George Coe
American actor (1929–2015)
title: "George Coe" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1929-births", "2015-deaths", "male-actors-from-queens,-new-york", "american-male-film-actors", "american-male-musical-theatre-actors", "american-male-voice-actors", "american-male-television-actors", "hofstra-university-alumni", "american-academy-of-dramatic-arts-alumni", "20th-century-american-male-actors", "21st-century-american-male-actors", "people-from-jamaica,-queens"] description: "American actor (1929–2015)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Coe" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American actor (1929–2015) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| image | George_Coe.jpg |
| caption | Coe in 1980 |
| name | George Coe |
| birth_name | George Julian Cohen |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | New York, New York, U.S. |
| death_date | |
| death_place | Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| occupation | Actor |
| years_active | 1957–2015 |
| :: |
| image = George_Coe.jpg | caption = Coe in 1980 | name = George Coe | birth_name = George Julian Cohen | birth_date = | birth_place = New York, New York, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = Santa Monica, California, U.S. | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1957–2015
George Coe (born George Julian Cohen; May 10, 1929 – July 18, 2015) was an American actor.
Coe was a regular actor on stage from the late 1950s, most notably having his big break with the 1963 cabaret show Money, which saw Coe play 22 different roles that ran for a year. He was a part of the original cast for Broadway shows such as What Makes Sammy Run? and Mame, with the latter seeing him do over a thousand performances. He served as a co-director and co-producer in the parody short The Dove, which garnered him an Academy Award nomination. Coe was also a regular in small roles for television since the late 1960s before Coe was cast in the starting cast of the first season of Saturday Night Live in 1975 to balance the relatively young cast. Coe appeared in brief parts for eight episodes of his only season, although he appeared on the show again in 1978 and 1986; he was the oldest freshman actor on the show for nearly four decades.
Coe continued to appear in bit parts for countless shows and films over the next couple of decades. In his later years, he voiced the character of Woodhouse in Archer.
Early life
Coe was born in New York, New York. The son of a diamond dealer, he graduated from the Admiral Farragut Academy, before attending Hofstra University in Hempstead. He served in the Navy during the Korean War. After serving in the military, he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Career
Coe started out on Broadway in 1957. He played 22 roles in the Broadway show Money, which was praised by The New York Times.
Coe was an original member of the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players", the original cast of Saturday Night Live. Following his initial stint, he made guest appearances for episodes in 1978 and 1986. At age 46, Coe was the oldest new SNL cast member until 2014, when 47-year-old Leslie Jones joined the cast.
He voiced the Autobot Wheeljack in Michael Bay's Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
He voiced the character of Woodhouse, the much-put-upon valet in the FX animated series Archer; "The Figgis Agency" (Season 7, Episode 1) was dedicated in his memory.
Death
Coe died on July 18, 2015, at the age of 86, after a long illness, in Santa Monica, California. He had a number of illnesses, including lymphoma, a condition he had for around 20 years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and four grandchildren.
Acting credits
Film
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | De Düva: The Dove | Viktor | Short Film / also Director / Producer |
| 1975 | Distance | Unknown | Producer |
| 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 | Dr. 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 | General Scott Watson | |
| Head Office | Senator Jack Issel Sr. | ||
| 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 | Senator 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 Film | |
| 2010 | Bathtub Picnic | Ben | |
| 2011 | Transformers: Dark of the Moon | Que / Wheeljack | Voice Role |
| Wrinkles | Miguel | Voice Role (English version) | |
