<Tr> <Th> Spouse (s) </Th> <Td> Mrs. Columbo (unseen character) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Nationality </Th> <Td> American </Td> </Tr> <P> Columbo or Lieutenant Columbo is the eponymous main character in the successful detective crime drama series Columbo . He is portrayed primarily by Peter Falk, who appeared in the role from 1968 through 2003 . Columbo's first name has never officially been identified, although the name "Frank Columbo" has been visible on pieces of identification throughout the show's history . </P> <P> The character of Columbo was created by William Link, who said that Columbo was partially inspired by the Crime and Punishment character Porfiry Petrovich as well as G.K. Chesterton's humble cleric - detective Father Brown . Other sources claim Columbo's character is also influenced by Inspector Fichet from the French suspense - thriller film Les Diaboliques (1955). </P>

What was columbo's first name in the series