Dabney Coleman

For decades, 'Dabney Coleman' (qv) has often appeared as a smarmy, selfish, nervous person, often with money, who is mostly out for himself. He did such a good job in this type of part that he's made a career of it in film.Dabney Wharton Coleman was born in Austin, Texas, to Mary Wharton (Johns) and Melvin Randolph Coleman. He attended the Virginia Military Institute, and studied law in Texas. Coleman has a well deserved reputation as a fine character actor, and a reliable presence for almost any role in TV and movies. 'Dabney Coleman' (qv)'s early appearances in the cinema were in _The Slender Thread (1965)_ (qv) and _Downhill Racer (1969)_ (qv). On TV he starred in _That Girl (1966)_ (qv). As the 1970s approached he became a well-known character actor in television and movies, appearing in _The Towering Inferno (1974)_ (qv), _Midway (1976)_ (qv), and _Cinderella Liberty (1973)_ (qv). Television seemed 'Dabney Coleman' (qv)'s forum in the 1970s as Coleman played the role of Merle Jeeter in _Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976)_ (qv) and _Fernwood Tonight (1977)_ (qv). Coleman made appearances in the popular _North Dallas Forty (1979)_ (qv) and the Oscar-winning _Melvin and Howard (1980)_ (qv). 'Dabney Coleman' (qv) also became known for some satirical movies, starring in the comedy _How to Beat the High Cost of Living (1980)_ (qv) and snatched a lead role for the TV movie _Pray TV (1981)_ (qv). Coleman's reputation for playing world-class jerks became cemented in 1980 as the boss to 'Dolly Parton' (qv) , 'Jane Fonda' (qv) and 'Lily Tomlin' (qv) in _9 to 5 (1980)_ (qv). The next year, Coleman was in very good company working with legends 'Henry Fonda' (qv) and 'Katharine Hepburn' (qv) in _On Golden Pond (1981)_ (qv). Coleman's hit streak would not end there.In 1982 Coleman landed a key role in the classic _Tootsie (1982)_ (qv), further cementing his role as an unlikable wealthy boss in some capacity. In 1983 Coleman starred in the Cold War classic _WarGames (1983)_ (qv). During this period he also found many parts in lesser known movies like _Young Doctors in Love (1982)_ (qv) and _Callie & Son (1981)_ (qv). In 1984 he starred in _The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)_ (qv) and in 1985 he starred with 'Tom Hanks' (qv) in _The Man with One Red Shoe (1985)_ (qv). In 1987 the actor won an Emmy for _Sworn to Silence (1987)_ (qv). In 1990 Coleman took two lead roles, one in the disastrous _Where the Heart Is (1990)_ (qv), and the other in the quirky comedy _Short Time (1990)_ (qv). In 1993 Coleman starred in the slapstick comedy _Amos & Andrew (1993)_ (qv) (a very funny part) and in a remake of the TV show _The Beverly Hillbillies (1993)_ (qv) as Milburn Drysdale. Coleman took an extensive line of TV movies, such films as Texan, In the Line of Duty, among others. Coleman took an unusual part in the ABC cartoon, _Recess (1997)_ (qv), and then starred in a couple of big money grossers, the 'Tom Hanks' (qv) comedy, _You've Got Mail (1998)_ (qv), as Chief Quimby in _Inspector Gadget (1999)_ (qv), and in _Stuart Little (1999)_ (qv), both 1999.Coleman is still very active.::Scott