Actor

Dabney Coleman: Movies & Box Office

films: 61
on screen: 1965–2022
box office: $456M
average score: 92

Born: January 3, 1932
Birthplace: Austin, Texas, U.S.
Full name: Dabney Wharton Coleman
Citizenship: American
Occupations: Actor
Years active: 1961-2019
Spouses: Ann Courtney Harrell, Jean Hale
Children: 4

Biggest hits

The Best Dabney Coleman Movies

The films of Dabney Coleman that made the most at the worldwide box office, biggest first: On Golden Pond (1981) leads with $119M. The full ranking adds the most awarded films and the newest releases.

Full ranking

Career at a glance

Dabney Coleman's Career in Numbers

Dabney Coleman's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Dabney Coleman works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from The Slender Thread (1965) to Where the Red Fern Grows (2003), and the 1980s were the busiest decade.

Dabney Coleman Movies by Decade

1960s 4
1970s 13
1980s 19
1990s 15
2000s 4

The 1980s were Dabney Coleman's busiest decade, with 19 films.

Dabney Coleman Movies by Genre

Comedy 16
Drama 12
Tv movie 6
Family 4
Thriller 3
Romance 3
Adventure 2
Sci-Fi 2
Horror 1
Documentary 1

Comedy is the genre Dabney Coleman has worked in most, with 16 films, ahead of drama (12).

Dabney Coleman Career Milestones

First film: The Slender Thread 1965
Biggest box office hit: On Golden Pond $119M worldwide
Newest film: Where the Red Fern Grows 2003

61 credits

Dabney Coleman Filmography: Every Movie

Every film Dabney Coleman is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 92. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.

Dabney Coleman Movies as an Actor

Dabney Coleman in Documentaries & Specials

Biography

Who Is Dabney Coleman?

Dabney Coleman was born in Austin, Texas, U.S. in 1932. Credited on films since 1965, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.

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.

Works with

Who Dabney Coleman Makes Movies With

The actors and directors Dabney Coleman shares the most films with. Carol Burnett comes first, with 4 films together, followed by Charles Durning (4).

FAQ

Dabney Coleman: Questions & Answers

How many movies Dabney Coleman has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.

How many movies has Dabney Coleman been in?

Dabney Coleman is credited on 61 films, from 1965 to 2022. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.

What is Dabney Coleman's highest-grossing movie?

On Golden Pond (1981) is Dabney Coleman's biggest box office hit, with $119M worldwide, ahead of WarGames (1983) ($79.6M). Across every film with box office figures, Dabney Coleman's movies have made $456M.

Dabney Coleman's biggest hits

What is the best Dabney Coleman movie?

By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Dabney Coleman's best-rated film is Still Working 9 to 5 (2022) with a score of 92.

Best Dabney Coleman movies, ranked

What is Dabney Coleman's newest movie?

The most recent film on Dabney Coleman's filmography is Still Working 9 to 5 (2022), in the role of Self.

Who does Dabney Coleman work with most often?

Dabney Coleman shares the most films with Carol Burnett (4 films), Charles Durning (4 films) and Jason Robards (3 films).

The Best Dabney Coleman Movies, Ranked

Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 61 credits.

See the ranking

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