Swanny Swanson
Fred Draper
EPISODE 37
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In "Last Salute to the Commodore", Commodore Otis Swanson is thoroughly dissatisfied with his life. His son-in-law, Charles, has turned his modest and respectable ship-building business into a production line for social climbers, his daughter Joanna is a perpetual drunkard, his nephew Swanny (played by Fred Draper) is a useless singer, and his lawyer Kittering is unstable. Before he can sell his business and escape it all, he is found dead. Columbo and two sergeants, one a seasoned veteran and the other a rookie, investigate the case. Charles becomes the prime suspect as the detectives unravel his elaborate cover-up, but when Charles is also found dead, Columbo realizes that someone has cunningly steered them in the wrong direction. Now, the question is, who?
Fred Draper was an American actor known for his work on stage, film, and television. He was born on December 9, 1918, in New York City and began his acting career in the 1950s. Draper worked in many Off-Broadway productions and was a member of the prestigious Actors Studio. He also appeared in a number of films, including "The Candidate" and "Rosemary's Baby."
Draper was perhaps best known for his work on television, where he appeared in many popular shows, including "The Twilight Zone," "The Fugitive," "Mission: Impossible," "The Waltons," and "Kojak." He also had a recurring role on the soap opera "All My Children."