Name
Dabney Coleman
Known For
Acting
Birthday
1932-01-03
Deathday
2024-05-16 (92 years old)
Place of Birth
Austin, Texas, USA
Biography
Dabney Wharton Coleman (January 3, 1932 – May 16, 2024) was an American actor. Coleman's best known films include 9 to 5 (1980), On Golden Pond (1981), Tootsie (1982), WarGames (1983), Cloak & Dagger (1984), The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984), The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), You've Got Mail (1998), Inspector Gadget (1999), Recess: School's Out (2001), Moonlight Mile (2002), and Rules Don't Apply (2016).
Coleman's television roles included the title characters of Buffalo Bill (1983–1984) and The Slap Maxwell Story (1987–1988), as well as Burton Fallin on The Guardian (2001–2004), the voice of Principal Peter Prickly on Recess (1997–2001), and Louis "The Commodore" Kaestner on Boardwalk Empire (2010–2011). He won one Primetime Emmy Award from six nominations and one Golden Globe Award from three nominations.
Coleman was a character actor with roles in well over 60 films and television programs to his credit. He trained with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City from 1958 to 1960.
Coleman made his Broadway debut in the short-lived A Call on Kuprin in 1961. In a 1964 episode of Kraft Suspense Theatre titled "The Threatening Eye", Coleman played private investigator William Gunther. Two years later, he played Dr. Leon Bessemer with Bonnie Scott as his wife Judy, neighbors and friends of the protagonist in Season 1 of That Girl, episode 3, "Never Change a Diaper on Opening Night". Noted for his moustache which he grew in 1973, he appeared in the sitcom wearing horn-rimmed glasses and with no facial hair. Other early roles in his career included a U.S. Olympic skiing team coach in Downhill Racer (1969), a high-ranking fire chief in The Towering Inferno (1974), and a wealthy Westerner in Bite the Bullet (1975). He portrayed an FBI agent in Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux Klan (1975).
Known For
7.007
At the opening party of a colossal—but poorly constructed—skyscraper, a massive fire b...
6.707
Book superstore magnate Joe Fox and independent book shop owner Kathleen Kelly fall in lov...
6.309
Mild-mannered dirt-poor hill-dweller Jed Clampett strikes it rich when oil is discovered o...
6.938
Three female employees of a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot find a way to t...
5.7
The unconventional love story of an aspiring actress, her ambitious driver, and their ecce...
- 1983 WarGames as McKittrick
- 1999 Inspector Gadget as Chief Quimby
- 1994 Clifford as Gerald Ellis
- 1985 The Man with One Red Shoe as Cooper
- 2000 How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale as John Kennedy
- 2003 Where the Red Fern Grows as Grandpa
- 1977 Rolling Thunder as Maxwell
- 1993 Amos & Andrew as Chief of Police Cecil Tolliver
- 2002 Moonlight Mile as Mike Mulcahey
- 1988 Hot to Trot as Walter Sawyer
- 1998 Target Earth as Senator Ben Arnold
- 1981 On Golden Pond as Bill Ray
- 1980 Dan August: The Jealousy Factor as Rick Bessett
- 1978 Maneaters Are Loose! as McCallum
- 1990 Short Time as Burt Simpson
- 1984 The Muppets Take Manhattan as Martin Price
- 1968 The Scalphunters as Jed
- 1980 Melvin and Howard as Judge Keith Hayes
- 1998 My Date with the President's Daughter as President George Richmond
- 1980 Pray TV as Marvin Fleece
- 1998 You've Got Mail as Nelson Fox
- 1969 Downhill Racer as Mayo
- 1975 Bite the Bullet as Jack Parker
- 2002 The Climb as Mack
- 1982 Tootsie as Ron Carlisle
- 2005 Domino as Drake Bishop
- 1996 Devil's Food as Seymour Kecker
- 1969 The Trouble with Girls as Harrison Wilby
- 1997 A Witch's Way of Love as Joel
- 1981 Modern Problems as Mark Winslow
- 2007 Hard Four as Spray Loomis
- 1966 This Property Is Condemned as Salesman
- 1999 Giving It Up as Johnathan Gallant
- 1982 Young Doctors in Love as Dr. Joseph Prang
- 1990 Where the Heart Is as Stewart McBain
- 1981 Callie & Son as Randall Bordeaux
- 1984 Cloak & Dagger as Jack Flack / Hal Osborne
- 2001 Recess: School's Out as Principal Peter Prickly (voice)
- 1980 Nine to Five as Franklin M. Hart Jr.
