Shocking News! ‘9 to 5’ Villain and ‘Yellowstone’ Star Dabney Coleman Dead at 92!

Dabney Coleman, a much-loved character actor best known for his role as the villainous boss in “9 to 5,” alongside Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton, has passed away at the age of 92.

His daughter, Quincy Coleman, confirmed his death, stating that he passed away “in an exquisitely peaceful manner” at his home on Thursday afternoon.

In a statement provided to The Times, she described her father as a man with a “curious mind and generous heart,” and a spirit full of “passion, desire and humor that tickled the funny bone of humanity.” She praised his dignity and excellence in navigating the final phase of his life.

“Dabney Coleman was a teacher, a hero, a king. His spirit will continue to shine through his work, his loved ones and his legacy … eternally,” Quincy said.

No cause of death was provided.

Beyond “9 to 5,” Coleman was known for his roles in the TV series “The Guardian” and “Boardwalk Empire,” and for a guest appearance in “Yellowstone.” He was nominated six times for Emmy Awards, winning in 1987 for the TV movie “Sworn to Silence.” His filmography also includes “Tootsie,” “On Golden Pond,” “War Games,” “The Beverly Hillbillies,” and “Where the Heart Is.”

Speaking to The Times in 1991, Coleman discussed his approach to comedy: “I like to say things funny, not say funny things. I don’t want to do jokes,” he said. At that time, he had become known as the king of TV curmudgeons, due to his roles in offbeat TV comedies like “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” “Buffalo Bill” and “The Slap Maxwell Story.”

Coleman, who was in his late 50s at the time, acknowledged his preference for playing mean characters. He said he found it enjoyable because it was something you couldn’t get away with in real life.

Coleman was born on Jan. 3, 1932, in Austin, Texas. He was the youngest of four children and was brought up by his mother after his father died from pneumonia when Coleman was only 4 years old. He spent his childhood years in Corpus Christi.

After studying at the Virginia Military Institute and serving in the U.S. Army in Europe in 1953, including a stint on the U.S. Army tennis team, Coleman continued his education at the University of Texas. He studied law and met his first wife, Ann Harrell, and was inspired to pursue acting after meeting actor Zachary Scott through her. Coleman and Harrell were married from 1957 to 1959.

He married his second wife, Jean Hale, in 1961. The couple moved to Los Angeles, where Coleman began regularly appearing on TV shows like “Naked City” and “The Outer Limits.”

In the 1970s, Coleman scored substantial roles in “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” and films like “Downhill Racer” and “The Towering Inferno.” His career took a comedic turn in 1980 with his role as the chauvinistic Franklin Hart Jr. in “9 to 5.” Coleman admitted to enjoying playing villains and reveled in the “rottenness” of his character in the film.

Reflecting on his role in “9 to 5,” Coleman expressed his delight at working with three iconic actresses in the film in the 2017 documentary “Not Such a Bad Guy: Conversations With Dabney Coleman.”

He continued to play similar roles in other films like “Modern Problems” and “Tootsie,” while also taking on more serious roles in films such as “On Golden Pond” and “Cloak and Dagger.” On television, he starred in the critically acclaimed but short-lived series “Buffalo Bill” in the early 1980s and won a Golden Globe for his role in the late 1980s comedy “The Slap Maxwell Story.”

Coleman stated that he chose to star in the comedy series “Drexell’s Class” in 1991 in hopes of gaining greater visibility that could lead to significant roles in feature films. He aspired to work with filmmakers like Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese. His wish was fulfilled in 2010 when he appeared in the first two seasons of HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire,” executive-produced by Scorsese. He played the character of Commodore Louis Kaestner in the crime drama.

Coleman made a notable guest appearance on the popular Kevin Costner drama “Yellowstone,” portraying Costner’s father in the Season 2 finale. This performance was his last onscreen credit.

Coleman’s survivors include his children Meghan, Kelly, Randy and Quincy Coleman, as well as his grandchildren Hale and Gabe Torrance, Luie Freundl, and Kai and Coleman Biancaniello, according to his daughter’s statement.

Additional reporting was contributed by former Times staff writer Patrick Kevin Day.