Dabney Coleman, the Actor Audiences Loved to Hate, Dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the Emmy-winning actor known for his roles in “9 to 5,” “Tootsie,” and “Buffalo Bill,” passed away on May 17, 2024, at the age of 92. Coleman, known for playing grumpy, self-centered characters, made a lasting impact on TV and movies, winning over audiences with his mix of comedy and drama skills.
Born on January 3, 1932, in Austin, Texas, he faced early adversity with the death of his father when he was just four years old.
Raised by his mother, Coleman attended the Virginia Military Institute and served in the U.S. Army before briefly studying law at the University of Texas. His passion for acting led him to New York City, where he trained under the esteemed Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse.
Coleman’s early career saw him making a mark on the stage and in guest roles on television.
His Broadway debut came in 1961 with “A Call on Kuprin,” and he soon amassed an impressive list of TV credits, including appearances on “Ben Casey,” “Dr. Kildare,” “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour,” and “I Dream of Jeannie.”
It was his role as the feisty Mayor Merle Jeeter on Norman Lear’s satirical soap opera “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” that proved to be a turning point in Coleman’s career. The character, initially intended for a short stint, showcased Coleman’s knack for portraying delightfully despicable figures, a talent that would define much of his later work. In a 2012 interview with The A.V. Club, Coleman reflected on this role, calling it “the turning point in my career” and noting that it established his reputation for playing “negative, caustic, cynical” characters.
Coleman’s breakthrough in film came with the 1980 comedy classic “9 to 5,” where he played the chauvinistic boss Franklin Hart Jr., opposite Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton.
The film was a massive success, finishing as the second-highest domestic release of the year, and solidified Coleman as Hollywood’s go-to actor for arrogant and unsavory roles. His performance in “9 to 5” was followed by another memorable turn as a sexist soap opera director in Sydney Pollack’s “Tootsie” (1982).
One of his most memorable lines from “9 to 5” perfectly encapsulates his character’s boorishness: “I’m as nice as I can be… to everyone I meet.”
In “Tootsie,” his character’s arrogance is summed up with the line: “I begged you to get some therapy.“
Despite his frequent typecasting as a jerk, Coleman also demonstrated considerable range and depth in dramatic roles.
He won an Emmy for his performance in the 1987 TV film “Sworn to Silence,” which depicted the tensions in an Amish community after a series of murders. His portrayal of Commodore Louis Kaestner in HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” earned him two Screen Actors Guild awards as part of the ensemble cast.
Coleman’s versatility extended to voice acting as well. He lent his distinctive voice to the character of Principal Prickly in the ’90s animated series “Recess,” further endearing him to a younger generation of fans.
In addition to his successful television career, Coleman’s filmography includes notable films such as “The Towering Inferno” (1974), “WarGames” (1983), “The Beverly Hillbillies” (1993), “Clifford” (1994), and “You’ve Got Mail” (1998). His later roles included appearances in “Yellowstone” as Kevin Costner’s ailing father and in Warren Beatty’s “Rules Don’t Apply” (2016).
His personal life saw him married and divorced twice, first to Ann Courtney Harrell and then to actress Jean Hale. He is survived by his children Meghan, Kelly, Randy, and Quincy, and his grandchildren Hale and Gabe Torrance, Luie Freundl, and Kai and Coleman Biancaniello.