George Coe obit

George Coe, 'Saturday Night Live' original cast member, dies at 86

He was not on the list.

George Coe, an original member of "Saturday Night Live's" Not Ready for Prime Time Players who also appeared in such films as "Kramer vs. Kramer" and "The Stepford Wives," has died. He was 86.

The veteran character actor, who provided the voice of Woodhouse, the heroin-addicted valet in the FX animated series "Archer," died Saturday in Santa Monica following a long illness.

Coe received an Academy Award nomination in 1969 for his 15-minute short film, "The Dove," a parody of Ingmar Bergman films that he starred in, produced and directed.

In the 1960s, the New York native, who graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan, starred in the original Broadway productions of "What Makes Sammy Run?" based on the novel by Budd Schulberg, and Jerry Herman's "Mame," starring Angela Lansbury.

He also performed in Steven Sondheim's "Company," which debuted on the Great White Way in 1970, and Harold Prince's "On the Twentieth Century" in 1978.

Coe appeared on "SNL's" premiere episode in October 1975 and on the NBC late-night show several other times in the first season as authority figures in voiceovers and small roles.

Coe portrayed Dustin Hoffman's advertisement agency boss in Robert Benton's Oscar best picture "Kramer vs. Kramer" (1979), and he was "Claude Axhelm," one of the manipulating husbands, in "The Stepford Wives" (1975).

Coe had regular roles on such TV shows as "Working," "L.A. Law" and "Max Headroom" and showed up on episodes of "The West Wing," "Hill Street Blues," "Moonlighting," "Grey's Anatomy," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "The Golden Girls," "Two and a Half Men" and "Wilfred."

His other film credits include "The First Deadly Sin" (1980), "The End of Innocence" (1990), "The Mighty Ducks" (1992), as Adam Sandler's father in "Funny People" (2009) and "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (2011), as the voice of the Autobot Wheeljack.

Coe, a former vice president for the SAG national board of directors, received the guild's Ralph Morgan Award in 2009.



Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes

1968 De Düva: The Dove Viktor Short

1975 The Stepford Wives Claude Axhelm

1979 French Postcards Mr. Weber

Kramer vs. Kramer Jim O'Connor

1980 The First Deadly Sin Dr. Bernardi

1981 Bustin' Loose Doctor Wilson T. Renfrew

The Amateur Rutledge

1982 The Entity Dr. Weber

1984 The House of God Dr. Leggo

Micki + Maude Governor Lanford

1985 Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins Gen. Scott Watson

Head Office Senator Issel

1987 Blind Date Harry Gruen

Best Seller Graham

1989 Cousins Phil

1990 The End of Innocence Dad

1992 The Mighty Ducks Judge Weathers

1995 Gospa Father Ferdo Vlasic

1997 Nick and Jane Mr. Morgan

1999 The Omega Code Sen Jack Thompson

2000 Big Eden Sam Hart

A Rumor of Angels Dr. Sam Jenkins

Diamond Men Tip Rountree

2008 Corporate Affairs George Parker

2009 Funny People George's Dad

Slice of Water Ben Short

2010 Bathtub Picnic Ben Short

2011 Transformers: Dark of the Moon Que / Wheeljack Voice

Wrinkles Miguel Voice, English version

2013 Chez Upshaw Reg. Nixon

2014 13 Sins Game Voice Voice, (final film role)

Television Year Title Role Notes

1971–1972 Somerset Leo Kurtz #1

1975-1976 The Doctors Scott Conrad

1975 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Matthews Television film

1975–1976 Saturday Night Live Various

1980 Big Blonde Ed Television film

1981 Kent State Mayor Leroy Satrom Television film

Broken Promise George Mathews Television film

Red Flag: The Ultimate Game Television film

1983 Listen to Your Heart John Television film

Rage of Angels Maguire Television film

Goodnight, Beantown Dick Novak

Sessions Max Television film

Hill Street Blues Benjamin Fisk

1984 He's Not Your Son Doctor Sadler Television film

1984–1985 American Playhouse Brian Haas

Old Man

1985 My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn Irving Jerome Television film

Moonlighting Lou LaSalle

1986 Family Ties    Justin Phillips

Blood & Orchids Dr. Lansing Television film

Simon & Simon Nolan Scott

The Paper Chase

Dallas Fritz Longley

Scarecrow and Mrs. King Dr. Quidd

1986–1991 L.A. Law Judge Wallace R. Vance

1987 Uncle Tom's Cabin Mr. Shelby Television film

1987–1988 Max Headroom Ben Cheviot

1987–1990 thirtysomething Ted Murdoch

1988 Why on Earth? Henry Television film

Magnum P.I. William Wainwright

The Golden Girls Al

Shootdown David Television film

1989 Those She Left Behind Bill Page Television film

My Name Is Bill W. Frank Shaw from Rice & Co. Television film

The Hollywood Detective Sid Curley Television film

The Tracey Ullman Show Reverend Graylin

Columbo: Murder: A Self Portrait Dr. Hammer

Matlock Dr. Lucas Sinclair

1990 Amen Col. Adams

Father Dowling Mysteries Mr. Vance

Fine Things Paul Berman Television film

Murphy Brown Theodore

To My Daughter Frank Parsons Television film

1990–1992 Murder, She Wrote Andrew Thayer

Martin Bergman

1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation Chancellor Durken

Equal Justice Colin Baker

Night Court Peter Collingswood

1992 Crossroads Hugh

The Human Factor Dr. Astor

Camp Candy Voice

Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz Story Dr. Feldman Television film

Nurses Rudy

1993 Law & Order Lee Hastings

Joe's Life Grandpa

1995 The Cosby Mysteries Agent Carter

New York Undercover Mr. Braddock

Cagney & Lacey: The View Through the Glass Ceiling Dan Broadbent Television film

1997 Home Improvement Parker

1998 Jenny Thomas Kendall

The Pretender Dr. Nicholas Haring

The Practice Judge Walters

The Nanny Ernest

1998–1999 Working Peter Baines

1999 Any Day Now Mr. Noonan

Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place Mr. Belt

2000 Ladies Man Herb

Bull Ed Krakauer

2001 The Lone Gunmen Bertram Byers

Becker Mr. Spector

2001–2002 The West Wing Sen. Howard Stackhouse

2002 Smallville William Clark

Crossing Jordan Warren Lauer

2002–2007 Curb Your Enthusiasm General Manager

2003 The Division Joe Marks

Judging Amy Judge

2005 Gilmore Girls Grandpa Huntzberger

Numb3rs Steven Logan

2006 Cold Case Bill Simmons

2006–2007 Celebrity Deathmatch Albert Einstein / Bud Selig Voice

2007 Bones Father William Donlan

The King of Queens Father Biskup

Private Practice Stan

Nip/Tuck Dr. Joshua Lee

2008 Supernatural Pat

Grey's Anatomy Ed Bullard

2009 Star Wars: The Clone Wars Tee Watt Kaa Voice

2009–2015 Archer Woodhouse Voice

2011-2013 Wilfred Gene

2012 The Legend of Korra Toza Voice

2013 Two and a Half Men Victor