Actor Columbus Short threatens to kill his wife and commit suicide

"Scandal" star Columbus Short has been thrown out of his house and his wife has filed for divorce ... after he allegedly put a knife to her throat last week and threatened to kill her and himself.

According to a new restraining order -- obtained by TMZ -- Short got into it with his wife April 7 at their Chatsworth home, where she claims he came into her room intoxicated with a wine bottle in hand, acted like he was going to hit her with the bottle and then unloaded the wine on her.

Tanee Short claims Columbus then ran to the kitchen for a knife, pinned her to the couch and began choking her.  She says he then demanded they play a game he called "Truth or Truth."  He allegedly said if she lied he would stab her in the leg.

She says he then started naming men he believed she was having affairs with.  She denied them all but he allegedly then put the knife to her throat and threatened murder/suicide.  As she tried escaping she says he slashed her tire.

The restraining order requires Columbus to move out of the house.  We've learned cops were there today to ensure the peace as he moved out.

Tanee also filed for divorce Tuesday, citing irreconcilable differences and asking for sole custody of their 2-year-old daughter.

In addition to the incident April 7th, Short has been charged with criminal domestic violence and child abuse for allegedly abusing Tanee while their child and his son were in the house.  He pled not guilty.  And he was arrested for yet another alleged domestic violence incident a few weeks earlier.

It's interesting ... just last month -- after the first 2 domestic violence arrests -- Columbus and his wife put on a united front at The Grove in L.A.

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