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PETER FALK
Contributed by Michael J. Lee, Executive Editor
for Radio Free Entertainment
September 8, 2005
A virtually lifelong passion of comedian Paul Reiser, the semi-autobiographical comedy/drama The Thing About My Folks is the story of a family man (Paul Reiser) whose father (Peter Falk) is suddenly left by his wife of 50 years. Perplexed over the matriarch's abrupt departure, the father/son duo embark on a road trip, over the course of which they try to sort out what went wrong. Through a series of talks and misadventures, the two bond in a new way and gain a deeper insight into each other.
The Thing About My Folks is written by Paul Reiser and directed by Raymond De Felitta. The cast also includes Elizabeth Perkins and Olympia Dukakis.
In this interview, legendary actor Peter Falk talks about how he became involved in this film, and why Paul Reiser thought he was the ideal choice to play his onscreen father.
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The Interview
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MEDIA: How did you get involved with this project?
PETER: I was doing a play in Westwood. Paul Reiser came to see the play, then he came backstage. He started telling me how wonderful the play was. I wasn't interested. I cut him off. And I said one sentence to him. And what I said to him was, because I had, the previous week, seen an episode of Mad About You...and what I said to him was, "You're a hell of a writer." And I meant that. I was so impressed with his writing on that television show, on that particular episode, that I just had to get it off my chest and I said it. And to his credit...he's a classy guy. You think he would see an opening to say to me, "You know, I'm writing a script" or "I have an idea for a script." He never said a word. Never mentioned it. And I think it was maybe a year later...All he said was, "I got a script. I'd like you to read it." And I was anxious to read it. I read about 45 pages, and I called him up. I said, "I want to do it."
What was it about Mad About You that you found impressive?
It was that combination of being very funny at one moment, and then grabbing you, so that you were emotionally involved the next moment.
When Paul first approached you with his script, did he explain that he had written the role of the father specifically for you?
After we finished the picture, he told me the story. He had this script in mind but he couldn't get started. He would start and stop. He went to visit his father, and his father was watching television. And this actor came on. His name was Peter Falk. And whenever Peter Falk came on, his father started to laugh. And Paul said, "That actor, he should play my father." And that's when he started to really write this script, because he had the actor in mind. And for me, I never got a job in a more delightful way than that. I never got a job because the writer of the script had a fond memory of watching his father laugh at a certain actor, and because of that, he decided that is the actor to play [his] father. And that's how it came about.
Although you have an extensive filmography, do you think most people remember you from your role as Columbo?
I would think so, yeah.
How do you feel about that?
It ain't cancer. [laughs] You know, there are people out there working to make a living, and they're trying to support their families and send their kids to college. And I always say to myself, "Do they give a sh*t if an actor is typecast?" [laughs] Why would they give a sh*t? This guy's getting paid big money, he gets free tickets to the Knick game, he sits right on the court. He never has to look at...What side of the menu is it where the price is? The right or the left? I don't know. But wherever that side is, he never has to look over there. And now he's complaining about being typecast? Screw him! [laughs] But it never occurs to me to complain about being typecast. That was a great character, Columbo, I'm very fortunate. Instead of complaining, I'm down on my knees thanking the Lord above for being so lucky.
Did you work with Paul on any revisions to the script?
I love to change scripts. I really do. I love it. I've been doing that as long as I've been an actor. This script, I didn't change one word. And I had no impulse to change a word. None. It's just the way he wrote it, with two exceptions. The fishing scene, that was improvised. That was made up as we went along.
And what was the other change to the script?
This was in the pool room, when I was having the fight with the guy. This was a guy who didn't want to pay me because I beat him in pool. And I said to him, "I don't even want the money. I just want you to apologize for creating all this commotion. Just apologize." And the actor, he ad-libbed this line...And I had never heard that phrase before. And what he said was, "Eat sh*t and die." Wow! If you look at that, you can see my face. I'm supposed to be mad at him, but I was so delighted at that ad-lib. It struck me. So it's a mixture of reaction. One of my favorite reactions in all my acting years is when I see my face when he said that line.
What is similar between you and your character in this film?
I'm going to answer this very simply. I love to say "bullsh*t." [laughs] What a great line. One word. "Bullsh*t."
Did you have a dream car growing up, as your character does?
I know nothing about cars, and I couldn't care less. As a matter of fact, for one of my anniversaries, I bought my wife an anniversary present. It was a lug wrench. That's what you use when you want to change the tires. [laughs]
Wow, that's like buying your wife a toaster. I'm sure she loved that.
Well, I don't know how to change a tire on a car. That's how ignorant I am about cars. I don't care about cars. And I got a kick out of giving her a lug wrench. I didn't even know what a lug wrench was. But Paul appreciates cars. He really does. And there are a lot of men that really love cars. And they're beautiful. I mean, that was a beautiful car [in this movie]. Even I could appreciate the beauty of that car. But like Columbo's car...I picked that car out, Columbo's car. Not as beautiful as this one, but they both have a stick shift. And I like a stick shift because you actually feel like you're doing something, you know?
What did you think of the movie's opening scene, which showcases your character's affinity for baby powder?
I never saw a movie that opens that way. What an original opening, huh? People claim that I'm nude in that scene. The truth is this: I'm not totally nude, because I'm wearing some talcum powder. [laughs]
What selfless acts of love have you done that might be similar to those of your character?
I'm sure that my wife has a laundry list of those things. Unfortunately, I can't come up with one off hand. But call her. [laughs]
In retrospect, is there anything you'd like to change about your own marriage?
We've been married 28 years. Why would I want to change anything?
True that. Do you think your wife might want to change something?
Maybe she does. That, you have to ask her. [laughs]
I understand that one of your hobbies is drawing. What does that activity give you that acting does not?
I guess some of the things that I really enjoy about drawing is it's just you and the marker. Nothing else. And it's very, very satisfying if I draw for three or four hours. I'm totally concentrated, I'm totally relaxed, I'm absorbed. Man has been drawing since the beginning of time. I think that's part of us--part of our nature. I don't know what there is that makes us do it, but we've been doing it for 50 million years, so there must be something there. I mean, if you make a good mark, and you look at it, it's beautiful if it has life, if it's spontaneous. That's what I enjoy. Good marks.
Any plans for your birthday next week?
My wife has been pretty good in surprising me. A lot of years, I don't even know it's coming, you know? And she just fools me. But this year, I'll expect it, because the movie is opening [on the same date], so I'm aware of it.
Maybe you'll get your lug wrench back.
Yeah. [laughs] Right!
Thank you very much for your time.
Thank you! I've enjoyed every minute of it. Thank you all very much.
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