Paul Dooley

Paul Dooley (né Brown; born February 22, 1928) is an American character actor, television writer and comedian. He is known for his roles in Breaking Away, Popeye, Strange Brew, Sixteen Candles, Cars and various Christopher Guest mockumentaries. He co-created the PBS children's show The Electric Company.

Early life Dooley was born Paul Brown on February 22, 1928, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, the son of Ruth Irene (née Barringer), a homemaker, and Pete James Brown, a factory worker.

He said Parkersburg had few attractions that interested him because there were not many cultural opportunities. He enjoyed listening to comedians on the radio, especially Jimmy Durante.

Dooley was a cartoonist as a youth and drew a strip for a local paper in Parkersburg. In 1946, he joined the United States Navy and served for two years before returning home and graduating from West Virginia State University in 1952.

Dooley also worked as a writer. He created and was one of the head writers on The Electric Company, produced by the Children's Television Workshop for PBS 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 that Carl Reiner had recommended him for the job. After Altman saw Dooley in the Jules Feiffer comedy Hold Me, he signed him for a role in his film A Wedding.

He and Altman co-wrote the film Health. Dooley starred in the short-lived comedy about a couple living in an Arizona retirement community, Coming of Age, opposite veteran actors Phyllis Newman, Glynis Johns and Alan Young. In 2000, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role as an eccentric judge on The Practice.

In 2010, Dooley played the part of the head chef at Camp Victory, a fictional fat camp, on the short-lived ABC Family original series Huge, which was created and written by his wife and daughter.

In 2014, he appeared in an episode of the NBC series Parenthood as Rocky, a fellow vet and retiree to Craig T. Nelson's Zeek Braverman.

In 2017, he appeared in the episode "22 Steps" of the ABC series The 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.

Theater Dooley co-wrote the play Assisted Living with his wife Winnie Holzman.

Personal life Dooley has been married to Winnie Holzman, whom he first met at an improv acting class in New York, and live in Toluca Lake in Los Angeles.

Dooley was previously married to Donna Lee Wasser on September 19, 1958, which ended in divorce. He has three children from his first marriage.

In 2022, Dooley published his memoir, titled Movie Dad: Finding Myself and My Family, On Screen and Off.

Filmography Film 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 Chuck "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 AmersonClockwatchers Bud ChapmanTelling Lies in America Father NortonAngels in the Endzone Coach Buck 1999Happy, Texas The JudgeGuinevere 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 Charlie "Bubbles" Nyback 2003 A Mighty Wind George Menschell Nobody Knows Anything! The 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 Sherman "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

Television 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 Unknown Role Voice, Television special 1972 The Corner Bar Unknown Role Episode: "Flanagan's Wake" 1974–1975 Sesame Street Parrot Voice, 2 episodes 1977 Simple Gifts Unknown Role Voice, Television special 1980 Captain Kangaroo Unknown Role 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 District Attorney 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 Senator Thatch Television film 1995–1996, 2004 ER Henry Lewis 4 episodes 1996 High Society Melvin "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 The 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 / 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"2026The ComebackCharlieEpisode: "Valerie's Home Alone" 2027 Cars: Lightning Racers Sarge Voice; Upcoming series

Video games Year Title Role 2006 Cars Sarge 2007 Cars Mater-National Championship 2009 Cars Race-O-Rama 2011 Cars 2: The Video Game

Theatre Year Title Role Notes 1954 The Threepenny Opera Walt Dreary 1965 The Odd Couple Felix Ungar

Theme park attractions Year Title Role Notes 2012 Radiator Springs Racers Sarge Voice