Paul Dooley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Dooley
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Dooley in 2010
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| Born |
Paul Brown
February 22, 1928 |
| Alma mater | West Virginia State University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1954–present |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 4, including Savannah Dooley |
Paul Dooley (born Paul Brown on February 22, 1928) is an American actor who has appeared in many movies and TV shows. He is famous for playing funny and memorable dads and other characters.
You might know him as the dad in the movie Sixteen Candles or as Wimpy in the movie Popeye. He is also the voice of Sarge, the tough army jeep, in the Disney/Pixar Cars movies. Dooley also helped create the popular PBS kids' show The Electric Company.
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Early Life and First Steps in Acting
Paul Dooley was born Paul Brown in Parkersburg, West Virginia. As a kid, he loved listening to comedians on the radio. He also enjoyed drawing and even had his own cartoon strip in a local newspaper.
In high school, he started performing as a clown named "Dooley" at local fairs. He liked the name so much that he later legally changed his last name from Brown to Dooley. After serving in the United States Navy for two years, he went to college and graduated from West Virginia State University in 1952.
Career in Entertainment
After college, Dooley moved to New York City to become an entertainer. He started out working as a clown for kids' birthday parties. Soon, he found success on stage.
From the Stage to the Big Screen
Dooley's big break came in 1965 when he was cast in the famous Broadway play The Odd Couple. He later took over the main role of Felix Unger. He also performed as a stand-up comedian and was part of a comedy group called The Second City with other future stars like Alan Arkin and Alan Alda.
Director Robert Altman noticed Dooley's talent and cast him in the movie A Wedding. This started Dooley's long career in films. He became known as a character actor, which is an actor who plays interesting and unique supporting roles.
Writing for Television
Besides acting, Dooley was also a talented writer. He was one of the main writers for the educational children's show The Electric Company. He created many of the show's funny sketches and characters, including Easy Reader, played by Morgan Freeman.
Famous Roles
Paul Dooley has been in over 50 movies and many TV shows. He is known for working with directors like Robert Altman and Christopher Guest.
Memorable Movie Roles
Dooley is often cast as a friendly but worried father. Some of his most famous movie roles include:
- Ray Stohler in Breaking Away (1979), the father of a boy who wants to be a bicycle racer.
- Wimpy in Popeye (1980), who famously loves hamburgers.
- Jim Baker in Sixteen Candles (1984), the dad who forgets his daughter's birthday.
- Walter Carpenter in Runaway Bride (1999), the father of the bride.
- Sarge in the Cars movies (2006, 2011, 2017), the voice of the green Army jeep.
- Mr. Spritzer in Hairspray (2007), the owner of a TV station.
Television Appearances
Dooley has also been a guest star on many popular TV shows. He played recurring characters on shows like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, where he was the Cardassian spy Enabran Tain. He also appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Golden Girls, ALF, and My So-Called Life.
In 2000, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for playing a quirky judge on the show The Practice. More recently, he has appeared in episodes of Parenthood, Modern Family, and The Good Doctor.
Personal Life
Paul Dooley has been married to writer and producer Winnie Holzman since 1984. They met in an acting class and have a daughter, Savannah Dooley, who is also a writer. The family lives in Los Angeles.
Dooley has three other children from a previous marriage. In 2022, he wrote a book about his life called Movie Dad: Finding Myself and My Family, On Screen and Off.
See also
In Spanish: Paul Dooley para niños
