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Dabney Coleman

Dabney Coleman

Known For Acting
Birthday Jan 03, 1932
Died May 16, 2024 (92)
Birthplace Austin, Texas, USA
Popularity 1 (history)
Updated Aug 08, 2025
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

Dabney Wharton Coleman 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: S ... chool'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).

Known For

Headshots

Profile
Profile
Filmography

Rules Don't Apply

Rules Don't Apply

2016

as Raymond Holliday

Hard Four

Hard Four

2007

as Spray Loomis

Domino

Domino

2005

as Drake Bishop

Recess: All Growed Down

Recess: All Growed Down

2003

as Principal Prickley (voice)

Where the Red Fern Grows

Where the Red Fern Grows

2003

as Grandpa

Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade

Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade

2003

as Principal Prickly (voice)

The Climb

The Climb

2002

as Mack

Moonlight Mile

Moonlight Mile

2002

as Mike Mulcahey

Recess: School's Out

Recess: School's Out

2001

as Principal Peter Prickly (voice)

Taken

Taken

1999

as Ethan Grover

Giving It Up

Giving It Up

1999

as Johnathan Gallant

Inspector Gadget

Inspector Gadget

1999

as Chief Quimby

Stuart Little

Stuart Little

1999

as Dr. Beechwood

My Date with the President's Daughter

My Date with the President's Daughter

1998

as President George Richmond

Exiled

Exiled

1998

as Lieutenant Kevin Stolper

Target Earth

Target Earth

1998

as Senator Ben Arnold

You've Got Mail

You've Got Mail

1998

as Nelson Fox

Devil's Food

Devil's Food

1996

as Seymour Kecker

In the Line of Duty: Kidnapped

In the Line of Duty: Kidnapped

1995

as Arthur Milo

Clifford

Clifford

1994

as Gerald Ellis

Judicial Consent

Judicial Consent

1994

as Charles Mayron

Amos & Andrew

Amos & Andrew

1993

as Chief of Police Cecil Tolliver

The Beverly Hillbillies

The Beverly Hillbillies

1993

as Milburn Drysdale

There Goes the Neighborhood

There Goes the Neighborhood

1992

as Jeffrey Babitt

Lincoln

Lincoln

1992

as Stephen A. Douglas (voice)

Never Forget

Never Forget

1991

as William Cox

Where the Heart Is

Where the Heart Is

1990

as Stewart McBain

Short Time

Short Time

1990

as Burt Simpson

Meet the Applegates

Meet the Applegates

1990

as Aunt Bea

Maybe Baby

Maybe Baby

1988

as Hal

Hot to Trot

Hot to Trot

1988

as Walter Sawyer

Baby M

Baby M

1988

as Gary Skoloff

Sworn to Silence

Sworn to Silence

1987

as Martin Costigan

Plaza Suite

Plaza Suite

1987

as Jesse Kiplinger

Dragnet

Dragnet

1987

as Jerry Caesar

Murrow

Murrow

1986

as William Paley

The Man with One Red Shoe

The Man with One Red Shoe

1985

as Cooper

Cloak & Dagger

Cloak & Dagger

1984

as Jack Flack / Hal Osborne

The Muppets Take Manhattan

The Muppets Take Manhattan

1984

as Martin Price

WarGames

WarGames

1983

as McKittrick

Tootsie

Tootsie

1982

as Ron Carlisle

Young Doctors in Love

Young Doctors in Love

1982

as Dr. Joseph Prang

Modern Problems

Modern Problems

1981

as Mark Winslow

Callie & Son

Callie & Son

1981

as Randall Bordeaux

On Golden Pond

On Golden Pond

1981

as Bill Ray

Nine to Five

Nine to Five

1980

as Franklin M. Hart Jr.

Nothing Personal

Nothing Personal

1980

as Dickerson

How to Beat the High Cost of Living

How to Beat the High Cost of Living

1980

as Jack Heintzel

Pray TV

Pray TV

1980

as Marvin Fleece

Melvin and Howard

Melvin and Howard

1980

as Judge Keith Hayes

When She Was Bad...

When She Was Bad...

1979

as Jack Wilson

North Dallas Forty

North Dallas Forty

1979

as Emmett Hunter

More Than Friends

More Than Friends

1978

as Joshua 'Josh' Harrington

Maneaters Are Loose!

