Dabney Coleman has passed away at age 92, it has been confirmed.
The acting legend who most recently starred in Yellowstone as the father of Kevin Costner‘s character John Dutton, was best known for his roles in classic movies 9 to 5, Tootsie and On Golden Pond.
Other notable roles include The Towering Inferno, WarGames and the series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman as Merle Jeeter and The Slap Maxwell Story, as well as starring as Commodore Louis Kaestner on Boardwalk Empire.
No cause of death has been released.
His daughter Quincy Coleman confirmed his passing to TMZ on Friday: ‘My father, Dabney Wharton Coleman, took his last earthly breath peacefully and exquisitely in his home on Thursday May 16th 2024 at 1:50 pm.’
‘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. As he lived, he moved through this final act of life with elegance, excellence and mastery,’ Quincy, a singer, told The Hollywood Reporter.
‘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.’
TMZ noted that Dabney canceled an April appearance at Chiller Theatre in New Jersey due to his health.
Dabney Coleman has passed away at age 92, it has been confirmed. The acting legend who most recently starred in Yellowstone as the father of Kevin Costner ‘s character John Dutton, was known for his roles in classic movies 9 to 5, Tootsie and On Golden Pond; pictured on Yellowstone
Dabney pictured in the iconic film 9 to 5
The Emmy winner was married to Ann Courtney Harrell in 1957 until 1959, and actress Jean Hale from 1961 until 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, with conflicting reports saying with ex wife Ann.
In 2012, it was revealed that Dabney had been diagnosed with throat cancer, in an interview with AVClub.com.
His role as the Commodore in Boardwalk Empire was changed due to Dabney’s real-life illness.
The star said in the 2012 interview the cancer had affected his ability to speak and also said he did not have cancer anymore.
Dabney won a Golden Globe in 1988 for his role in The Slap Maxwell Story, two Screen Actors Guild Award in 2011 and 2012 for Boardwalk Empire and a Primetime Emmy Award in 1987 for Sworn to Silence.
Dabney pictured with his wife Jean Hale in 1981 with their children Mary and Randy
Dabney and Jean pictured in 1994
Dabney was born on January 3, 1932 in Austin, Texas to parents Melvin Randolph Coleman and Mary Wharton.
The actor attended Virginia Military Institute for two years, and then served for two more years in the US Army’s Special Services Division.
After, he studied law in Austin at the University of Texas.
According to THR, his friend, actor Zachary Scott, who was also a family friend of Dabney’s first wife Ann, convinced him to pursue an acting career.
He left college a semester before graduation at age 26 and trained at Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City with Sanford Meisner, from 1958 until 1960.
His first role came in 1961, in a play called A Call on Kuprin – also marking his Broadway debut.
The Texas native made his TV debut in 1961, in the show Naked City, playing a resident in one episode, which he made $90 for, per THR.
His next role was in The Alfred Hitchcock Hour – in an episode in 1963 and another in 1963.
The star followed it up with a role in The Outer Limits in 1964 in three episodes, and four episodes in The Fugitive from 1964 until 1966.
Dabney starred in The Towering Inferno, a 1974 about new skyscraper in San Francisco that goes up in flames, with the San Francisco Fire Department called to extinguish and save the civilians. He played SFFD Deputy Chief 1, alongside Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, William Holden, Faye Dunaway and Fred Astaire (Dabney seen on the right)
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 getting their boss – played by Dabney- overthrown; seen in a still from the film with Dolly, Lily and Jane
Dolly and Dabney in 9 to 5
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 movie called The Slender Thread, where he played Charlie.
He followed it up 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.
He decided to grow a mustache around this time, which he revealed in a previous interview with Vulture.
‘Without the mustache, I looked too much like Richard Nixon, There’s no question that when I grew that, all of a sudden, everything changed,’ he said.
Dabney starred in The Towering Inferno, a 1974 about new skyscraper in San Francisco that goes up in flames, with the San Francisco Fire Department called to extinguish and save the civilians.
He played SFFD Deputy Chief 1, 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 until 1977.
He told Variety in 2014 that his role as Merle ‘was only supposed to last six shoes, but it kind of caught on.’
‘The part 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 it did make my career. From that part spawned everything,’ 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 getting their boss – played by Dabney – overthrown.
Dolly, Jane, Lily and Dabney pictured together
Dabney pictured with Lily, Dolly and Jane in 2008 for a mini 9 to 5 reunion
Dabney seen in a still from 1983’s WarGames
Dabney pictured 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; pictured 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 at his Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on November 6, 2014 in Hollywood
Dabney called Jane, Dolly and Lily ‘fantastic,’ in his interview in 2014 with Variety, and even reunited 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.
He starred in 26 episodes of Buffalo Bill in 1983 until 1984, and 22 episodes of The Slap Maxwell Story in 1987 until 1988.
Dabney played Burton Fallin in The Guardian in 67 episodes, from 2001 until 2004.
He starred as Commordore Louis Kaestner in Boardwalk Empire for 24 episodes, from 2010 until 2011.
TV wise, he had recently starred in Ray Donovan in 2016, NCIS in 2019, For the People in 2019 and as John Dutton Dr in a 2019 episode of Yellowstone in his final role.
He appeared in the season two finale of Yellowstone as John Dutton Sr., in an episode titled Sins of the Father.
He portrayed the father of Kevin Costner’s character – John Dutton – in the final moments of his life.
‘Without the mustache, I looked too much like Richard Nixon, There’s no question that when I grew that, all of a sudden, everything changed,’ he said; pictured in 1987 at the Emmy Awards
Dabney seen with Kevin Costner in a 2019 episode of Yellowstone
The pair go on one last horseback ride together and take in the sights before the older Dutton dies.
That year Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan said of the casting in to Deadline: ‘I’d written [the Yellowstone episode] but I believe I was prepping a movie in New Mexico and I think [Dabney Coleman] reached out and said he would be really interested in doing something.
‘I had worked with Dabney many, many years ago, almost 20 years ago, as one of the young pups. He’s a Texas guy and was such a gifted, giving actor and I was really struck by how good he was, and how kind he was, to this kid who was guest starring on his deal.
Dabney received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2014.