Dabney Coleman

Dabney Coleman

Acting
Born 1932-01-03 - Died 2024-05-16Austin, 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).

Movies (93)

Nine to Five
6.9

Nine to Five

1980Movie6.9
You've Got Mail
6.7

You've Got Mail

1998Movie6.7
Stuart Little
6.1

Stuart Little

1999Movie6.1
WarGames
7.1

WarGames

1983Movie7.1
Domino
5.9

Domino

2005Movie5.9
Midway
6.6

Midway

1976Movie6.6
Inspector Gadget
4.5

Inspector Gadget

1999Movie4.5
The Beverly Hillbillies
6.3

The Beverly Hillbillies

1993Movie6.3
The Muppets Take Manhattan
6.6

The Muppets Take Manhattan

1984Movie6.6
The Towering Inferno
7.0

The Towering Inferno

1974Movie7.0
Tootsie
7.2

Tootsie

1982Movie7.2
On Golden Pond
7.3

On Golden Pond

1981Movie7.3
Dragnet
6.0

Dragnet

1987Movie6.0
The Man with One Red Shoe
5.7

The Man with One Red Shoe

1985Movie5.7
Exiled
5.9

Exiled

1998Movie5.9
Amos & Andrew
5.5

Amos & Andrew

1993Movie5.5
Young Doctors in Love
5.3

Young Doctors in Love

1982Movie5.3
Rules Don't Apply
5.7

Rules Don't Apply

2016Movie5.7
Night of 100 Stars II
6.8

Night of 100 Stars II

1985Movie6.8
Downhill Racer
5.9

Downhill Racer

1969Movie5.9
Cloak & Dagger
6.4

Cloak & Dagger

1984Movie6.4
Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade
6.6

Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade

2003Movie6.6
Recess: School's Out
6.6

Recess: School's Out

2001Movie6.6
Clifford
5.1

Clifford

1994Movie5.1
The Scalphunters
6.4

The Scalphunters

1968Movie6.4
How to Beat the High Cost of Living
5.3

How to Beat the High Cost of Living

1980Movie5.3
Hot to Trot
5.2

Hot to Trot

1988Movie5.2
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
6.8

The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson

1990Movie6.8
Moonlight Mile
6.3

Moonlight Mile

2002Movie6.3
Bite the Bullet
6.4

Bite the Bullet

1975Movie6.4
This Property Is Condemned
6.4

This Property Is Condemned

1966Movie6.4
Judicial Consent
5.6

Judicial Consent

1994Movie5.6
Rolling Thunder
6.8

Rolling Thunder

1977Movie6.8
Short Time
6.5

Short Time

1990Movie6.5
Melvin and Howard
6.5

Melvin and Howard

1980Movie6.5
Where the Red Fern Grows
6.5

Where the Red Fern Grows

2003Movie6.5
Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Street
6.3

Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Street

2001Movie6.3
Dolly Parton: An American Original – Special Edition of 20/20
10.0

Dolly Parton: An American Original – Special Edition of 20/20

2026Movie10.0
Dying Room Only
6.6

Dying Room Only

1973Movie6.6
The Trouble with Girls
4.9

The Trouble with Girls

1969Movie4.9
The Slender Thread
7.1

The Slender Thread

1965Movie7.1
There Goes the Neighborhood
5.5

There Goes the Neighborhood

1992Movie5.5
Plaza Suite
8.0

Plaza Suite

1987Movie8.0
Modern Problems
5.4

Modern Problems

1981Movie5.4
Recess: All Growed Down
6.5

Recess: All Growed Down

2003Movie6.5
Bad Ronald
6.4

Bad Ronald

1974Movie6.4
North Dallas Forty
6.7

North Dallas Forty

1979Movie6.7
The Brotherhood of the Bell
6.0

The Brotherhood of the Bell

1970Movie6.0
The Other Side of the Mountain
6.3

The Other Side of the Mountain

1975Movie6.3
Maybe Baby
5.0

Maybe Baby

1988Movie5.0
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
6.0

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

1987Movie6.0
Nothing Personal
5.5

Nothing Personal

1980Movie5.5
Never Forget
5.0

Never Forget

1991Movie5.0
Giving It Up
4.2

Giving It Up

1999Movie4.2
Where the Heart Is
6.2

Where the Heart Is

1990Movie6.2
Cinderella Liberty
6.7

Cinderella Liberty

1973Movie6.7
My Date with the President's Daughter
6.8

My Date with the President's Daughter

1998Movie6.8
The Dove
6.7

The Dove

1974Movie6.7
I Love My Wife
3.5

I Love My Wife

1970Movie3.5
Savage!
5.5

Savage!