Maneaters Are Loose!

1978

as McCallum

The Case of the Baltimore Girls

The Case of the Baltimore Girls

1978

as George Bates

Rolling Thunder

Rolling Thunder

1977

as Maxwell

Black Fist

Black Fist

1977

as Heineken

Viva Knievel!

Viva Knievel!

1977

as Ralph Thompson

Kiss Me, Kill Me

Kiss Me, Kill Me

1976

as Capt. Logan

Midway

Midway

1976

as Captain Murray Arnold

Returning Home

Returning Home

1975

as Al Stephenson

The Other Side of the Mountain

The Other Side of the Mountain

1975

as Dave McCoy

Bite the Bullet

Bite the Bullet

1975

as Jack Parker

Bad Ronald

Bad Ronald

1974

as Mr. Wood

The Dove

The Dove

1974

as Charles Huntley

The Towering Inferno

The Towering Inferno

1974

as Deputy Chief #1

Dying Room Only

Dying Room Only

1973

as Bob Mitchell

Cinderella Liberty

Cinderella Liberty

1973

as Executive Officer

Savage

Savage

1973

as Ted Seligson

The President's Plane Is Missing

The President's Plane Is Missing

1973

as Sen. Bert Haines

I Love My Wife

I Love My Wife

1970

as Frank Donnelly

The Brotherhood of the Bell

The Brotherhood of the Bell

1970

as Agent Shepard

Downhill Racer

Downhill Racer

1969

as Mayo

The Trouble with Girls

The Trouble with Girls

1969

as Harrison Wilby

The Scalphunters

The Scalphunters

1968

as Jed

This Property Is Condemned

This Property Is Condemned

1966

as Salesman

The Slender Thread

The Slender Thread

1965

as Charlie

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No data available

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Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

as Merle Jeeter

Episodes: 325

First Aired: Jan 05, 1976

The Guardian

as Burton Fallin

Episodes: 67

First Aired: Sep 25, 2001

Buffalo Bill

as Bill Bittinger

Episodes: 26

First Aired: May 31, 1983

Boardwalk Empire

as Commodore Louis Kaestner

Episodes: 24

First Aired: Sep 19, 2010

Madman of the People

as Jack 'Madman' Buckner

Episodes: 16

First Aired: Sep 22, 1994

Courting Alex

as Jack Atwell

Episodes: 12

First Aired: Jan 23, 2006

Fresno

as Tyler Cane

Episodes: 5

First Aired: Nov 16, 1986

Recess

as Principal Peter Prickly (voice)

Episodes: 5

First Aired: Sep 13, 1997

Pound Puppies

as Mayor (voice)

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Oct 10, 2010

Apple Pie

as Fast Eddie Murtaugh

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 23, 1978

Fernwood 2 Night

as Mayor Merle Jeeter

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Jul 04, 1977

Barnaby Jones

as Ted Sayers

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Jan 28, 1973

Columbo

as Hugh Creighton

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 15, 1971

Kraft Suspense Theatre

as William Gunther

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 10, 1963

The F.B.I.

as Ira Barker

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1965

I Dream of Jeannie

as Lt. George Webb

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 18, 1965

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

as Frank Hager

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1999

Mannix

as Ralph Stoner

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1967

The Mod Squad

as John

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 1968

Kojak

as Alex Linden

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 24, 1973

The Fugitive

as Floyd

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1963

Ironside

as Daniel Leary

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 28, 1967

Nanny and the Professor

as Detective Robinson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 21, 1970

Run for Your Life

as Fred Palmer

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 1965

The Fugitive

as Sergeant Keith

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1963

Switch

as C.C. Owens

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 09, 1975

The Fugitive

as Officer George Graham

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1963

Banyon

as Ralph Hubbard

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 15, 1972

The Fugitive

as Steve

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1963

Dr. Kildare

as Dr. David Kirkson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 27, 1961

The Outer Limits

as Dr. Williams

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1963

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

as Sergeant Harry King

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 04, 1963

Columbo

as Detective Murray

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 15, 1971

Arrest and Trial

as Wayne Holton

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 15, 1963

The F.B.I.

as Allen Clarke

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1965

The F.B.I.

as Stanley Leonard

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1965

The F.B.I.

