American Actor Dabney Coleman, Died At Age of 92

Dabney Coleman, the actor known for playing charming yet smarmy villains, has passed away at the age of 92. He was famous for his roles as the sexist boss in 9 to 5 and the mean TV director in Tootsie.
Also another US man died in his young age recently.

Dabney Coleman died on Thursday at his home in Santa Monica, according to his daughter, Quincy Coleman. In a statement to The Associated Press, she said he “passed away peacefully.”

Ben Stiller wrote on X that Dabney Coleman “literally created, or defined, really in a uniquely singular way an archetype as a character actor.” He praised Coleman for his exceptional talent, saying it’s hard to imagine movies and television over the last 40 years without him.

Stiller highlighted how Coleman’s unique style and memorable performances left a lasting impact on the industry, while making him an unforgettable figure in entertainment.

For twenty years, Coleman worked in movies and TV shows without much recognition. That changed suddenly in 1976 when he played the corrupt mayor of Fernwood in “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” a satirical soap opera that was so outrageous no network wanted to air it.

Dabney Coleman’s Career:

Dabney Coleman was a prolific character actor who appeared in over 60 films and television shows. He honed his craft at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City, while he trained with the renowned acting teacher Sanford Meisner from 1958 to 1960. This training also helped shape his distinctive style, contributing to his success in a wide variety of roles throughout his career.

Dabney Coleman made his Broadway debut in the short lived play “A Call on Kuprin” in 1961. In 1964, he appeared as private investigator William Gunther in an episode of “Kraft Suspense Theatre” titled “The Threatening Eye.” Two years later, he played Dr. Leon Bessemer, a friend and neighbor of the main character, in Season 1, Episode 3 of “That Girl,” titled “Never Change a Diaper on Opening Night.”

Noted for his distinctive mustache, while he started growing in 1973, Coleman appeared in this sitcom wearing horn-rimmed glasses and clean-shaven. Early in his career, he took on a variety of roles, including also a coach for the U.S. Olympic skiing team in “Downhill Racer” (1969), a high ranking fire chief in “The Towering Inferno” (1974), and a wealthy Westerner in “Bite the Bullet” (1975). He also played an FBI agent in the TV movie “Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux Klan” (1975).

These roles showcased his versatility as an actor and laid the foundation for his later success in film and television.

Dabney Coleman became widely recognized when he played Franklin Hart, Jr., the sexist boss in the 1980 movie “9 to 5.” So, in this role, three female employees plot revenge against him. This performance solidified Coleman’s reputation as a comic relief villain, a character type he frequently portrayed afterward.

He continued this trend with his role as the arrogant and sexist soap opera director in “Tootsie” (1982). However, Coleman also took on a variety of other roles that showcased his range as an actor. In “On Golden Pond” (1981), he also played the sympathetic fiancé of Chelsea Thayer Wayne, portrayed by Jane Fonda.

In “WarGames” (1983), Coleman appeared as a military computer scientist, and in “Cloak & Dagger” (1984). So, he played a dual role as both a loving but busy father and his son’s imaginary hero.

In the 1990 comedy “Short Time,” Coleman took on the role of an aging cop who mistakenly believes he is terminally ill. So, these diverse roles demonstrated Coleman’s versatility and ability to bring depth to a wide range of characters.

Over the years, Dabney Coleman balanced roles in both serious dramas and comedies, often playing characters similar to his role in “9 to 5.” He received his first Emmy nomination for his lead role in the critically acclaimed but short-lived TV series “Buffalo Bill,” where he played a talented yet self-centered TV host. In 1987, Coleman won an Emmy Award for his performance in the television film “Sworn to Silence.”

Coleman’s career included a variety of memorable roles. While, he played a con artist Broadway producer in “The Muppets Take Manhattan” (1984) and a lisping. So, Hugh Hefner-like magazine mogul in the comedy “Dragnet” (1987). In 1988, he appeared as Bobcat Goldthwait’s boss in the talking horse comedy “Hot to Trot.” He also portrayed the befuddled banker Milburn Drysdale in “The Beverly Hillbillies” (1993), a role that reunited him with his “9 to 5” co-stars Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton.

