Dabney Coleman
Dabney Wharton Coleman (January 3, 1932 – May 16, 2024) was an American actor. Widely known for his portrayal of egomaniacal and unlikeable characters in comedic roles, he appeared in over 175 films and television programs and was recognized for both comedic and dramatic performances.[1]
Dabney Coleman
May 16, 2024 (aged 92)
Actor
1961–2019
-
Ann Courtney Harrell(m. 1957; div. 1959)
4
United States
1953–1955
Coleman's most widely known films include 9 to 5 (1980), On Golden Pond (1981), Tootsie (1982), WarGames (1983), Cloak & Dagger (1984), and You've Got Mail (1998).
Coleman's notable television roles included Merle Jeeter on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976–1977), the title characters in Buffalo Bill (1983–1984) and The Slap Maxwell Story (1987–1988), and Burton Fallin on The Guardian (2001–2004). More recently, he portrayed Louis "The Commodore" Kaestner on Boardwalk Empire (2010–2011) and made a memorable appearance on Yellowstone (2019) in his final role. As a voice actor, he is best known for providing the voice of Principal Peter Prickly on Recess (1997–2001) and in several movies based on the series.
He won one Primetime Emmy Award from six nominations and one Golden Globe Award from three nominations.
Early life[edit]
Dabney Coleman was born the youngest of four children in Austin, Texas, on January 3, 1932, to Randolph and Mary Johns Coleman. His father passed away from pneumonia when Dabney was four years old. He and his siblings were then raised by his mother in Corpus Christi, Texas. He attended Corpus Christi High School where he excelled at tennis, becoming a nationally ranked junior tennis player. He spent two years at Virginia Military Institute followed by another two years at the University of Texas at Austin.[2][3] He was drafted into the United States Army in 1953 and served in West Germany in the Army's Special Services Division for two years, playing tennis across Europe for the Army and the local town.[4][5]
Personal life and death[edit]
Coleman was married to Ann Courtney Harrell from 1957 to 1959 and Jean Hale from 1961 to 1984. He had four children, Meghan, Kelly, Randy, and Quincy.[9]
Coleman was an avid tennis player, winning celebrity and charity tournaments. He played mainly at the Riviera Country Club as well as in local tournaments.[34][35] He was also known for being a regular at Dan Tana's restaurant in West Hollywood, where a large New York Steak is named after him.[6] When Coleman received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, an after party was held at Dan Tana's to celebrate the occasion.[36] His favorite sports team was the St. Louis Browns,[37] which are now the Baltimore Orioles.[38]
In the 1980s and 1990s, it was noted by several journalists that Coleman chain-smoked cigarettes during his interviews. In one of those same articles, he was described as a "lean and impossibly fit-looking 62 years old" by The New York Times in 1994.[39][40][41]
In 2011, Coleman started treatment for throat cancer, which sometimes affected his ability to speak. The diagnosis led to a rapid rewrite and early filming of his scenes for the second season of Boardwalk Empire. In a 2012 interview, he discussed his experience filming the series while dealing with cancer, lighting up a cigarette at one point during the interview, and mentioned that he no longer had cancer.[6]
Coleman died at his home in Santa Monica, California, on May 16, 2024, at age 92, of cardiac arrest due to dysphagia and heart failure.[3][42]