Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Last edited Sun May 19, 2024, 05:55 AM - Edit history (2)

Source: The Associated Press, via WTOP

Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92

The Associated Press
May 17, 2024, 6:29 PM

NEW YORK (AP) -- Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in "9 to 5" and the nasty TV director in "Tootsie," has died. He was 92. ... Coleman died Thursday at his home in Santa Monica, his daughter, Quincy Coleman, said in a statement to The Associated Press. She said he "took his last earthly breath peacefully and exquisitely."

{snip}

For two decades Coleman labored in movies and TV shows as a talented but largely unnoticed performer. That changed abruptly in 1976 when he was cast as the incorrigibly corrupt mayor of the hamlet of Fernwood in "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," a satirical soap opera that was so over the top no network would touch it.

Producer Norman Lear finally managed to syndicate the show, which starred Louise Lasser in the title role. It quickly became a cult favorite. Coleman's character, Mayor Merle Jeeter, was especially popular and his masterful, comic deadpan delivery did not go overlooked by film and network executives.

{snip}

Dabney Coleman -- his real name -- was born in 1932 in Austin, Texas After two years at the Virginia Military Academy, two at the University of Texas and two in the Army, he was a 26-year-old law student when he met another Austin native, Zachry Scott, who starred in "Mildred Pierce" and other films. ... "He was the most dynamic person I've ever met. He convinced me I should become an actor, and I literally left the next day to study in New York. He didn't think that was too wise, but I made my decision," Coleman told The AP in 1984.

{snip}

Mark Kennedy can be reached at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

Read more: https://wtop.com/national/2024/05/dabney-coleman-actor-who-specialized-in-curmudgeons-dies-at-92/

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https://youtube.com/watch?vjWQ1ITS94cA

WarGames (8/11) Movie CLIP - It's a Bluff (1983) HD
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"WarGames" is a great movie, a wonderful period piece. I had it on VHS. I'm sure you can stream it, but probably not for free.

[BaronChocula]

1. Buffalo Bill was must see TV

in my house back in the day. And I watched On Golden Pond not too long ago. Oh Dabney, I'm spilling some out for you.

[Leith]

12. I loved Buffalo Bill, too!

I still laugh about the scene where he was afraid that somebody had planted a bomb in his car.

RIP, Mr. Coleman.

[LonePirate]

2. RIP. I never thought they would find Mr. Hart in that Brazilian jungle.

[FakeNoose]

3. Dabney Coleman played the cringingly awful boss in "9 to 5"

A hilarious movie and ahead of its time. Rest in Peace Dabney Coleman and thanks for all the laughs.

[ancianita]

13. I'll always remember him in that movie.

RIP

[cstanleytech]

18. Agreed, one of my favorite movies and I really thought he played his character well.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. I hadn't heard his name in years

and he was in so many things as a character actor. But i was a fan of short-lived but hilarious "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman", which he was in and IIRC, came on at like 11:30 pm at night or something.

R.I.P. to yet another loss this year.

[LeftInTX]

8. Hee...I used to watch that too...

I liked him in this soap parody:



Carol Burnett as Charlotte Kensington
Dabney Coleman as Tyler Cane
Gregory Harrison as Torch
Teri Garr as Talon Kensington
and Charles Grodin as Cane Kensington

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

9. he was in lots of stuff.. a mainstay of 70s TV

[Kaleva]

21. The scene where Charlotte Kensington had to ride in the back of a stationwagon

[slightlv]

11. I loved this show!!!

I stayed up to watch it every night, much to my (then) husband's dislike.

[BumRushDaShow]

23. The whole pony-tail-wearing main character was just too bizarre not to miss!

I liked several of the soap opera parody shows back then - notably "Soap" (and its spinoffs like "Benson" ).

[LeftInTX]

29. I watched at my grandmother's house. She complained about it, but I think she liked it.

[twodogsbarking]

5. To me he was always a true professional. Will be missed.

[Tikki]

6. We have been watching years and years of 70's Television Detectives' series..

And Mr. Dabney Coleman was front and center in so many of these shows.

Excellent that our Millennial grandchildren know his acting and call out his name when they see him on the screen.

The Tikkis
RIP Mr. Dabney Coleman

[mwb970]

7. His episode of Columbo is one of my favorites.

[PSPS]

15. I presume you mean the one in the later 1991 season "Columbo and the Murder of a Rock Star"

He was the malefactor in that one.

Eighteen years earlier, in 1973 (the second season) "Double Shock" (the one with Martin Landau,) he had a small role as one of the detectives. I think he had only a couple of lines of dialog in just one scene.

This clip from the 1990 movie "Short Time" is amusing:

[mahatmakanejeeves]

27. From 1991:

https://columbophile.com/2022/01/09/episode-review-columbo-and-the-murder-of-a-rock-star/amp/

Thanks to both of you.

[keopeli]

10. I had dinner with Dabney in college. He was a wonderful and funny man just oozing with talent and joie du vie.

I loved him in On Golden Pond and told him so. He was modest and kind.

RIP Dabney. I know you already have St Peter cracking up at the pearly gates! Thanks for all the great memories!

[MuseRider]

14. I had wondered about him lately

but never looked around to see what he was up to.

I saw him first on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. Loved him in every role I saw him in. 9 to 5 was another good role for him.

RIP to a guy that brought us entertainment to enrich our lives.

[Aristus]

16. I often wondered if he was as reactionary as a lot of the characters he played.

I don’t know what the rest of his politics were, but apparently he was a dedicated conservationist.

That’s commendable.

[area51]

19. RIP

[eppur_se_muova]

20. He hosted SNL once ... I still remember a bit of his campfire horror story. :)

Let's not forget the short-lived Slap Maxwell Story, which introduced (at least to me) Nana Visitor ... and Meaghan Gallagher as his secretary/love interest.

[C Moon]

22. Loved him in War Games and Cloak & Dagger!

Great actor.

[Oopsie Daisy]

24. You're a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot *

Judy Bernly: You're a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot.

Franklin Hart, Jr.: So I have a few faults; who doesn't? Is that any reason to kill me?

[Bengus81]

25. He was also in Mary Hartman,Mary Hartman. War Games

Great as usual.

[RobertDevereaux]

26. Brilliant in Young Doctors in Love.

[pansypoo53219]

28. stupid, but modern problems is a caddyshack movie i love. + dabney ass.