Dabney Coleman

Dabney Wharton Coleman (January 3, 1932 – May 16, 2024) was an American actor well-known for his roles portraying egomaniacal and unlikeable characters in comedic performances. Throughout his career spanning from 1961 to 2019, he appeared in over 175 films and television programs and received numerous awards for both comedic and dramatic performances. His notable films include 9 to 5 (1980), On Golden Pond (1981), Tootsie (1982), WarGames (1983), Cloak & Dagger (1984), and You've Got Mail (1998). His significant 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). Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Coleman was drafted into the United States Army in 1953 and served in West Germany in the Army's Special Services Division for two years. Inspired by an encounter with actor Zachary Scott, Coleman decided to pursue acting as a career and trained under Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City.