Dabney Coleman
Acting • Born 1932-01-03 – Died 2024-05-16
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).
Filmography
198 credits
WarGames
Movie • 1983
McKittrick
Inspector Gadget
Movie • 1999
Chief Quimby
Clifford
Movie • 1994
Gerald Ellis
The Man with One Red Shoe
Movie • 1985
Cooper
How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale
Movie • 2000
John Kennedy
Where the Red Fern Grows
Movie • 2003
Grandpa
Rolling Thunder
Movie • 1977
Maxwell
Amos & Andrew
Movie • 1993
Chief of Police Cecil Tolliver
Moonlight Mile
Movie • 2002
Mike Mulcahey
Hot to Trot
Movie • 1988
Walter Sawyer
Target Earth
Movie • 1998
Senator Ben Arnold
On Golden Pond
Movie • 1981
Bill Ray
Dan August: The Jealousy Factor
Movie • 1980
Rick Bessett
Maneaters Are Loose!
Movie • 1978
McCallum
Short Time
Movie • 1990
Burt Simpson
The Muppets Take Manhattan
Movie • 1984
Martin Price
The Scalphunters
Movie • 1968
Jed
Melvin and Howard
Movie • 1980
Judge Keith Hayes
My Date with the President's Daughter
Movie • 1998
President George Richmond
Pray TV
Movie • 1980
Marvin Fleece
You've Got Mail
Movie • 1998
Nelson Fox
Downhill Racer
Movie • 1969
Mayo
Bite the Bullet
Movie • 1975
Jack Parker
The Climb
Movie • 2002
Mack
Tootsie
Movie • 1982
Ron Carlisle
Domino
Movie • 2005
Drake Bishop
Devil's Food
Movie • 1996
Seymour Kecker
The Trouble with Girls
Movie • 1969
Harrison Wilby
A Witch's Way of Love
Movie • 1997
Joel
Modern Problems
Movie • 1981
Mark Winslow
Hard Four
Movie • 2007
Spray Loomis
This Property Is Condemned
Movie • 1966
Salesman
Giving It Up
Movie • 1999
Johnathan Gallant
Young Doctors in Love
Movie • 1982
Dr. Joseph Prang
Where the Heart Is
Movie • 1990
Stewart McBain
Callie & Son
Movie • 1981
Randall Bordeaux
Cloak & Dagger
Movie • 1984
Jack Flack / Hal Osborne
Recess: School's Out
Movie • 2001
Principal Peter Prickly (voice)
Nine to Five
Movie • 1980
Franklin M. Hart Jr.
Recess: All Growed Down
Movie • 2003
Principal Prickley (voice)
Viva Knievel!
Movie • 1977
Ralph Thompson
Bad Ronald
Movie • 1974
Mr. Wood
Cinderella Liberty
Movie • 1973
Executive Officer
The Other Side of the Mountain
Movie • 1975
Dave McCoy
Dying Room Only
Movie • 1973
Bob Mitchell
Savage
Movie • 1973
Ted Seligson
Never Forget
Movie • 1991
William Cox
Judicial Consent
Movie • 1994
Charles Mayron
The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
Movie • 1986
Dabney Coleman
Guilty of Innocence: The Lenell Geter Story
Movie • 1987
Ed Sigel
The Case of the Baltimore Girls
Movie • 1978
George Bates
Returning Home
Movie • 1975
Al Stephenson
Nothing Personal
Movie • 1980
Dickerson
Char·ac·ter
Movie • 2012
Self
I Love My Wife
Movie • 1970
Frank Donnelly
Black Fist
Movie • 1977
Heineken
The Beverly Hillbillies
Movie • 1993
Milburn Drysdale
There Goes the Neighborhood
Movie • 1992
Jeffrey Babitt
Maybe Baby
Movie • 1988
Hal
How to Beat the High Cost of Living
Movie • 1980
Jack Heintzel
North Dallas Forty
Movie • 1979
Emmett Hunter
Dragnet
Movie • 1987
Jerry Caesar
Meet the Applegates
Movie • 1990
Aunt Bea
Sworn to Silence
Movie • 1987
Martin Costigan
Exiled
Movie • 1998
Lieutenant Kevin Stolper
Night of 100 Stars II
Movie • 1985
Self
Moving Target
Movie • 1973
The Dove
Movie • 1974
Charles Huntley
In the Line of Duty: Kidnapped
Movie • 1995
Arthur Milo
Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade
Movie • 2003
Principal Prickly (voice)
Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux Klan
Movie • 1975
Paul Mathison
Murrow
Movie • 1986
William Paley
Rules Don't Apply
Movie • 2016
Raymond Holliday
Taken
Movie • 1999
Ethan Grover
The President's Plane Is Missing
Movie • 1973
Sen. Bert Haines
The Towering Inferno
Movie • 1974
Deputy Chief #1
The Slender Thread
Movie • 1965
Charlie
House of Evil
Movie • 1974
Stuart Little
Movie • 1999
Dr. Beechwood
Plaza Suite
Movie • 1987
Jesse Kiplinger
Must Be Santa
Movie • 1999
When She Was Bad...
