Paul Dooley | |
|---|---|
 Dooley in 2010 | |
| Born | Paul Brown (1928-02-22)February 22, 1928 (age 97) |
| Alma mater | West Virginia State University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1954–present |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 4, includingSavannah Dooley |
| Website | pauldooleyactor.com |
Paul Dooley (bornPaul Brown; February 22, 1928) is an Americancharacter actor. He is known for his roles inBreaking Away,Popeye,Strange Brew,Sixteen Candles and variousChristopher Guest mockumentaries. He co-created thePBS children's showThe Electric Company.
Dooley was bornPaul Brown on February 22, 1928, inParkersburg,West Virginia, the son of Ruth Irene (née Barringer), a homemaker, and Pete James Brown, a factory worker.[1]
He said that Parkersburg had few attractions that interested him because there were not many cultural opportunities. He enjoyed listening to comedians on the radio, especiallyJimmy Durante.[2] In high school, he often performed at fairs as a clown named Dooley. In the mid-1950s, he legally changed his surname to match his clown persona, there already being a Broadway actor named Paul Brown.[3][4]
Dooley was acartoonist as a youth and drew a strip for a local paper in Parkersburg. In 1946, he joined theUnited States Navy and served for two years before returning home and graduating fromWest Virginia State University in 1952.[5]
After graduation, Dooley went toNew York City to try his luck in the entertainment industry. He initially found work as a clown for children's birthday parties.[6]
In New York, he soon found success as a regular on the stage. In the early 1950s, he made his debut on the New York stage and was discovered byMike Nichols. The director gave him his first break by casting him in 1965'sThe Odd Couple on Broadway. Dooley appeared as Oscar's poker crony, Homer "Speed" Deegan and understudiedArt Carney, who portrayed Felix Unger; when Carney left the play later on, Dooley assumed the role of Felix. Dooley was represented by theWilliam Morris Agency, thanks to a referral fromWalter Matthau, who played Oscar Madison in the play.[5]
Also having an interest in comedy, Dooley was astand-up comedian for five years, eventually landing onThe Tonight Show,[6] and a member of theCompass Players andThe Second City troupe in New York City. Fellow members of The Second City at that time wereAlan Arkin andAlan Alda.[7]
Dooley also worked as a writer. He created and was one of the head writers onThe Electric Company, produced by theChildren's Television Workshop forPBS in the United States. Dooley wrote "runners", a series of short sketches with 8 or 10 characters that were broadcast over the course of several weeks. He found out years later thatCarl Reiner had recommended him for the job.[2] Some of the characters Dooley created forThe Electric Company includedEasy Reader (Morgan Freeman) andFargo North, Decoder (Skip Hinnant), as well as the soap opera spoofLove of Chair.[2]
Dooley formed a company with Andrew Duncan and Lynne Lipton called All Over Creation to create commercials for radio and television. They produced around 500 TV commercials and 1,000 radio spots.[6] A character named Paul the Gorilla that appeared in television commercials was named after him.
Dooley has appeared in such films asSixteen Candles,Popeye,Raggedy Ann and Andy: A Musical Adventure,Breaking Away,Runaway Bride, and the voice ofSarge in theDisney/Pixar filmsCars,Cars 2 andCars 3.
He worked withRobert Altman regularly and is known as a prolific journeymancharacter actor.[5] After Altman saw Dooley in theJules Feiffer comedyHold Me, he signed him for a role in his filmA Wedding.[6]
He and Altman co-wrote the filmHealth.[2]
He was also in the director's cut ofLittle Shop of Horrors, but was replaced byJim Belushi in the final cut.
Dooley has worked withChristopher Guest on a number of films, includingDeath Wish,Little Shop of Horrors, and the Guest-directed filmsWaiting for Guffman,A Mighty Wind, andFor Your Consideration.[6]
Dooley has also appeared as a variety of recurrent characters on numerous television shows, includingER,My So-Called Life,Dream On,Grace Under Fire,thirtysomething,Curb Your Enthusiasm,ALF (playing Whizzer Deaver),Chicago Hope, andStar Trek: Deep Space Nine where he played the recurring role ofEnabran Tain. He guest starred in other primetime shows likeBewitched,The Wonder Years,Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,Hot in Cleveland,Law & Order: Criminal Intent, andDesperate Housewives. WithRita Moreno, he appeared inThe Golden Girls episode "Empty Nests" which had been intended to be abackdoor pilot for what would eventually becomeEmpty Nest.[8] Dooley starred in the short-lived comedy about a couple living in anArizona retirement community,Coming of Age, opposite veteran actorsPhyllis Newman,Glynis Johns andAlan Young. In 2000, he was nominated for anEmmy Award for his role as aneccentric judge onThe Practice.