as Sam Langlin

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1965

The F.B.I.

as Ty Williams

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1965

The F.B.I.

as Mr. Jamison

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1965

The F.B.I.

as Barnes

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1965

The Magic School Bus

as Horace Scope (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1994

The Outer Limits

as James Custer

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1963

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

as Stanley Rivkin

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 04, 1963

Petrocelli

as Willy Morgan

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 11, 1974

Kraft Suspense Theatre

as Alvin Piper

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 10, 1963

McMillan & Wife

as Hansen

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 1971

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

as Monsieur Fox (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 12, 1995

Bonanza

as Clyde

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 12, 1959

Barnaby Jones

as George Clark

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 28, 1973

For The People

as Donald

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 13, 2018

The Streets of San Francisco

as George Todd

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 23, 1972

The Invaders

as Capt. Mitchell Ross

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 10, 1967

The Invaders

as John Carter

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 10, 1967

The Love Boat

as Van Milner

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 1977

Ray Donovan

as Mr. Price

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 30, 2013

NCIS

as Army Corporal John Sydney

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 23, 2003

Quincy, M.E.

as Dr. Burt Travers

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 03, 1976

Quincy, M.E.

as Officer Peter O'Neil

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 03, 1976

The Streets of San Francisco

as Andrew Horvath, Sr.

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 23, 1972

McMillan & Wife

as Walter Jennings

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 1971

Barnaby Jones

as Brad Adamson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 28, 1973

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

as Frank Wellmam

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1971

Dan August

as Rick Bessett

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 23, 1970

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

as Congressman Phil Whitman

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1970

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

as Dr. Goldstone

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 14, 1969

The Flying Nun

as Sub. Captain

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 07, 1967

12 O'Clock High

as Captain Robbins

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 18, 1964

12 O'Clock High

as Captain Wilson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 18, 1964

The Outer Limits

as Lt. Rupert Lawrence Howard (uncredited)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1963

Please Don't Eat the Daisies

as Clark

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 14, 1965

Bonanza

as Ivar Peterson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 12, 1959

The Donna Reed Show

as Rallye Master

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 1958

Hazel

as Les Swanton

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 28, 1961

Naked City

as Resident

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 30, 1958

Barnaby Jones

as Paul Cleveland

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 28, 1973

I Dream of Jeannie

as Captain Yardley

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 18, 1965

Yellowstone

as John Dutton Sr.

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 20, 2018

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

as Tom Esterow

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1962

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

as Sgt. Lou Snyder

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1962

Mannix

as Howard Graham

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1967

The Slap Maxwell Story

Episodes: 22

First Aired: Sep 23, 1987

Drexell's Class

Episodes: 18

First Aired: Sep 19, 1991

Heartland

Episodes: 10

First Aired: Jun 18, 2007

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as Self

Episodes: 10

First Aired: Oct 01, 1962

That Girl

Episodes: 8

First Aired: Sep 08, 1966

Forever Fernwood

Episodes: 8

First Aired: Oct 03, 1977

Diff'rent Strokes

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Nov 03, 1978

Police Story

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Mar 20, 1973

Medical Story

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 04, 1975

E! True Hollywood Story

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 21, 1996

Room 222

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 11, 1969

Medical Center

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 1969

The Zeta Project

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 27, 2001

Cannon

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 14, 1971

Sons and Daughters

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 11, 1974

Search

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 1972

Then Came Bronson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1969

Judd for the Defense

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 08, 1967

Ben Casey

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1961

The Manhunter

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 11, 1974

Kraft Mystery Theatre

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 14, 1961

Saturday Night Live

as Self - Host

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 11, 1975

Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Winner

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 20, 1944

Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Nominee

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 20, 1944

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 5 50 72 32
2024 6 19 35 10
2024 7 31 48 18
2024 8 21 40 10
2024 9 17 35 10
2024 10 10 18 5
2024 11 9 15 5
2024 12 11 19 5
2025 1 24 48 9
2025 2 8 18 2
2025 3 6 17 1
2025 4 1 1 1
2025 5 2 3 1
2025 6 1 2 1
2025 7 1 2 0
2025 8 3 13 0
2025 9 0 1 0
2025 10 1 2 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
2024 5 136 2
2024 6 894 894
2025 1 272 181

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