- 2003 Recess: All Growed Down as Principal Prickley (voice)
- 1977 Viva Knievel! as Ralph Thompson
- 1974 Bad Ronald as Mr. Wood
- 1973 Cinderella Liberty as Executive Officer
- 1975 The Other Side of the Mountain as Dave McCoy
- 1973 Dying Room Only as Bob Mitchell
- 1973 Savage! as Ted Seligson
- 1991 Never Forget as William Cox
- 1994 Judicial Consent as Charles Mayron
- 1986 The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer as Dabney Coleman
- 1987 Guilty of Innocence: The Lenell Geter Story as Ed Sigel
- 1978 The Case of the Baltimore Girls as George Bates
- 1975 Returning Home as Al Stephenson
- 1980 Nothing Personal as Dickerson
- 2012 Char·ac·ter as Self
- 1970 I Love My Wife as Frank Donnelly
- 1977 Black Fist as Heineken
- 1993 The Beverly Hillbillies as Milburn Drysdale
- 1992 There Goes the Neighborhood as Jeffrey Babitt
- 1988 Maybe Baby as Hal
- 1980 How to Beat the High Cost of Living as Jack Heintzel
- 1979 North Dallas Forty as Emmett Hunter
- 1987 Dragnet as Jerry Caesar
- 1990 Meet the Applegates as Aunt Bea
- 1987 Sworn to Silence as Martin Costigan
- 1998 Exiled as Lieutenant Kevin Stolper
- 1985 Night of 100 Stars II as Self
- 1973 Moving Target
- 1974 The Dove as Charles Huntley
- 1995 In the Line of Duty: Kidnapped as Arthur Milo
- 2003 Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade as Principal Prickly (voice)
- 1975 Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux Klan as Paul Mathison
- 1986 Murrow as William Paley
- 2016 Rules Don't Apply as Raymond Holliday
- 1999 Taken as Ethan Grover
- 1973 The President's Plane Is Missing as Sen. Bert Haines
- 1974 The Towering Inferno as Deputy Chief #1
- 1965 The Slender Thread as Charlie
- 1974 House of Evil
- 1999 Stuart Little as Dr. Beechwood
- 1987 Plaza Suite as Jesse Kiplinger
- 1999 Must Be Santa
- 1979 When She Was Bad... as Jack Wilson
- 1976 Kiss Me... Kill Me as Capt. Logan
- 1970 The Brotherhood of the Bell as Agent Shepard
- 1976 Midway as Captain Murray Arnold
- 1978 More Than Friends as Joshua 'Josh' Harrington
- 1992 Lincoln as Stephen A. Douglas (voice)
- 2022 Still Working 9 to 5 as Self
- 1987 Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood as Self
- 1990 The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson as Self
- 2001 Kiss My Act as Henry
- 2001 Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Street as Principal Peter Prickly
- 2001 The Making of Midway as Self
- 1976 Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman ( 212 episodes ) as Merle Jeeter
- 1971 Columbo ( 1 episode ) as Hugh Creighton
- 2010 Boardwalk Empire ( 24 episodes ) as Commodore Louis Kaestner
- 1963 Kraft Suspense Theatre ( 1 episode ) as William Gunther
- 2001 The Guardian ( 67 episodes ) as Burton Fallin
- 1965 The F.B.I. ( 1 episode ) as Ira Barker
- 1965 I Dream of Jeannie ( 1 episode ) as George Webb
- 1966 That Girl ( 7 episodes )
- 1978 Diff'rent Strokes ( 2 episodes )
- 1996 E! True Hollywood Story ( 1 episode )
- 1999 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit ( 1 episode ) as Frank Hager
- 1969 Room 222 ( 1 episode )
- 1967 Mannix ( 1 episode ) as Ralph Stoner
- 1968 The Mod Squad ( 1 episode ) as John
- 1973 Kojak ( 1 episode ) as Alex Linden
- 1969 Medical Center ( 1 episode )
- 1963 The Fugitive ( 1 episode ) as Floyd
- 2001 The Zeta Project ( 1 episode )
- 1971 Cannon ( 1 episode )
- 1967 Ironside ( 1 episode ) as Daniel Leary
- 1994 Madman of the People ( 16 episodes ) as Jack 'Madman' Buckner
- 1987 The Slap Maxwell Story ( 22 episodes )
- 1991 Drexell's Class ( 18 episodes )
- 1983 Buffalo Bill ( 26 episodes ) as Bill Bittinger
- 1970 Nanny and the Professor ( 1 episode ) as Detective Robinson
- 1965 Run for Your Life ( 1 episode ) as Fred Palmer
- 1963 The Fugitive ( 1 episode ) as Sergeant Keith
- 1973 Police Story ( 2 episodes )
- 1975 Switch ( 1 episode ) as C.C. Owens
- 1974 Sons and Daughters ( 1 episode )
- 1963 The Fugitive ( 1 episode ) as Officer George Graham
- 1972 Search ( 1 episode )
- 1972 Banyon ( 1 episode ) as Ralph Hubbard
- 1967 Judd, for the Defense ( 1 episode )
