Columbo actor Peter Falk struck down with Alzheimer's disease

And when Columbo star Peter Falk suddenly stopped as he walked away from a suspect, turned and said "Just one more thing..." audiences knew the villain was about to be hooked.

Now, tragically the 81-year-old star has Alzheimer's disease. Daughter Catherine this week filed court papers claiming Peter's condition is so bad he is unable to look after himself.

She says he needs "full-time custodial care" and is worried he can "be deceived into transferring away property".

A hearing next month will decide whether Peter should be taken under court protection to guard him against potential fraudsters. In April, the man who became famous as the detective in the shabby coat, was seen "raving" near his Beverly Hills home.

He was dishevelled, longhaired and stumbling into traffic. Police eventually took him back to his family.

At the time they insisted nothing was wrong and said Peter was due to start work on a new movie soon. But now Catherine, a private detective and one of Peter's two adopted daughters, has admitted he is unwell.

Peter, who has had a glass eye since childhood after surgery on a cancerous tumour, last appeared on screen in the 2007 film Next with Nicolas Cage.

- mirror.co.uk