Daughter banned from Falk's funeral

NEW YORK, July 12 (UPI) -- The adopted daughter of Hollywood screen icon Peter Falk says she learned of her father's death from the news and was banned from his funeral by her stepmother.

Best known for playing the titular police detective in TV's "Columbo," Falk died June 23 at the age of 83 after battling Alzheimer's disease.

His wife, Shera, and Catherine, the daughter Falk adopted with his first wife, had been fighting for years over who should make financial and medical decisions on his behalf. Peter and Shera married in 1977.

"How would you feel if you had to hear from the media or hear from an attorney that your dad passed away?" Falk told "Inside Edition," adding she blames her stepmother for leaving her out. "It's absolutely devastating. It's the worst way to find out about your parent dying. It's terrible. … I am in a state of shock."

Catherine Falk says the actor's widow refused her repeated attempts for information about the funeral. The late actor has since been buried at the famed Westwood Memorial Park in California.

"I haven't been able to grieve for my dad's passing because I've been filled with so much emotion, so much sadness, so much pain," Catherine Falk said.

She is now campaigning for legislation in California that would give children the same rights as the surviving spouse when it comes to notification about hospitalization and burial.

"Inside Edition" said the actor's widow hasn't returned calls for a comment.