- 1963 The Fugitive ( 1 episode ) as Steve
- 1961 Ben Casey ( 1 episode )
- 1974 The Manhunter ( 1 episode )
- 1986 Fresno ( 5 episodes ) as Tyler Cane
- 1961 Dr. Kildare ( 1 episode ) as Dr. David Kirkson
- 1963 The Outer Limits ( 1 episode ) as Dr. Williams
- 1961 Kraft Mystery Theatre ( 1 episode )
- 1977 Forever Fernwood ( 30 episodes )
- 1978 Apple Pie ( 2 episodes ) as Fast Eddie Murtaugh
- 1963 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre ( 1 episode ) as Sergeant Harry King
- 1975 Saturday Night Live ( 1 episode ) as Self - Host
- 1971 Columbo ( 1 episode ) as Detective Murray
- 1963 Arrest and Trial ( 1 episode ) as Wayne Holton
- 1965 The F.B.I. ( 1 episode ) as Allen Clarke
- 1965 The F.B.I. ( 1 episode ) as Stanley Leonard
- 1965 The F.B.I. ( 1 episode ) as Sam Langlin
- 1965 The F.B.I. ( 1 episode ) as Ty Williams
- 1965 The F.B.I. ( 1 episode ) as Mr. Jamison
- 2010 Pound Puppies ( 4 episodes ) as Mayor (voice)
- 1965 The F.B.I. ( 1 episode ) as Barnes
- 1994 The Magic School Bus ( 1 episode ) as Horace Scope (voice)
- 1963 The Outer Limits ( 1 episode ) as James Custer
- 2006 Courting Alex ( 12 episodes ) as Jack Atwell
- 1963 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre ( 1 episode ) as Stanley Rivkin
- 1974 Petrocelli ( 1 episode ) as Willy Morgan
- 1963 Kraft Suspense Theatre ( 1 episode ) as Alvin Piper
- 1971 McMillan & Wife ( 1 episode ) as Hansen
- 1995 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child ( 1 episode ) as Monsieur Fox (voice)
- 1959 Bonanza ( 1 episode ) as Clyde
- 1997 Recess ( 5 episodes ) as Principal Peter Prickly (voice)
- 1973 Barnaby Jones ( 1 episode ) as George Clark
- 2018 For the People ( 1 episode ) as Donald
- 1972 The Streets of San Francisco ( 1 episode ) as George Todd
- 1967 The Invaders ( 1 episode ) as Capt. Mitchell Ross
- 1967 The Invaders ( 1 episode ) as John Carter
- 1977 The Love Boat ( 1 episode ) as Van Milner
- 2013 Ray Donovan ( 1 episode ) as Mr. Price
- 2003 NCIS ( 1 episode ) as Army Corporal John Sydney
- 1976 Quincy, M.E. ( 1 episode ) as Dr. Burt Travers
- 1976 Quincy, M.E. ( 1 episode ) as Officer Peter O'Neil
- 1973 Barnaby Jones ( 2 episodes ) as Ted Sayers
- 1977 Fernwood 2 Night ( 2 episodes ) as Mayor Merle Jeeter
- 1971 McMillan & Wife ( 1 episode ) as Walter Jennings
- 1972 The Streets of San Francisco ( 1 episode ) as Andrew Horvath, Sr.
- 1973 Barnaby Jones ( 1 episode ) as Brad Adamson
- 1970 Dan August ( 1 episode ) as Rick Bessett
- 1970 The Mary Tyler Moore Show ( 1 episode ) as Congressman Phil Whitman
- 1971 Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law ( 1 episode ) as Frank Wellmam
- 1969 The Bold Ones: The New Doctors ( 1 episode ) as Dr. Goldstone
- 1965 Please Don't Eat the Daisies ( 1 episode ) as Clark
- 1967 The Flying Nun ( 1 episode ) as Sub. Captain
- 1964 12 O'Clock High ( 1 episode ) as Captain Wilson
- 1963 The Outer Limits ( 1 episode ) as Lt. Rupert Lawrence Howard (uncredited)
- 1964 12 O'Clock High ( 1 episode ) as Captain Robbins
- 1962 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson ( 10 episodes ) as Self
- 1958 The Donna Reed Show ( 1 episode ) as Rallye Master
- 1961 Hazel ( 1 episode ) as Les Swanton
- 1958 Naked City ( 1 episode ) as Resident
- 1959 Bonanza ( 1 episode ) as Ivar Peterson
- 1973 Barnaby Jones ( 1 episode ) as Paul Cleveland
- 1965 I Dream of Jeannie ( 1 episode ) as Captain Yardley
- 2018 Yellowstone ( 1 episode ) as John Dutton Sr.
- 1962 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ( 1 episode ) as Tom Esterow
- 1962 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ( 1 episode ) as Sgt. Lou Snyder
- 1967 Mannix ( 1 episode ) as Howard Graham
- 1944 Golden Globe Awards ( 2 episodes ) as Self - Nominee
- 1969 Then Came Bronson ( 1 episode ) as Dr. Ron Carlisle
- 2007 Heartland ( 6 episodes ) as Dr. Bart Jacobs
- 1988 Baby M ( 2 episodes ) as Gary Skoloff
- 1966 That Girl ( 1 episode ) as Dr. Leon Bessemer
- 1975 Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux Klan ( 2 episodes ) as Paul Mathison
- 1975 Medical Story ( 1 episode ) as Blair
