What to Know About Peter Falk's Children, Catherine and Jacqueline
What to Know About Peter Falk's Children, Catherine and Jacqueline
Christopher RudolphWed, April 29, 2026 at 10:42 PM UTC
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Peter Falk with his daughter Catherine in 1975; Peter Falk with his daughter Jacqueline in 2002Credit: Globe Photos/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock; Walter McBride/Corbis via Getty -
Peter Falk, the late star of Columbo, was a father of two children, Catherine and Jacqueline
Peter and his first wife, Alyce Mayo, welcomed their daughters via adoption
In April 2026, Jacqueline died at age 60
For decades, Peter Falk was known for playing Lt. Columbo, the disheveled, but brilliant detective on the popular TV series Columbo — but off-screen, the actor was also a dad to his daughters, Catherine and Jacqueline Falk.
Peter and his first wife, Alyce Mayo, welcomed Catherine and Jacqueline via adoption.
"My mom always told me my dad was Columbo long before Columbo found my dad," Catherine told Closer Weekly in December 2023. "He’d ask the same question like 20 different ways until he got the answer that he wanted. He was always curious about things."
The actor's relationship with his children eventually became strained amid his relationship with his second wife, Shera Danese. It ultimately led Catherine to lobby for legislation protecting family visitation rights.
Over the years, Catherine has been in the public eye more than her sister Jacqueline, who died at age 60 on April 27, 2026.
Here's what to know about Peter Falk's daughters, Catherine and Jacqueline Falk.
Peter and his first wife welcomed Catherine and Jacqueline via adoption
Peter Falk with his daughter Catherine in 1975Credit: Globe Photos/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
Peter and his first wife, Alyce, were former classmates at Syracuse University, per The Hollywood Reporter. They married in 1960, and later welcomed two daughters, Catherine and Jacqueline, through adoption.
"They were best friends. ... I remember watching my mom and dad laugh and tell stories about their college years," Catherine told Closer Weekly. "It was nice as a teenager to experience that."
Peter's daughter also recalled to the outlet how her dad would take their family to Los Angeles Kings hockey games, movie premieres and ice skating.
Peter and Alyce were married for 16 years, before divorcing in 1976. According to The Catherine Falk Organization, Catherine was 5 years old when her parents split.
The actor would remarry the following year, to Shera Danese, who had appeared in the Columbo franchise.
Catherine became a private investigator
Catherine Falk in Universal City, California on September 29, 2019Credit: Alamy
Following in the fictional footsteps of her father, Catherine became a private investigator.
Apart from playing a detective on-screen, Peter also taught Catherine important skills, including how to read people — something that stuck with her.
"The greatest lesson I learned from my father was how to size people up. He had a true gift for that," she told Closer Weekly. "He taught me how to analyze people’s gestures, body language and physical movements."
It's unclear if she's still an active private investigator.
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Catherine was in a legal battle with Peter's second wife
Shera Danese and Peter Falk in Santa Monica, CaliforniaCredit: Amy Graves/WireImage
When Peter's health began deteriorating in his final years, Shera allegedly wouldn't allow his daughters to see him.
Per The Catherine Falk Organization, in December 2008, Catherine filed paperwork to be made conservator of Peter.
Catherine claimed that Shera had not allowed her to see or speak with her dad since he had a hip replacement surgery the previous year. Around the same time, Catherine alleged that Peter had Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Catherine's petition resulted in a legal battle, with Shera claiming that the father and daughter were estranged.
"There is certainly concern about finances on the part of Catherine,” Shera's attorney, Marshal Oldman, said after a hearing, per the Los Angeles Times. "Whether that’s the primary motive, we’ll let the court decide."
After Shera was appointed as Peter's conservator, she reportedly kept contact minimal between Peter and his daughters, per Entertainment Weekly.
When the actor died on June 23, 2011, Catherine learned of his passing through news reports. She also claimed she wasn't allowed to attend his funeral.
"There were definitely bumps in the road, but we had reconciled and I had a very loving relationship with him. I adored him, he adored me." Catherine told Inside Edition in July 2011.
Catherine is an advocate, and pushed for legislation known as "Peter Falk's Law"
Catherine Falk testifies during a hearing in Olympia, Washington on January 19, 2016Credit: Ted S. Warren/AP
The battle to see her father in the last years of his life led Catherine to create The Catherine Falk Organization.
She lobbied for the passing of legislation known as "Peter Falk's Law," which aimed to protect the visitation rights between children and their ailing parents.
According to EW, the legislation was first passed in New York state in 2015, followed by several other states who have approved similar legislation.
Jacqueline led a private life before her death in April 2026
Jacqueline Falk and Peter Falk in Los Angeles, California on September 13, 1998Credit: Margaret C. Norton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Despite her famous father, Jacqueline lived her life largely out of the spotlight.
On April 27, 2026, she died at age 60. Her death was ruled a suicide, according to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner obtained by PEOPLE.
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