1973Movie5.5
Sworn to Silence
7.0

Sworn to Silence

1987Movie7.0
Callie & Son
6.7

Callie & Son

1981Movie6.7
Moving Target

Moving Target

1973Movie
Lincoln
7.3

Lincoln

1992Movie7.3
When She Was Bad...
5.0

When She Was Bad...

1979Movie5.0
A Witch's Way of Love
5.2

A Witch's Way of Love

1997Movie5.2
More Than Friends
10.0

More Than Friends

1978Movie10.0
Murrow
5.5

Murrow

1986Movie5.5
The President's Plane Is Missing
6.3

The President's Plane Is Missing

1973Movie6.3
Pray TV
5.5

Pray TV

1980Movie5.5
Taken
5.0

Taken

1999Movie5.0
Meet the Applegates
5.6

Meet the Applegates

1990Movie5.6
Hard Four
4.9

Hard Four

2007Movie4.9
Devil's Food
7.0

Devil's Food

1996Movie7.0
Viva Knievel!
4.0

Viva Knievel!

1977Movie4.0
Kiss Me... Kill Me
6.8

Kiss Me... Kill Me

1976Movie6.8
In the Line of Duty: Kidnapped
5.3

In the Line of Duty: Kidnapped

1995Movie5.3
The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
6.4

The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer

1986Movie6.4
Char·ac·ter
4.0

Char·ac·ter

2012Movie4.0
The Making of Midway
9.0

The Making of Midway

2001Movie9.0
Target Earth
4.4

Target Earth

1998Movie4.4
Still Working 9 to 5
10.0

Still Working 9 to 5

2022Movie10.0
Dan August: The Jealousy Factor
2.0

Dan August: The Jealousy Factor

1980Movie2.0
The Climb
6.1

The Climb

2002Movie6.1
Kiss My Act
6.0

Kiss My Act

2001Movie6.0
How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale
4.0

How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale

2000Movie4.0
Must Be Santa
3.5

Must Be Santa

1999Movie3.5
Guilty of Innocence: The Lenell Geter Story
6.5

Guilty of Innocence: The Lenell Geter Story

1987Movie6.5
Returning Home
6.5

Returning Home

1975Movie6.5
Black Fist
4.4

Black Fist

1977Movie4.4
Maneaters Are Loose!
10.0

Maneaters Are Loose!

1978Movie10.0
House of Evil
7.5

House of Evil

1974Movie7.5
The Case of the Baltimore Girls

The Case of the Baltimore Girls

1978Movie

TV Shows (79)

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
8.0

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

1999Series8.0
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
NCIS
7.6

NCIS

2003Series7.6
Saturday Night Live
6.9

Saturday Night Live

1975Series6.9
Yellowstone
8.3

Yellowstone

2018Series8.3
The Donna Reed Show
6.5

The Donna Reed Show

1958Series6.5
Columbo
8.1

Columbo

1971Series8.1
The Love Boat
6.3

The Love Boat

1977Series6.3
Ironside
6.8

Ironside

1967Series6.8
Bonanza
7.5

Bonanza

1959Series7.5
Boardwalk Empire
8.0

Boardwalk Empire

2010Series8.0
Golden Globe Awards
7.0

Golden Globe Awards

1944Series7.0
Dr. Kildare
5.7

Dr. Kildare

1961Series5.7
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
7.7

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

1970Series7.7
The Fugitive
7.3

The Fugitive

1963Series7.3
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
7.9

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

1962Series7.9
Mannix
6.8

Mannix

1967Series6.8
The Flying Nun
6.3

The Flying Nun

1967Series6.3
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
5.9

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

1963Series5.9
Ray Donovan
7.5

Ray Donovan

2013Series7.5
I Dream of Jeannie
7.8

I Dream of Jeannie

1965Series7.8
The Guardian
7.0

The Guardian

2001Series7.0
Run for Your Life
7.1

Run for Your Life

1965Series7.1
Room 222
6.1

Room 222

1969Series6.1
Quincy, M.E.
7.5

Quincy, M.E.

