Dabney Coleman has died at the age of 92, it has been confirmed.
The actor legend who recently starred in Yellowstone as the father of Kevin Costner’s character, John Dutton, was best known for his roles in classic films 9 to 5, Tootsie and On Golden Pond.
Other notable roles include The Towering Inferno, WarGames, and the Mary Hartman series, Mary Hartman as Merle Jeeter, as well as playing Commodore Louis Kaestner on Boardwalk Empire.
His daughter Quincy Coleman confirmed his death to The Hollywood Reporter.
‘My father designed his stay here on Earth with a curious mind, a generous heart and a soul burning with passion, desire and humor that tickled humanity. While he was alive, he went through this final act of life with elegance, excellence and mastery,” he told the outlet.
Dabney Coleman has died at the age of 92, it has been confirmed. The actor legend who recently starred in Yellowstone as the father of Kevin Costner’s character, John Dutton, was known for his roles in classic films 9 to 5, Tootsie and On Golden Pond; photographed in Yellowstone
Dabney photographed in the iconic movie 9 to 5
In 2012, it was revealed that Dabney had been diagnosed with throat cancer, in an interview with AVClub.com.
His role as a Commodore on Boardwalk Empire changed due to Dabney’s illness in real life.
The star said in the interview that the cancer had affected her ability to speak and also said that she was cancer-free.
He was married to Anne Courtney Harrell from 1957 to 1959, and to actress Jean Hale from 1961 to 1984.
Dabney and Jean had three children together: Kelly, Randy and Quincy.
Jean died on August 3, 2021 at age 82.
He also has a daughter named Meghan, but it is unclear with whom, as conflicting reports say it is with his ex-wife Anne.
Dabney photographed with his wife Jean Hale in 1981 with their children Mary and Randy.
Dabney was born on January 3, 1932 in Austin, Texas, to parents Melvin Randolph Coleman and Mary Wharton.
The actor attended the Virginia Military Institute and later studied law in Texas.
He trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse Theater School in New York City with Sanford Meisner, from 1958 to 1960.
Her first role came in 1961, in a play called A Call on Kuprin, which also marked her Broadway debut.
The Texas native made his television debut in 1961, on the show Naked City, playing a resident in one episode, followed by a role on The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, in one episode in 1963 and another in 1963.
The star followed up with a role on The Outer Limits in 1964 in three episodes, and four episodes on The Fugitive from 1964 to 1966.
Dabney starred in The Towering Inferno, a 1974 film about a new skyscraper in San Francisco that goes up in flames, with the San Francisco Fire Department called in to extinguish it and save civilians. He played Deputy Chief 1 of the SFFD, alongside Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, William Holden, Faye Dunaway and Fred Astaire (Dabney is seen on the right)
Dabney also had roles in a 1965 episode of I Dream of Jeannie and The Donna Reed Show in the same year.
His film debut was also in 1965 in a film called The Slender Thread, where he played Charlie.
She continued with small roles in This Property is Condemned in 1966 alongside Natalie Wood and Robert Redford, The Scalphunters in 1968, The Trouble with Girls and Downhill Racer in 1969, I Love My Wife in 1970, Cinderella Liberty in 1973 and The Dove in 1974.
Dabney starred in The Towering Inferno, a 1974 film about a new skyscraper in San Francisco that goes up in flames, with the San Francisco Fire Department called in to extinguish it and save civilians.
He played Deputy Chief 1 of the SFFD, alongside Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, William Holden, Faye Dunaway and Fred Astaire.
He played Merle Jeeter for 148 episodes of the series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, from 1976 to 1977.
He said Variety in 2014 that his role as Merle “was only supposed to last six shoes, but it became popular.”
“The role was very well written and it was just catchy, it was just a great arc. (Merle) was a comedian, a con man, so he deliberately changed his personality from time to time. And I ended up doing it for two years, and that made my career. Everything came from that,’ he said.
In 1980, Dabney starred in the hit movie 9 to 5, about three women, Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, who live out their fantasy of overthrowing their boss, played by Dabney.
In 1980, Dabney starred in the hit film 9 to 5, about three women, Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, who live out their fantasy of overthrowing their boss, played by Dabney; seen in a still from the film featuring Dolly, Lily and Jane
Dolly and Dabney from 9 to 5
Dolly, Jane, Lily and Dabney photographed together
Dabney pictured with Lily, Dolly and Jane in 2008 for a 9 to 5 mini reunion
Dabney seen in a still from WarGames from 1983
Dabney photographed with his WarGames (1983) co-star Matthew Broderick
He played Dr. Bill Ray in the 1981 film On Golden Pond, Ron Carlisle in 1982’s Tootsie, and Dr. John McKittrick in 1983’s War Games; photographed in Tootsie with Jessica Lange, Dustin Hoffman and George Gaynes
Dabney and Lily Tomlin in the 1993 film The Beverly Hillbillies
Dabney pictured with Tom Hanks and John Randolph in You’ve Got Mail
Dabney seen with Kevin Costner in a 2019 episode of Yellowstone
Dabney seen at the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony on November 6, 2014 in Hollywood
Dabney called Jane, Dolly and Lily “fantastic” in his 2014 interview with Variety, and even met with them in 2008.
He played Dr. Bill Ray in the 1981 film On Golden Pond, Ron Carlisle in 1982’s Tootsie, and Dr. John McKittrick in 1983’s War Games.
Other notable films he starred in include The Beverly Hillbillies in 1993, You’ve Got Mail in 1998, Taken in 1999, and Domino in 2005.
As for television, he had recently starred as Ray Donovan in 2016, NCIS in 2019, For the People in 2019, and as John Dutton Dr in a 2019 episode of Yellowstone.
He appeared in the second season finale of Yellowstone as John Dutton Sr., in an episode titled Sins of the Father.
He played the father of Kevin Costner’s character, John Dutton, in the final moments of his life.
The couple takes one last horseback ride together and enjoys the views before the elder Dutton dies.
That year, Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan said of casting to Deadline: “I had written (the Yellowstone episode) but I think I was putting together a movie in New Mexico and I think (Dabney Coleman) came up and said it would be really interested in doing something.
‘I had worked with Dabney many, many years ago, almost 20 years ago, when he was one of the puppies. He’s a guy from Texas and he was a very talented and generous actor, and I was really surprised by how good he was and how kind he was to this kid who was the guest star in his contract.
‘It is funny; I have employed many people who were good to me when I was a young actor. Buck Taylor was the first thing I did. I put it in Yellowstone.
“There’s something about that program that lends itself to hiring friends and family.”
Dabney received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2014.