My idea of Heaven is to wake up, have a good breakfast, and spend the rest of the day drawing.

The entertainment industry is loaded with extraordinarily talented people. But the true, genuine originals, they're rare.

When I was growing up in Ossining, N.Y., playing pool with the guys, the thought that any one of us might become an actor was as far-fetched as being knighted by the queen of England.

It became the joke of the neighbourhood. If the umpire ruled me out on a bad call, I'd take the fake eye out and hand it to him.

I hate to talk about typecasting, because being typecast as Columbo ain't cancer.

God didn't design anyone to be recognized by 2 billion people.

I had two ambitions: One was to be in The Actors Studio, and the other was to walk into a bar where actors hung out, and everyone would know that I was a professional actor and I would be accepted.

The truth is, no one is like Columbo.

I'm not an ace at small talk.