Entertainment Tonight

The daughter of Academy-Award nominated actor Peter Falk says her father has Alzheimer's disease and dementia -- and she filed paperwork for a conservatorship to protect him. ET has the details.

The former "Columbo" star's daughter, Catherine Falk, filed legal papers at Los Angeles County Superior Court claiming her father "forgets events that have occurred and remembers events that did not occur."

In the papers obtained by ET, Falk's daughter says her 81-year-old father also sustained a head injury six months ago as a result of a car accident where he "lost control" while driving, claiming he can no longer "recognize familiar people, places and things."

Falk's daughter goes on to add that she's afraid her father can easily be "deceived into transferring away property," and that he needs "full-time custodial care for his health and safety."

Falk best known for his role as "Lt. Columbo," received two Oscar nominations -- one for the 1961 film 'Murder, Inc.' and another for the 1962 film 'Pocketful of Miracles.'