Dabney Coleman’s Most Memorable Roles
Dabney Coleman may be best known for being a horrible boss in the hit movie 9 to 5, but he has starred in so many impressive movies and television shows. He truly had the career of a lifetime, with his final role being in the hit show Yellowstone. He recently passed away at the age of 92. Let’s start with a round-up of some of the most popular shows he appeared in in the 1970s.
‘Room 222’
At the start of the ’70s, Coleman appeared in two episodes of Room 222, where he played Gary Webster Sr. in the show about teacher Pete Dixon and how he aimed to teach his students to be more tolerant.
‘Kojak’
He went on to appear in an episode of Kojak during the first season. He played Alex Linden in the episode titled “Therapy in Dynamite.” In the episode, Kojak must find a pattern in serial murders where victims are bombed in New York City.
‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman’
Everett Collection
He starred as Merle Jeeter in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman as the mayor of Fernwood and Jimmy Joe’s father. He reprised the role in the show Forever Fernwood.
‘The F.B.I.’
Coleman appeared in several episodes of the series The F.B.I., a show about the cases of you guessed it… The F.B.I. It covered everything you might expect: murders, kidnapping and drug trafficking.
Some other notable roles were in the shows Mannix, Quincy M.E., The Love Boat, Diff’rent Strokes, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Barnaby Jones. Let’s move on to where he really shined… 1980s movies.
‘9 to 5’
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection
He portrayed Franklin Hart Jr., the boss of Judy, Violet, Roz, and Doralee and was a sexist pig. Ultimately, he gets his just desserts though!
Remind ‘Tootsie’
Columbia Pictures/Everett Collection
In 1982, he appeared in Tootsie, a film about an actor with a reputation for being difficult. The actor, played by Dustin Hoffman, decides to dress up as a woman to get a job. In the film, Coleman plays the director Ron Carlisle.
‘WarGames’
MGM/Everett Collection
The 1983 American techno-thriller film starring Matthew Broderick also starred Coleman as Dr. John McKittrick.
Remind ‘Cloak and Dagger’
Universal Pictures/Everett Collection
In this family-friendly spy movie, Coleman plays Jack Flack/Hal Osborne. The movie was written for its star Henry Thomas as a follow-up to his role in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
‘Muppets Take Manhattan’
TriStar Pictures/Everett Collection
Coleman played the villain, a con artist named Martin Price in this Muppets classic. Of course, the Muppets come through in the end and his character, who is really named Murray Plotsky, is put under arrest. Next, let’s go over a few ’90s mentions!
‘You’ve Got Mail’
Warner Bros./Everett Collection
In this quintessential ’90s rom-com, Coleman played Nelson Fox, Joe’s father who is often very cynical about love and romance.
‘Stuart Little’
Columbia Pictures/Everett Collection
Coleman appeared in the kid’s movie Stuart Little as a doctor named Dr. Beechwood. He takes Stuart’s temperature after he fell into the dryer and tells his parents that he will be fine.
‘The Beverly Hillbillies’
20th Century Fox Film Corp.Everett Collection
In the 1993 film, Coleman played the CEO of the Commerce Bank of Beverly Hills, Milburn Drysdale. He was also Margaret’s husband and Morgan’s father.
‘My Date With the President’s Daughter’
Walt Disney Television/Everett Collection
Coleman got to play the President of the United States in this Disney Channel classic film also starring Boy Meets World star Will Friedle.
Of course, there were so many more we could add to this list! What would you add? Coleman had almost 200 credits during his long career.
’80s Where Are They Now
March 2023
Who can forget all the great TV shows, movies and music of the ‘80s? See what your favs are up to now!
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