In 2010, Dooley played the part of the head chef at Camp Victory, a fictional fat camp, on the short-livedABC Family original seriesHuge, which was created and written by his wife and daughter.[9]
In 2014, he appeared in an episode of the NBC seriesParenthood as Rocky, a fellow vet and retiree toCraig T. Nelson'sZeek Braverman.[10]
In 2017, he appeared in the episode "22 Steps" of the ABC seriesThe Good Doctor as Glenn, a 72-year-old man with a failing heart who breaks his pacemaker because he wants to die due to the constant pain he is suffering.
Dooley co-wrote the playAssisted Living with his wife Winnie Holzman.[7] It was their first theatrical collaboration. The play premiered on April 5, 2013.[11]
Dooley has been married toWinnie Holzman,[12] whom he first met at an improv acting class in New York,[13] since November 18, 1984.[7] The couple have a daughterSavannah[2] and live inToluca Lake inLos Angeles.[13]
Dooley was previously married to Donna Lee Wasser on September 19, 1958, which ended in divorce.[12] He has three children from his first marriage.[14][12]
In 2022, Dooley published his memoir, titledMovie Dad: Finding Myself and My Family, On Screen and Off.[12][15]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | The Parisienne and the Prudes | Ted K. Worrie | |
| 1970 | The Out-of-Towners | Hotel Clerk - Day | |
| 1972 | Up the Sandbox | Statue of Liberty Guard | |
| 1974 | The Gravy Train | Doctor | |
| Death Wish | Cop at Hospital | Uncredited | |
| 1975 | Fore Play | Salesman | |
| 1977 | Slap Shot | Hyannisport Announcer | |
| Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure | Gazooks | Voice | |
| 1978 | A Wedding | Snooks Brenner | |
| 1979 | A Perfect Couple | Alex Theodopoulos | |
| Breaking Away | Ray Stohler | ||
| Rich Kids | Simon Peterfreund | ||
| 1980 | Health | Dr. Gil Gainey | |
| Popeye | J. Wellington Wimpy | ||
| 1981 | Paternity | Kurt | |
| 1982 | Endangered Species | Joe Hiatt | |
| Kiss Me Goodbye | Kendall | ||
| 1983 | Strange Brew | Uncle Claude Elsinore | |
| Going Berserk | Dr. Ted | ||
| 1984 | Sixteen Candles | Jim Baker | |
| 1985 | O.C. and Stiggs | Randall Schwab | |
| 1986 | Little Shop of Horrors | Patrick Martin | Director's cut only |
| Monster in the Closet | Roy | ||
| Big Trouble | Noozel | ||
| 1988 | Last Rites | Father Freddie | |
| Lip Service | Gilbert 'Gil' Hutchinson | ||
| 1990 | Flashback | Stark | |
| 1991 | White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd | Hal Roach | |
| Shakes the Clown | Owen Cheese | ||
| 1992 | The Player | Himself | |
| 1993 | My Boyfriend's Back | Big Chuck | |
| A Dangerous Woman | Tupperware Salesman | ||
| 1995 | Evolver | Jerry Briggs | |
| Out There | Emmett Davis | ||
| The Underneath | Ed Dutton | ||
| 1996 | God's Lonely Man | Polo | |
| Waiting for Guffman | UFO Abductee | ||
| 1997 | Loved | Leo Amerson | |
| Clockwatchers | Bud Chapman | ||
| Telling Lies in America | Father Norton | ||
| Angels in the Endzone | Coach Buck | ||
| 1999 | Happy, Texas | The Judge | |
| Guinevere | Walter | ||
| Error in Judgment | Jack Albert | ||
| Runaway Bride | Walter Carpenter | ||
| 2000 | I'll Remember April | Earl Schimmel | |
| 2001 | Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street | Hank the Janitor, Mall Santa | Voice |
| Stealing Time | Hank | ||
| 2002 | Crazy Little Thing | Jimmy's Dad | |
| Insomnia | Chief Nyback | ||
| 2003 | A Mighty Wind | George Menschell | |
| Nobody Knows Anything! | Warden | ||
| 2004 | Employee of the Month | Reverend Ben Goodwin | |
| Adventures in Homeschooling (Short) | Pop Hemple | ||
| 2005 | Come Away Home | Grandpa Donald Brooks | |
| Madison | Mayor Don Vaughn | ||
| 2006 | Cars | Sarge | Voice |
| For Your Consideration | Paper Badge Sergeant | ||
| 2007 | Hairspray | Mr. Spritzer | Nominated —Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
| 2008 | Sunshine Cleaning | Sherm | |
| Chronic Town | Eleanor's Father | ||
| Bedtime Stories | Hot Dog Vendor | ||
| 2009 | Horsemen | Father Whiteleather | |
| 2010 | Ironmen | Connors | |
| 2011 | Thanks | Hank | |
| Cars 2 | Sarge | Voice | |
| 2012 | Game Night | Marvin Garden | |
| 2013 | Turbo | The Foreman | Voice |
