Dabney Coleman has had a long career span in the entertainment industry and he happens to be among his contemporaries that is still active to date. The American actor started his career in the 1960s and through his career exploits, he has shared the screen with legendary entertainers like Dolly Paton in 9 to 5(1980). His other notable works include On Golden Pond(1981), You’ve Got Mail(1998), Rules Don’t Apply(2016), and Buffalo Bill(1983-1984).
At the age of 92, he has not slowed down and importantly, he remains one of the most celebrated actors of his era. Apart from this, he is the father of four children from two marriages.
Where is Dabney Coleman Now?
The actor is very much alive and still pursuing his career. We say this based on his credited roles on sites like IMDB; according to the site, Coleman’s recent works include the role of Army Corporal John Sydney in NCIS season 16. He has also appeared in other small parts in Aly & AJ: Star Maps(2019) and For The People (2019). Other notable works are the character of Kevin Costner’s dying father in Yellowstone and the 2016 comedy Rules Don’t Apply.
Away from his career, Coleman has had his share of health challenges. As far back as 2000, the Rules Don’t Matter actor was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration(AMD) which affected his eyesight.
Thankfully, he was optimistic about living beyond this and he participated in a clinical trial to remedy his eyesight. At the end of one of the weeks of the trial, his sight moved to 20-40 which is a great improvement.
He also battled another health scare when he was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2012. Thankfully, he also overcame it. From what we gathered about where he is now, Coleman lives quietly in Brentwood, Los Angeles.
Other Facts To Know About the American Actor
1. His Early Life and Background
He was born Dabney Wharton Coleman on January 3, 1932, in Austin Texas to Melvin Rudolph Coleman and Mary Wharton Coleman.
Regarding details like his education, he attended the Virginia Military Institute in Virginia as well as the University of Texas at Austin where he studied law. However, some sources claim that he did not graduate with a law degree but drama which he switched to. Since this is not a well-publicized fact, it may just be speculation.
He was drafted into the US Army as a young adult in 1953. During his time in the army, he served for two years and served in stations like Europe.
2. How the Emmy Award-Winning Actor Rose to Fame
Considering that Coleman has a background in military service, he is more popular as an actor. He rose to fame as a character actor and by this we mean he portrays unique and colorful characters. Notably, he has appeared with a mustache, horn-rimmed glasses, and no facial hair in some of his roles since he launched his career in the 60s.
To give credence to this, his roles include both the roles of antagonist and protagonist. In 9 to 5, he acted as the antagonist boss of three female office workers played by Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda. Due to his character’s comic sexist behavior, they plan how to plan revenge on him. Over the years, such roles were associated with him.
Needless to say, as a stellar actor, he has also translated roles that are quite different from this such as Downhill Race(1969), The Towering Inferno(1974), and Boardwalk Empire.
Over the years, he has appeared in over 60 television and film and TV roles and to show for it, he has won many awards and recognitions including;
- Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor for Slap Maxwell Story(1988)
- Primetime Emmy Award for Sworn to Silence(1987)
- The Mary Pickford Award for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to the Entertainment Industry in 2018
- A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2014
- Screen Actors Guild Award for Boardwalk Empire(2011, 2012)
3. His Part in the Second Season of Boardwalk Empire was Rewritten Due to a Cancer Diagnosis
As mentioned earlier, Coleman was diagnosed with throat cancer and this affected him greatly. Aside from suffering weaknesses, his role as The Commodore had to be rewritten.
According to the actor, the writers of the show had to rewrite parts of it before he went into treatment. Their fear was that they did not know how the treatment would affect his voice or even his acting ability.
Thus, he went to work for six days straight. They also took out his character’s part from parts of the season where he will be doing his treatment and only allowed to come back after he is done.
4. Dabney Coleman has Been Married Two Times and is the Father of Four Children
Apart from his successful career, Coleman has a notable love life that involves two marriages. His first marriage was with Ann Courtney Harrell who he got married to in 1957. During the marriage, they welcomed a daughter named Meghan. However, the marriage lasted for only two years before they parted ways in 1959.
His second marriage with Jean Hale lasted longer than the first. Like him, Hale was an actress and they walked down the aisle in 1961. They welcomed three children namely, Kelly, Randolph, and Mary J. ‘Quincy’ Coleman.
Mary J. followed her parents footsteps as an entertainer but she trades her craft as a singer under the name Quincy.
Sadly, the marriage also ended in divorce in 1984.
See Also: Richard Roundtree: Bio, Wife, Net Worth, Where Is He Today?
5. Coleman is a Skilled Tennis Player
Aside from acting, Coleman has also drawn the attention of many with his skilled tennis playing. He has played at the Riviera Country Club as well as at local tournaments. He has also won both celebrity and charity tournaments.
Aside from giving back to the community through charity tennis tournaments, he gives his time to forest protection.
