Dabney Coleman tributes pour in: ‘The best at playing guys who were the worst’

Dabney Coleman was noted for playing despicable, unscrupulous characters on film and television, but Hollywood reacted with love for the actor after his death on Thursday.

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The six-time Emmy Award nominee, who won an Emmy for his role in 1987 drama “Sworn to Silence,” was 92. He also received acclaim for his role as the awful boss in “9 to 5,” and as an unethical host of a television talk show in the 1980s sitcom “Buffalo Bill.”

He played a prejudicial soap opera director in “Tootsie,” but was also Jane Fonda’s love interest in “On Golden Pond” (1981) and a flustered computer scientist in “WarGames” (1983), The New York Times reported.

Tributes flowed from co-workers and friends. Actor Ben Stiller, in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, said that Coleman “literally created, or defined” an archetype as a character actor.

Actor Dabney Coleman of ‘9 to 5,’ ‘Tootsie’ fame dead at 92

“He was so good at what he did it’s hard to imagine movies and television of the last 40 years without him,” Stiller wrote.

The great Dabney Coleman literally created, or defined, really - in a uniquely singular way — an archetype as a character actor. He was so good at what he did it’s hard to imagine movies and television of the last 40 years without him. Xxx
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) May 17, 2024

Actor James Woods, who voiced a character with Coleman on the 2001 animated movie “Recess: School’s Out,” also paid tribute, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

I’ve gone to Dan Tana’s restaurant regularly all my adult life. Dabney Coleman was always there, sitting in booth number one (appropriately), having his trademark steak,” Woods tweeted. “I had always loved him as an actor, and loved him more as we became friends. ##RIPDabneyColeman.”

I've gone to Dan Tana's restaurant regularly all my adult life. Dabney Coleman was always there, sitting in booth number one (appropriately), having his trademark steak. I had always loved him as an actor, and loved him more as we became friends. ##RIPDabneyColeman
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) May 17, 2024

Actor John Ales, who co-starred with Coleman in 16 episodes of “Madman of the People” during the mid-1990s, called the actor a likable bad guy.

“As a kid I don’t think I found any villain more likable than mean Dabney Coleman,” Ales tweeted. “We shared a birthday. Months after my dad passed away, Dabney played my dad for the 1st time. We had countless dinners together. He was a complicated, hilarious genius who was so sweet to my mom.”

As a kid I don’t think I found any villain more likable than mean Dabney Coleman.
We shared a birthday.
Months after my dad passed away, Dabney played my dad for the 1st time. We had countless dinners together.
He was a complicated, hilarious genius who was so sweet to my mom.❤️ pic.twitter.com/P6sWeUPWBt
— John Ales AF™️ (@IAmJohnAles) May 17, 2024

Others also added their thoughts on social media:

Dabney's gone and I'm very sad about that. One of a kind, baby.
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) May 17, 2024

Dabney Coleman was one of my favorite actors growing up. Fantastic as a heel, always, but also a fantastic hero in CLOAK AND DAGGER. Gave iconic performances in 9 to 5 and TOOTSIE, two of the best comedies ever. There was nobody like him. May he Rest in Peace. pic.twitter.com/b2BXqonk3L
— Brian Lynch (@BrianLynch) May 17, 2024

RIP Dabney Coleman aka Jack Flack. So many great films he gave us all pic.twitter.com/F6JuKPAJIr
— Tom Holland (@RealTomHolland) May 17, 2024

Long before the rise of anti-hero driven cable dramadies, Dabney Coleman was being a total dickhead on network TV on two of the best TV shows of my childhood. RIP. pic.twitter.com/XBCaJBveOE
— Duncan Birmingham (@DuncanBirm) May 17, 2024

Dabney Coleman quietly carried some of the best movies of the last 45 years. He was the kind of actor I strive to be. RIP to a true inspiration. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/wFuD3Q6hpr
— Morgan Peter Brown (@MorganPeteBrown) May 17, 2024

RIP DABNEY COLEMAN. I got to work with him on Buffalo Bill and I was so honoured because I'd always thought he was absolutely brilliant!
— Miss Julie Brown (@missjuliebrown) May 17, 2024

Dabney Coleman created the most lovable villains in cinema history. He gave us his all in every performance and made us root for the most loathsome characters. What an absolute legend. #9to5 pic.twitter.com/8tSxKB0MPv
— John Digles (@JohnDigles) May 18, 2024

Film critic Richard Roeper summed up Coleman’s appeal, tweeting that “he was the best at playing guys who were the worst.”

Dabney Coleman had the perfect character actor name, the best character actor mustache, the classic character actor chops. He was the best at playing guys who were the worst. pic.twitter.com/he2RGmsFSp
— Richard Roeper (@RichardERoeper) May 17, 2024