1976Series7.5
The Outer Limits
7.8

The Outer Limits

1963Series7.8
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
7.3

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

1976Series7.3
Cannon
6.7

Cannon

1971Series6.7
Pound Puppies
5.3

Pound Puppies

2010Series5.3
Barnaby Jones
7.1

Barnaby Jones

1973Series7.1
Recess
7.7

Recess

1997Series7.7
Naked City
5.7

Naked City

1958Series5.7
Ben Casey
5.9

Ben Casey

1961Series5.9
The F.B.I.
5.6

The F.B.I.

1965Series5.6
The Magic School Bus
7.7

The Magic School Bus

1994Series7.7
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
6.3

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

1995Series6.3
Medical Center
6.4

Medical Center

1969Series6.4
Hazel
6.8

Hazel

1961Series6.8
The Invaders
6.9

The Invaders

1967Series6.9
Kraft Suspense Theatre
6.5

Kraft Suspense Theatre

1963Series6.5
That Girl
6.2

That Girl

1966Series6.2
Police Story
7.0

Police Story

1973Series7.0
12 O'Clock High
7.2

12 O'Clock High

1964Series7.2
Kojak
7.2

Kojak

1973Series7.2
The Streets of San Francisco
7.1

The Streets of San Francisco

1972Series7.1
Switch
6.6

Switch

1975Series6.6
Petrocelli
7.2

Petrocelli

1974Series7.2
The Zeta Project
7.5

The Zeta Project

2001Series7.5
Nanny and the Professor
6.7

Nanny and the Professor

1970Series6.7
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
6.5

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

1971Series6.5
The Mod Squad
6.1

The Mod Squad

1968Series6.1
McMillan & Wife
7.1

McMillan & Wife

1971Series7.1
For the People
7.2

For the People

2018Series7.2
Judd, for the Defense
7.7

Judd, for the Defense

1967Series7.7
Arrest and Trial
8.3

Arrest and Trial

1963Series8.3
Please Don't Eat the Daisies
6.8

Please Don't Eat the Daisies

1965Series6.8
Then Came Bronson
5.2

Then Came Bronson

1969Series5.2
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
4.8

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

1969Series4.8
Banyon
8.0

Banyon

1972Series8.0
Dan August
7.2

Dan August

1970Series7.2
The Manhunter
7.0

The Manhunter

1974Series7.0
Fernwood 2 Night
6.4

Fernwood 2 Night

1977Series6.4
Medical Story
5.0

Medical Story

1975Series5.0
Madman of the People
6.5

Madman of the People

1994Series6.5
Heartland
6.5

Heartland

2007Series6.5
Kraft Mystery Theatre
7.2

Kraft Mystery Theatre

1961Series7.2
Buffalo Bill
6.7

Buffalo Bill

1983Series6.7
Search
7.1

Search

1972Series7.1
E! True Hollywood Story
8.1

E! True Hollywood Story

1996Series8.1
Sons and Daughters
9.0

Sons and Daughters

1974Series9.0
Fresno
6.7

Fresno

1986Series6.7
Forever Fernwood
5.0

Forever Fernwood

1977Series5.0
Courting Alex
5.8

Courting Alex

2006Series5.8
Diff'rent Strokes
7.1

Diff'rent Strokes

1978Series7.1
The Slap Maxwell Story
4.0

The Slap Maxwell Story

1987Series4.0
Drexell's Class
6.3

Drexell's Class

1991Series6.3
Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux Klan

Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux Klan

1975Series
Baby M
7.0

Baby M

1988Series7.0
Apple Pie
7.5

Apple Pie

1978Series7.5