Net Worth Ranker
What Is Dabney Coleman’s Net Worth?
At the time of his passing in May 2024, Dabney Coleman, a prolific American actor renowned for his distinctive portrayal of arrogant and often unlikable characters, had a net worth of $5 million. This figure represents the culmination of a career spanning over six decades in the entertainment industry, encompassing numerous roles in both film and television.
Dabney Coleman’s Career in Film and Television
Coleman’s acting career began in the late 1950s, but he gained significant recognition in the 1970s with roles in TV series such as “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” where he played Merle Jeeter in 148 episodes from 1976 to 1977. His success continued into the 1980s, highlighted by his performance in “Buffalo Bill” and “The Slap Maxwell Story,” earning him a Golden Globe Award in 1988 for Best Actor in a Television Series.
His film career is marked by appearances in critically acclaimed movies. One of his most notable roles was as Franklin Hart Jr. in the 1980 comedy “9 to 5.” He also portrayed Jack Flack and Hal Osborne in the 1984 adventure film “Cloak & Dagger.” Other significant film credits include “Tootsie” (1982), “WarGames” (1983), “On Golden Pond” (1981), and “The Beverly Hillbillies” (1993). Each role contributed to his financial standing and solidified his reputation as a versatile character actor.
Coleman received multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations throughout his career. He was nominated twice for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in “The Slap Maxwell Story” in 1987 and 1988. Additionally, he earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special for his performance in the TV movie “Sworn to Silence” (1987).
Even into his 90s, Coleman continued to make guest appearances in popular TV series. These include roles in “Boardwalk Empire” (2010-2014), where he appeared in 24 episodes as Commodore Louis Kaestner, “The Guardian” (2001-2004), and “Ray Donovan” (2013-2020). These later roles further bolstered his income and maintained his presence in the industry.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on January 3, 1932, in Austin, Texas, Dabney Coleman’s early life included attending the Virginia Military Institute and the University of Texas at Austin. After being drafted into the United States Army in 1953 and serving in Europe, he pursued acting post-military service. From 1958 to 1960, he trained with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater in New York City. His first role came in 1961 with an appearance in an episode of “Naked City.” In 1964, he appeared in three episodes of “The Outer Limits” and an episode of “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.” Between 1964 and 1966, he appeared in four episodes of “The Fugitive.” He also appeared in episodes of “I Dream of Jeannie” and “The Donna Reed Show” in 1965. The same year, he appeared in his first film, “The Slender Thread.” In 1966, he landed a role in “The Property is Condemned.” Dabney also appeared as Dr. Leon Bessemer in eight episodes of “That Girl” from 1966 to 1967. He was busy with television roles in 1967, appearing in “The Invaders,” “Dundee and the Culhane,” and “The Flying Nun.” Coleman booked two episodes of “Bonanza” in 1968 and 1969. He also appeared in the films “The Scalphunters,” “The Trouble with Girls,” and “Downhill Racer.” In 1970, he landed roles in “The F.B.I.,” “The Brotherhood of the Bell,” and “I Love My Wife.”
Throughout the 1970s, he remained active in both film and television, appearing in movies like “Cinderella Liberty,” “The Dove,” “The Towering Inferno,” “Black Fist,” and “Bite the Bullet.” He also made appearances in TV shows like “Barnaby Jones,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” and “Mannix.” His role in “9 to 5” in 1980, where he played Franklin Hart, Jr., marked a turning point in his career, cementing his status as a comic relief villain. In 1982, he played an arrogant, sexist soap opera director in the film “Tootsie.” Despite frequently playing villainous roles, he also took on diverse characters, such as a sympathetic fiancé in “On Golden Pond” (1981) and a military computer scientist in “WarGames” (1983). In 1984, he portrayed a loving father in “Cloak & Dagger.” In 1983, Dabney landed the lead role in the television series “Buffalo Bill” playing Bill Bittinger.
In 1987, he received an Emmy Award for his role in the television film “Sworn to Silence.” The same year, he also had a role in the comedy film “Dragnet.” The following year, he appeared in the talking-horse comedy “Hot to Trot.” During the 1990s, he continued to be prolific, appearing in films such as “Meet the Applegates,” “There Goes the Neighborhood,” “Amos & Andrew,” “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “Judicial Consent,” and “You’ve Got Mail.” From 1997 to 2001, he voiced Principal Peter Prickly in the animated show “Recess.” In 2001, he secured the role of Burton Fallin in “The Guardian,” appearing in 67 episodes between 2001 and 2004. He played the character of the grandfather in the 2003 film “Where the Red Fern Grown.” In 2010, he booked the role of Commodore Louis Kaestner in the series “Boardwalk Empire,” appearing in 24 total episodes. The show won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in both 2011 and 2012. He also appeared in episodes of “NCIS,” “Ray Donovan,” “For the People,” and “Yellowstone.” In 2016, he played the character of Raymond Holliday in the film “Rules Don’t Apply.” All these roles added significantly to Dabney Coleman’s Net Worth.
Real Estate Investments
In September 1986, Coleman invested $595,000 in a home located in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. By 2013, he began offering the property for rent at $10,000 per month. In June 2023, he initially listed the home for sale with an asking price of $4.5 million. However, he later removed the listing and instead offered it as a rental property for $14,000 per month. Ultimately, he maintained ownership of this residence until his death in 2024. This real estate asset contributed to his overall Dabney Coleman’s Net Worth.
Personal Life and Final Years
Coleman was married and divorced twice. His first marriage was to Ann Courtney in 1957, which ended in divorce in 1959. In 1961, he married Jean Hale, with whom he had three children – Kelly, Randy, and Quincy – before their divorce in 1984. Coleman had one additional child. He was a dedicated tennis player and participated in numerous celebrity and charity tournaments, primarily playing at the Riviera Country Club. Dabney Coleman passed away on May 16, 2024, at the age of 92. These personal aspects provide context to his life and career achievements that culminated in his established Dabney Coleman’s Net Worth.
