The Columbo Wiki
The Columbo Wiki
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Short Fuse is the sixth episode of the first season of Columbo and the eighth episode overall. It first aired on January 19, 1972 and was directed by Edward M. Abroms. In addition to Peter Falk as Columbo, the episode stars Roddy McDowall, Ida Lupino, James Gregory, William Windom and Anne Francis.

Short Fuse centers on a chemist who eliminates his uncle using a box of exploding cigars in one of the most memorable murders seen in the series.

Cast[]

  • Roddy McDowall as Roger Stanford, an eccentric, prank-loving chemist who uses exploding cigars to kill his uncle.
  • Ida Lupino as Doris Buckner, Roger's aunt who controls the business his parents built.
  • James Gregory as David "D.L." Buckner, Roger's uncle who runs the family chemical plant. He plans to sell it and is even willing to blackmail Roger into going along with it; Roger gets back at him by blowing him up.
  • Lawrence Cook as Quincy, D.L.'s chauffeur and right-hand man who gathers dirt on Roger so as to strongarm him into supporting selling the company. He is also killed in the cigar explosion.
  • William Windom as Everett Logan, the company vice president who Roger unsuccessfully attempts to frame. Windom previously appeared in Prescription: Murder.
  • Anne Francis as Betty Bishop, D.L.'s secretary who is romantically involved with Roger. Francis would later appear in A Stitch in Crime.
  • Lew Brown as Farrell and Rosalind Miles as Nancy, Roger's colleagues who are irritated by his childish antics.
  • Steve Gravers plays a police sergeant.
  • Jason Wingreen, better known as the original voice of Boba Fett in Star Wars, appears as a policeman.
  • Mike Lally appears as the cable car operator.
Columbo (season 1)
1."Murder by the Book" 2."Death Lends a Hand" 3."Dead Weight" 4."Suitable for Framing" 5."Lady in Waiting" 6."Short Fuse" 7."Blueprint for Murder"
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