| 2016 | Other People | Ronnie | |
| The Holy Man | Lou 'The Bull' Devine | ||
| 2017 | Cars 3 | Sarge | Voice |
| 2020 | Selfie Dad | Barber | |
| 2021 | Saving Paradise | Gramps | |
| 2023 | Boy Makes Girl | Ben |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | East Side/West Side | Charlie Welty | Episode: "No Hiding Place" |
| 1964 | The Defenders | R.W. Wheeler | Episode: "Conflict of Interests" |
| 1966 | Get Smart | Hanlon | Episode: "The Greatest Spy on Earth" |
| Bewitched | TV Man | Episode: "Oedipus Hex" | |
| 1968 | A Punt, a Pass, and a Prayer | Photographer | Television film |
| 1970 | The Night the Animals Talked | Voice, Television special | |
| 1972 | The Corner Bar | Unknown character | Episode: "Flanagan's Wake" |
| 1974–1975 | Sesame Street | Parrot | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1977 | Simple Gifts | Voice, Television special | |
| 1980 | Captain Kangaroo | ||
| 1981 | Jules Feiffer's Hold Me | Man #1 | Television film |
| See China and Die | Ames Prescott | ||
| 1982 | American Playhouse | Detective | Episode: "The Shady Hill Kidnapping" |
| 1982–1983 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Father / The Miller | 2 episodes |
| 1983 | The Wilder Summer | Camp Cook | Television film |
| Don't Eat the Pictures | Museum Security Guard | Television special | |
| 1985 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Dr. Wormer | Episode: "The Day the Senior Class Got Married" |
| Spenser: For Hire | Bryce Taylor | Episode: "Resurrection" | |
| 1986 | Tales from the Darkside | Chester Caruso | Episode: "The Old Soft Shoe" |
| 1986–1987 | The Golden Girls | George Corliss / Isaac Q. Newton | 2 episodes |
| 1987–1989 | ALF | Whizzer | 3 episodes |
| 1988 | The Murder of Mary Phagan | William J. Burns | Miniseries |
| Superman 50th Anniversary | John Buxton, Editor Metropolis Proclaimer | Television special | |
| 1988–1989 | Coming of Age | Dick Hale | 15 episodes |
| 1989 | Guts and Glory: The Rise and Fall of Oliver North | John Buxton, Editor Metropolis Proclaimer | Television film |
| When He's Not a Stranger | Ben McKenna | ||
| 1990 | Thirtysomething | Bob Spano | 2 episodes |
| The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson | Willy Bailey | Television film | |
| Guess Who's Coming For Christmas | Doc | ||
| 1991 | Mathnet | Casey Bengal | Episode: "The Case of the Unnatural" |
| Evening Shade | Rayford Taggart | Episode: "The Trials of Wood Newton" | |
| Coach | Horace Van Dam | Episode: "A Father and Son Reunion" | |
| My Life and Times | Jack Miller | Episode: "Our Wedding" | |
| Sunday Dinner | Jack | Episode: "My Dinner with Jack and Delores" | |
| Square One Television | Casey Bengal | 2 episodes | |
| The Wonder Years | Pops | Episode: "Soccer" | |
| Pros and Cons | Archie Williams | Episode: "Ho! Ho! Hold Up!" | |
| 1992 | Batman: The Animated Series | Father Michael | Voice, Episode: "It's Never Too Late" |
| Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride | Assistant D.A. Robert Norrell | Television film | |
| Mad About You | Gus Stemple | Episode: "Paul in the Family" | |
| The Ben Stiller Show | Mr. Adult / The Professor | 2 episodes | |
| Room for Two | Wally | Episode: "Dog Day Afternoons" | |
| 1992–1994 | Dream On | Mickey Tupper | 8 episodes |
| 1993 | Cooperstown | Sid Wiggins | Television film |
| Mother of the Bride | Robert Becker | ||
| Traveler's Rest | Andy Milligan | ||
| Tales of the City | Herb Tolliver | 3 episodes | |
| Tales from the Crypt | Randolph | Episode: "Forever Ambergris" | |
| L.A. Law | Karl Bullen | Episode: "Safe Sex" | |
| 1994 | The Mommies | Frank Kellogg | Episode: "The Old Man Cometh" |
| State of Emergency | Jim Anderson | Television film | |
| Chicago Hope | Walter McTeague | Episode: "Over the Rainbow" | |
| Sisters | Erin 'The Bargain' Baron | Episode: "Bombshell" | |
| My So-Called Life | Chuck Wood | 2 episodes | |
| 1994–1996 | Grace Under Fire | John Shirley | 22 episodes |
| 1994–1997 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Enabran Tain | 4 episodes |
| 1995 | The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes | Sen. Thatch | Television film |