Movie • 1979
Jack Wilson
Kiss Me... Kill Me
Movie • 1976
Capt. Logan
The Brotherhood of the Bell
Movie • 1970
Agent Shepard
Midway
Movie • 1976
Captain Murray Arnold
More Than Friends
Movie • 1978
Joshua 'Josh' Harrington
Lincoln
Movie • 1992
Stephen A. Douglas (voice)
Still Working 9 to 5
Movie • 2022
Self
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Movie • 1987
Self
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
Movie • 1990
Self
Kiss My Act
Movie • 2001
Henry
Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Street
Movie • 2001
Principal Peter Prickly
The Making of Midway
Movie • 2001
Self
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
TV • 1976
Merle Jeeter
Columbo
TV • 1971
Hugh Creighton
Boardwalk Empire
TV • 2010
Commodore Louis Kaestner
Kraft Suspense Theatre
TV • 1963
William Gunther
The Guardian
TV • 2001
Burton Fallin
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Ira Barker
I Dream of Jeannie
TV • 1965
George Webb
That Girl
TV • 1966
Diff'rent Strokes
TV • 1978
E! True Hollywood Story
TV • 1996
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV • 1999
Frank Hager
Room 222
TV • 1969
Mannix
TV • 1967
Ralph Stoner
The Mod Squad
TV • 1968
John
Kojak
TV • 1973
Alex Linden
Medical Center
TV • 1969
The Fugitive
TV • 1963
Floyd
The Zeta Project
TV • 2001
Cannon
TV • 1971
Ironside
TV • 1967
Daniel Leary
Madman of the People
TV • 1994
Jack 'Madman' Buckner
The Slap Maxwell Story
TV • 1987
Drexell's Class
TV • 1991
Buffalo Bill
TV • 1983
Bill Bittinger
Nanny and the Professor
TV • 1970
Detective Robinson
Run for Your Life
TV • 1965
Fred Palmer
The Fugitive
TV • 1963
Sergeant Keith
Police Story
TV • 1973
Switch
TV • 1975
C.C. Owens
Sons and Daughters
TV • 1974
The Fugitive
TV • 1963
Officer George Graham
Search
TV • 1972
Banyon
TV • 1972
Ralph Hubbard
Judd for the Defense
TV • 1967
The Fugitive
TV • 1963
Steve
Ben Casey
TV • 1961
The Manhunter
TV • 1974
Medical Story
TV • 1975
Fresno
TV • 1986
Tyler Cane
Dr. Kildare
TV • 1961
Dr. David Kirkson
The Outer Limits
TV • 1963
Dr. Williams
Kraft Mystery Theatre
TV • 1961
Forever Fernwood
TV • 1977
Apple Pie
TV • 1978
Fast Eddie Murtaugh
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
TV • 1963
Sergeant Harry King
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Host
Columbo
TV • 1971
Detective Murray
Arrest and Trial
TV • 1963
Wayne Holton
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Allen Clarke
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Stanley Leonard
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Sam Langlin
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Ty Williams
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Mr. Jamison
Pound Puppies
TV • 2010
Mayor (voice)
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Barnes
The Magic School Bus
TV • 1994
Horace Scope (voice)
The Outer Limits
TV • 1963
James Custer
Courting Alex
TV • 2006
Jack Atwell
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
TV • 1963
Stanley Rivkin
Petrocelli
TV • 1974
Willy Morgan
Kraft Suspense Theatre
TV • 1963
Alvin Piper
McMillan & Wife
TV • 1971
Hansen
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
TV • 1995
Monsieur Fox (voice)
Bonanza
TV • 1959
Clyde
Recess
TV • 1997
Principal Peter Prickly (voice)
Barnaby Jones
TV • 1973
George Clark
For the People
TV • 2018
Donald
The Streets of San Francisco
TV • 1972
George Todd
The Invaders
TV • 1967
Capt. Mitchell Ross
The Invaders
TV • 1967
John Carter
The Love Boat
TV • 1977
Van Milner
Ray Donovan
TV • 2013
Mr. Price
NCIS
TV • 2003
Army Corporal John Sydney
Fernwood 2 Night
TV • 1977
Mayor Merle Jeeter
Quincy, M.E.
TV • 1976
Dr. Burt Travers
Quincy, M.E.
TV • 1976
Officer Peter O'Neil
Barnaby Jones
TV • 1973
Ted Sayers
Barnaby Jones
TV • 1973
Brad Adamson
The Streets of San Francisco
TV • 1972
Andrew Horvath, Sr.
McMillan & Wife
TV • 1971
Walter Jennings
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
TV • 1971
Frank Wellmam
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
TV • 1970
Congressman Phil Whitman
Dan August
TV • 1970
Rick Bessett
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
TV • 1969
Dr. Goldstone
The Flying Nun
TV • 1967
Sub. Captain
Please Don't Eat the Daisies
TV • 1965
Clark
12 O'Clock High
TV • 1964
Captain Wilson
12 O'Clock High
TV • 1964
Captain Robbins
The Outer Limits
TV • 1963
Lt. Rupert Lawrence Howard (uncredited)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
Hazel
TV • 1961
Les Swanton
Bonanza
TV • 1959
Ivar Peterson
The Donna Reed Show
TV • 1958
Rallye Master
Naked City
TV • 1958
Resident
Barnaby Jones
TV • 1973
Paul Cleveland
I Dream of Jeannie
TV • 1965
Captain Yardley
Yellowstone
TV • 2018
John Dutton Sr.
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
TV • 1962
Tom Esterow
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
TV • 1962
Sgt. Lou Snyder
Mannix
TV • 1967
Howard Graham
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self - Nominee
Then Came Bronson
TV • 1969
Dr. Ron Carlisle
Heartland
TV • 2007
Dr. Bart Jacobs
Baby M
TV • 1988
Gary Skoloff
That Girl
TV • 1966
Dr. Leon Bessemer