Continuing his streak of playing comic foils, Coleman took on the role of Charles Grodin’s sleazy boss, Gerald Ellis, in “Clifford” (1994), which also starred Martin Short. So, these roles showcased Coleman’s ability to bring humor and depth to a wide range of characters. Also solidifying his legacy as a versatile and talented actor.

From 1997 to 2001, Dabney Coleman lent his voice to the character Principal Prickly in the animated series “Recess.” During this time, he also portrayed a cheating father in “You’ve Got Mail” (1998) and a less than impressive police commissioner in “Inspector Gadget,” reuniting him with his “WarGames” co-star Matthew Broderick. While, he garnered praise for his role as Burton Fallin in the TV series “The Guardian” (2001–2004). Also from 2010 to 2011, Coleman was a regular cast member on HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire.”

His more recent roles included a small part in Warren Beatty’s Howard Hughes comedy “Rules Don’t Apply” in 2016. Also a guest appearance as Kevin Costner’s dying father in the TV series “Yellowstone” in 2019.

On November 6, 2014, Coleman was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, while, recognizing his significant contributions to the entertainment industry.

Dabney Coleman Awards and nominations:

Dabney Coleman received critical acclaim for his role in “The Slap Maxwell Story,” earning a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series. Additionally, he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his performance in “Sworn to Silence.”

1. Year: 1987
   Association: CableACE Awards
   Category: Actor in a Movie or Miniseries
   Nominated Work: Murrow
   Result: Nominated
2. Year: 1984
   Association: Golden Globe Awards
   Category: Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy
   Nominated Work: Buffalo Bill
   Result: Nominated
3. Year: 1988
   Association: Golden Globe Awards
   Category: Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy
   Nominated Work: The Slap Maxwell Story
   Result: Won
4. Year: 1988
   Association: Golden Globe Awards
   Category: Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
   Nominated Work: Sworn to Silence
   Result: Nominated
5. Year: 1991
   Association: Primetime Emmy Awards
   Category: Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
   Nominated Work: Columbo: “Columbo and the Murder of a Rock Star”
   Result: Nominated
6. Year: 1983
   Association: Primetime Emmy Awards
   Category: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
   Nominated Work: Buffalo Bill
   Result: Nominated
7. Year: 1984
   Association: Primetime Emmy Awards
   Category: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
   Nominated Work: Buffalo Bill
   Result: Nominated
8. Year: 1988
   Association: Primetime Emmy Awards
   Category: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
   Nominated Work: The Slap Maxwell Story
   Result: Nominated
9. Year: 2011
   Association: Screen Actors Guild Awards
   Category: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
   Nominated Work: Boardwalk Empire
   Result: Won
10. Year: 2012
    Association: Screen Actors Guild Awards
    Category: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
    Nominated Work: Boardwalk Empire
    Result: Won
11. Year: 1987
    Association: Primetime Emmy Awards
    Category: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
    Nominated Work: Sworn to Silence
    Result: Won
12. Year: 1988
    Association: Primetime Emmy Awards
    Category: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
    Nominated Work: Baby M
    Result: Nominated

Dabney Coleman Personal Life:

Dabney Coleman was born on January 3, 1932, in Austin, Texas. He went to Virginia Military Institute and later attended the University of Texas at Austin. While, after being drafted into the United States Army in 1953, he served in Europe.

He married and divorced twice, first to Ann Courtney Harrell from 1957 to 1959, and then to Jean Hale from 1961 to 1984. Also, he had four children, Kelly, Randy, and Quincy with Jean Hale, and Meghan.

In 1998, Coleman teamed up with fellow actor Bronson Pinchot at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, to advocate for forest conservation. He also led campaigns to educate others on forest care and protection nationwide.

Outside of acting, Coleman was passionate about tennis, participating in celebrity and charity tournaments. He frequently played at the Riviera Country Club and engaged in local competitions. He was also a devoted fan of the St. Louis Browns, now known as the Baltimore Orioles.

So, Coleman passed away at his home in Santa Monica, California, on May 16, 2024, at the age of 92.