| 1995–1996, 2004 | ER | Henry Lewis | 4 episodes |
| 1996 | High Society | Mel | Episode: "Touching Up Your Roots" |
| Ellen | Thomas Kelsey | Episode: "Lobster Diary" | |
| Millennium | Joe Bangs | Episode: "The Well-Worn Lock" | |
| 1997 | Early Edition | McGinty | Episode: "Home" |
| Sabrina the Teenage Witch | Ralphie | Episode: "A Doll's Story" | |
| 1998 | Sleepwalkers | Joel | Episode: "Passed Imperfect" |
| 1998–1999 | Tracey Takes On... | Cop / Agent Ivan Hamel | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Dharma & Greg | Judge Harper | Episode: "Dharma & Greg on a Hot Tin Roof" |
| 1999–2002 | The Practice | Judge Philip Swackheim | 8 episodes |
| 2000–2002, 2004–2005 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Cheryl's Father | 7 episodes |
| 2001 | Ally McBeal | Nicholas Engblume | Episode: "Reasons to Believe" |
| Providence | Bill Ridley | Episode: "Saved by the Bell" | |
| The Geena Davis Show | Bill | Episode: "Photo Finish" | |
| A Woman's a Helluva Thing | Hank Luckinbill | Television film | |
| Kate Brasher | Father | Episode: "Jeff" | |
| Jack & Jill | Father Conlin | Episode: "The Time/Sex Continuum" | |
| The Huntress | Dante Cicollo | Episode: "Undercover" | |
| 2001–2002 | Once and Again | Les Cresswell | 6 episodes |
| 2003 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Stan Coffman | Episode: "Cherry Red" |
| Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales | Dean Duaney | Television special | |
| Becker | Mr. Lerner | Episode: "What's Love Got to Do with It?" | |
| Comfort and Joy | George | Television film | |
| 2004 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Buddy Ween | Episode: "Getting Off" |
| 2005 | Hopeless Pictures | Bartender | Voice |
| Desperate Housewives | Addison Prudy | 3 episodes | |
| 2006 | The Jake Effect | Mr. Bernthal | Episode: "The Intervention" |
| 2007 | 7th Heaven | Red | Episode: "Small Miracles" |
| Side Order of Life | Sam Wainwright | Episode: "When Pigs Fly" | |
| Boston Legal | Judge Wendel Donahue | Episode: "Hope and Gory" | |
| 2008 | Grey's Anatomy | Dr. Walter Tapley | Episode: "Losing My Mind" |
| 2009 | Scrubs | Paul | Episode: "Our Histories" |
| 2010 | Tracey Ullman's State of the Union | Harry Rinaldi | Episode: "Locked and Loaded" |
| Huge | Joe Sosniak | 10 episodes | |
| 2011 | Private Practice | Abe Nussbaum | Episode: "Heaven Can Wait" |
| 2012 | Hot in Cleveland | Bearded Man aka Santa | Episode: "Claus, Tails & High-Pitched Males: Birthdates 3" |
| The Client List | Earl Hudson | Episode: "Past Is Prologue" | |
| 2013 | Criminal Minds | Chip Gordon | Episode: "All That Remains" |
| Major Crimes | Larry Murdock | Episode: "There's No Place Like Home" | |
| Super Fun Night | The Old Man | Episode: "Merry Super Fun Christmas" | |
| My Santa | Martin | Television film | |
| 2014 | Parenthood | Rocky | Episode: "Promises" |
| 2015 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Rocky | Episode: "Dax Shepard Wears a Heather Grey Shirt and Black Blazer" |
| 2016 | The Skinny! | Grandpa | Episode: "Relapse" |
| Childrens Hospital | Grandpa Ben | Episode: "Grandparents Day" | |
| Young & Hungry | Mr. Fancy | 2 episodes | |
| 2017 | Workaholics | Ralph | Episode: "Faux Chella" |
| The Good Doctor | Glen | Episode: "22 Steps" | |
| 2018 | Shameless | Frank | 2 episodes |
| The Guest Book | Uncle Bill | Episode: "Killer Party" | |
| Bizaardvark | Uncle Morty | Episode: "A Capella Problems" | |
| 2018–2019 | The Kids Are Alright | Father Cecil Dunne | 6 episodes |
| 2019 | Life in Pieces | Mort Short | 2 episodes |
| Merry Happy Whatever | Grandpa Jack | Episode: "Merry Ex-Mas" | |
| 2020 | Modern Family | Murray | Episode: "Dead on a Rival" |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Cars | Sarge |
| 2007 | Cars Mater-National Championship | |
| 2009 | Cars Race-O-Rama | |
| 2011 | Cars 2: The Video Game |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | The Threepenny Opera | Walt Dreary | [16] |
| 1965 | The Odd Couple | Felix Ungar | [16] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Radiator Springs Racers | Sarge | Voice |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
