.A., as well as Sinatra and Falk, asks for all of the "potentially damaging" statements to be removed from the leaflet.
The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills is currently undergoing redevelopment, and local residents - including Sinatra and Falk - have opposed the scheme.
People living in the area are due to vote on the proposed expansion in November, and Sinatra and Falk plan on publishing their thoughts on the project in a leaflet, which will be included inside the ballot papers.
And now the developer, Karim Kano, has filed a complaint against the plans - insisting voters should not be given "misleading details" about the expansion, according to TMZ.com.
The suit, filed on Tuesday against the City Clerk of Beverly Hills and the Registrar of Voters of L.A., as well as Sinatra and Falk, asks for all of the "potentially damaging" statements to be removed from the leaflet.
- 8/13/2008
- WENN
The new USA Network series Kojak could test the track record of one of NBC Universal's most popular global exports: TV detective shows. One of the reasons USA brass put Kojak into production is because the gumshoe genre has been a hot seller in the overseas markets, where many other memorable TV sleuths licensed by Universal -- Columbo, Magnum, P.I. and the original Kojak -- continue to air everywhere from Sweden to Australia decades after their original runs. The new Kojak, which premiered domestically Friday, is faithful enough to the character originated in 1973 by actor Telly Savalas to copy his signature stylings: the lollipop and bald head. But the series not only dispenses with his famous catchphrase, "Who loves ya, baby," but rids itself of his Greek identity, too. A black actor, Ving Rhames, assumes the title role.
- 3/28/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The new USA Network series Kojak could test the track record of one of NBC Universal's most popular global exports: TV detective shows. One of the reasons USA brass put Kojak into production is because the gumshoe genre has been a hot seller in the overseas markets, where many other memorable TV sleuths licensed by Universal -- Columbo, Magnum, P.I. and the original Kojak -- continue to air everywhere from Sweden to Australia decades after their original runs. The new Kojak, which premiered domestically Friday, is faithful enough to the character originated in 1973 by actor Telly Savalas to copy his signature stylings: the lollipop and bald head. But the series not only dispenses with his famous catchphrase, "Who loves ya, baby," but rids itself of his Greek identity, too. A black actor, Ving Rhames, assumes the title role.
- 3/27/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NBC Universal and Japan's Broadmedia Studios Corp. have entered into an exclusive, multiyear distribution agreement for free and basic subscription cable television rights to a selection of Universal's films and TV product in Japan, it was announced Wednesday. The agreement includes first-run and library films and telemovies including recent titles such as The Scorpion King, 2 Fast 2 Furious, The Bourne Identity and Bridget Jones's Diary. Back catalog titles from Universal's library of more than 4,000 films include Liar, Liar, Kindergarten Cop, Twins and Casino, and TV content includes Miami Vice, Airwolf, and Columbo. The deal also includes Law & Order. Broadmedia Studios is a subsidiary of distributor and major pay TV group Softbank Broadmedia. The deal was announced by Taro Hashimoto, BSC representative director, and Belinda Menendez, NBC Universal International Television Distribution president.
- 2/10/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Although the fate of Trio has yet to be determined, NBC Universal brass are still hatching ideas for new cable/satellite channels. Sources indicate that the cable division is considering creating a network devoted to horror-themed programming as its first in-house launch since expanding its cable portfolio through the Vivendi Universal Entertainment buyout. With USA Network and Sci Fi Channel in the fold, NBC Uni has the extra leverage to drive significant distribution. NBC Uni declined comment. A horror channel would be a natural move for NBC Uni given the library of creepy film classics in Universal's coffin, including marquee heavies Dracula, Frankenstein's monster -- which USA is reviving for a limited series this year -- and Wolfman. The channel also would nicely complement Sci Fi, which has abandoned the horror genre in recent years for a more mainstream focus but could serve as the ideal venue for cross-promotion. The channel is said to be one of several ideas NBC Uni is tossing around; another natural application of the Universal library might come in the detective genre to capitalize on the likes of venerable Universal gumshoe dramas a la The Rockford Files, Columbo, Magnum, P.I., Kojak and, more recently, Monk. Universal operates such a crime-centric channel in Latin America. Meanwhile, Trio twists in the wind as NBC Uni devises a strategy to boost its distribution. Without a long-term plan in place, Trio could lose its slot to a new channel concept as early as next month, sources said.
- 8/17/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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