Actor Dabney Coleman, who appeared in Tootsie and 9 to 5 on the big screen, has died at the age of 92. The actor played parts in all genres but perhaps his greatest contribution to soaps was helping convince Eric Braeden to take on the role of Victor Newman on Young and the Restless.
Restless, Anyone?
TMZ exclusively shared a quote from Coleman’s daughter. Quincy Coleman, who said, “Dabney Wharton Coleman, took his last earthly breath peacefully and exquisitely in his home on Thursday, May 16th, 2024, at 1:50 PM.”
Born January 3, 1932, in Austin, Texas, Coleman’s early film credits include The Slender Thread, and Downhill Racer, which starred Robert Redford. He played the part of Merle Jeter on the Norman Lear syndicated soap opera Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, which spoofed serialized dramas, shining a light on the genre in the process.
Movies and nighttime shows don’t often get soaps right when they’re portrayed in other mediums, but film Tootsie is an exception. Coleman played chauvinistic Ron Carlisle, the director of fictional soap Southwest General, and the man who was Michael Dorsey’s (Dustin Hoffman) rival for the hand of Julie (played by Oscar winner Jessica Lange).
Tootsie wasn’t the only soap opera spoof film in which Coleman appeared; he also starred in the 1982 movie Young Doctors in Love, which featured cameos by many soap opera stars including Y&R’s Michael Damian (Danny) and Jaime Lyn Bauer (ex-Lorie).
Coleman starred in the series Buffalo Bill and The Slap Maxwell Story; one of his final credits was the role of John Sutton. Sr. in Yellowstone. The actor won a Prime Time Emmy in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special for his role as Martin Costigan in Sworn to Silence.
Coleman visited the Y&R set in 2020 at a celebration honoring Braeden’s 40 years as Victor Newman. Braeden never forgot the role Coleman played in convincing him to meet with Y&R to talk about the role of Victor.
“I have a friend called Dabney Coleman who was in Tootsie and then, 9 to 5, and many other films,” Braeden said of his friend who was “a great comedic actor, great dramatic actor.”
Braeden and Coleman played tennis with one another. He confided in Coleman that Y&R wanted to see him and asked him what he thought of that idea. “He says, ‘Do it,'” Braeden recalls. “You’ll love it.”
Coleman knew what he was talking about. He played Dr. Tracy Graham on the NBC daytime serial Bright Promise, which was created by General Hospital creators Frank and Doris Hursley.
The rest is soap opera history. Braeden has said he was further enticed to continue playing Victor after Y&R creator/head writer/sr. executive producer William J. Bell fleshed out Victor’s backstory, revealing that he was born Christian Miller and left at an orphanage as a young boy.
Coleman was pre-deceased by his actress wife, Jean Hale, who died in 2021. He is survived by four children. Soap Hub sends deep condolences to Coleman’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.
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