Dabney Coleman was born on January 3, 1932 in Austin, Texas.

On TV Coleman's first series role was in THAT GIRL (1966). Dabney served 2 years in the Army's Special Services Division.

Dabney Coleman's first appearances in the cinema were in THE SLENDER THREAD and DOWNHILL RACER. Coleman's breakthrough role was in 9 to 5 (1980).

In 1982 Dabney Coleman played the misogynist director of a soap opera, that Dustin Hoffman gets hired onto in his new female persona, in Sydney Pollack's TOOTSIE. 

For WAR GAMES [1983], a sci-fi drama, he plays a computer expert. In the Nora Ephron movie, YOU'VE GOT MAIL, Dabney Coleman plays a member of the Fox family who owns a book store chain.  Another member is the male love interest, Joe Fox [Tom Hanks] who is courting the owner [Meg Ryan] of an independent bookstore anonymously through the internet, because she hates what his family bookstore chain represents.

From 2001 to 2004, Dabney Coleman starred in the television crime drama, THE GUARDIAN, playing the father of the lead character and prodigal son, played by Simon Baker.

Dabney Coleman continues his acting career, with regular appearances on television series.

Dabney Coleman's other notable credits include...

HARD FOUR (2007)

DOMINO (2005) 

RECESS: TAKING THE FIFTH GRADE  (2003) 

WHERE THE RED FERN GROWNS: (2003)

RECESS: SCHOOL'S OUT: (2001) 

STUART LITTLE:  (1999) 

YOU'VE GOT MAIL (1998) 

THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES (1993) 

DRAGNET (1987)

TOOTSIE  (1982) 

Dabney in THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES (1993)

Dabney in ON GOLDEN POND (1981)

Dabney Coleman in YOU'VE GOT MAIL (1998)