Dabney Coleman, an actor known for his villainous roles in films such as 9 to 5 and Tootsie, has died at age 92, according to his daughter.
In a statement to media outlets including The Hollywood Reporter, his daughter Quincy confirmed that the star died in his Santa Monica home on Thursday (Friday in Australia).
“My father crafted his time here on Earth with a curious mind, a generous heart and a soul on fire with passion, desire and humor that tickled the funny bone of humanity,” she said.
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“As he lived, he moved through this final act of his life with elegance, excellence and mastery.
“A teacher, a hero and a king, Dabney Coleman is a gift and blessing in life and in death as his spirit will shine through his work, his loved ones and his legacy … eternally.”
Coleman made a career out of playing off-putting characters, with the role that started it all being the nasty Fernwood, Ohio, mayor Merle Jeeter on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.
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He recalled that the role, which was only meant to last six episodes, “the turning point in my career” and “probably the best thing I ever did.”
He said Jeeter “was just wonderful, just a once-in-a-lifetime character,” he said. “He was just the worst human being. … That’s kind of where it all started, as far as people’s belief that I could do comedy, particularly that negative, caustic, cynical kind of guy. I was pretty good at doing that.”
The Texas native polished off his charms yet again, starring alongside Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton in 9 to 5, where he played the misogynist boss Franklin Hart Jr, who eventually gets hogtied by his secretary, played by Parton.
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“All of ’em were well-established,” he said of acting alongside the three strong female leads, “and here’s this guy coming off of Mary Hartman, which is not too shabby. (Laughs.) But it was late-night TV. Anyway, what I’m alluding to is that all three of them went out of their way to make me feel equal. There’s no other way to put it.”
He continued his mean streak in projects such as Tootsie, directed by his longtime friend and mentor Sydney Pollack, in Pray TV, WarGames, The Beverly Hillbillies, Buffalo Bill, and more.
Over the years he had a crack at becoming a leading man in sitcoms such as The Slap Maxwell Story, Drexell’s Class and Madman of the People, none of which made it through the first season without being cancelled.
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More recently, he starred in The Guardian, Boardwalk Empire, and played John Dutton Sr., the father of Kevin Costner’s character on Yellowstone.
Coleman won an Emmy Award in 1987 for a supporting role on ABC telefilm Sworn to Silence, having also been nominated twice for Buffalo Bill and once for The Slap Maxwell Story.
Fans have commemorated the actor’s career with tributes after learning of his death.
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“Dabney Coleman was one of those actors that no matter what he was in, he was simply brilliant,” said one fan, “He made being a jerk an art form and often times, carried the movies he was in. This town lost a legend.”
“He never fully got his due but Dabney Coleman is one of the greatest leading men and character actors ever in film and TV, from Buffalo Bill to In Golden Pond to 9 to 5 to Tootsie. RIP #DabneyColeman 92 years ain’t bad,” added another.
He is survived by his children, Quincy, Randy, Kelly and Meghan, and his grandchildren, Hale, Gabe, Luie, Kai and Coleman.
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