| 2013 | Chez Upshaw | Reg. Nixon | |
| 2014 | 13 Sins | Game Host | Voice Role |
| Final film role | |||
| :: |
Television
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | For the People | Reporter | "To Prosecute All Crimes" |
| 1970 | Somerset | Leo Kurtz #1 | 1971–1972 |
| 1975 | How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying | Matthews | TV movie |
| 1975–1976 | The Doctors | Scott Conrad | series regular (143 episodes) |
| 1975–1986 | Saturday Night Live | Himself / Various Characters | Season 1; series regular (10 episodes) |
| 1980 | Big Blonde | Ed | TV movie |
| 1981 | Kent State | Mayor Leroy Satrom | |
| Broken Promise | George Mathews | ||
| Red Flag: The Ultimate Game | Unknown | ||
| 1982 | Dreams Don't Die | Sherman | |
| Drop-Out Father | Kannon Rush | ||
| The Country Girl | Phil Cook | ||
| 1983 | Goodnight, Beantown | Dick Novak | Series regular (5 episodes) |
| Hill Street Blues | Benjamin Fisk | 3 episodes | |
| Listen to Your Heart | John | TV movie | |
| Rage of Angels | Maguire | ||
| Sessions | Max | ||
| 1984 | He's Not Your Son | Dr. Stadler | |
| 1984–1985 | American Playhouse | Old Man / Brian Haas | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn | Irving Jerome | TV movie |
| The Insiders | Unknown | "Lonely Hearts" | |
| Remington Steele | 'Ace' Ketchum | "Coffee, Tea or Steele" | |
| Moonlighting | Lou LaSalle | "Atlas Belched" | |
| 1986 | Family Ties | Justin Phillips | "Nothing But a Man" |
| Blood & Orchids | Dr. Lansing | TV movie | |
| Simon & Simon | Nolan Scott | "The Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree" | |
| The Paper Chase | Unknown | "Honor" | |
| Dallas | Fritz Longley | 2 episodes | |
| Scarecrow and Mrs. King | Dr. Quidd | 3 episodes | |
| 1986–1991 | L.A. Law | Judge Wallace R. Vance | 8 episodes |
| 1987 | Uncle Tom's Cabin | Mr. Shelby | TV movie |
| 1987–1988 | Max Headroom | Ben Cheviot | Series regular (14 episodes) |
| 1987–1997 | thirtysomething | Ted Murdoch | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | Magnum, P.I. | William Wainwright | "A Girl Named Sue" |
| The Golden Girls | Al | "Rose's Big Adventure" | |
| Shootdown | David | TV movie | |
| Why on Earth? | Henry | ||
| 1989 | Those She Left Behind | Bill Page | |
| My Name Is Bill W. | Frank Shaw | ||
| The Hollywood Detective | Sid Curley | ||
| The Tracey Ullman Show | Reverend Graylin | "Jinx Haber Revisited" | |
| Columbo | Dr. Sydney Hammer | "Murder, a Self Portrait" | |
| Matlock | Dr. Lucas Sinclair | "The Buddies" | |
| 1990 | Amen | Colonel Adams | "The Deacon vs. the U.S. Army" |
| Father Dowling Mysteries | Mr. Vance | "The Perfect Couple Mystery" | |
| Fine Things | Paul Berman | TV movie | |
| To My Daughter | Frank Parsons | ||
| Murphy Brown | Theodore | "Bob & Murphy & Ted & Avery" | |
| 1990–1992 | Murder, She Wrote | Andrew Thayer / Martin Bergman | 2 episodes |
| 1991 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Chancellor Durken | "First Contact" |
| Equal Justice | Colin Baker | 4 episodes | |
| Night Court | Peter Collingswood | "Teacher's Pet" | |
| 1992 | Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz Story | Dr. Feldman | TV movie |
| Nurses | Rudy | "Rude Awakenings" | |
| Bobby's World | Unknown (Voice role) | TV Short | |
| The Human Factor | Dr. Astor | "Hear No Evil" | |
| Crossroads | Hugh | "Courtroom Story" | |
| Camp Candy | Unknown (Voice role) | "When It Rains... It Snows" | |
| 1993 | Law & Order | Lee Hastings | "Conduct Unbecoming" |
| Joe's Life | Grandpa | "Dear Grandpa" | |
| 1995 | The Cosby Mysteries | Agent Carter | "Goldilocks" |
| New York Undercover | Mr. Braddock | "Downtown Girl" | |
| Cagney & Lacey: The View Through the Glass Ceiling | Dan Broadbent | TV movie | |
| 1997 | Home Improvement | Parker | "Bright Christmas" |
| 1998 | Jenny | Thomas Kendall | "A Girl's Gotta Merger" |
| The Pretender | Dr. Nicholas Haring | "Bloodlines: Part 1" | |
| The Practice | Judge Walters | "Passing Go" | |
| The Nanny | Ernest | "Sara's Parents" | |
| 1998–1999 | Working | Peter Baines | Series regular (9 episodes) |
| 1999 | Any Day Now | Mr. Noonan | "Music from My Life" |
| Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place | Mr. Belt, Sharon's Boss | "Career Day" | |
| 2000 | Bull | Ed Krakauer | "To Have and to Hold" |
| Ladies Man | Herb | 2 episodes | |
| 2001 | The Lone Gunmen | Bertram Byers | "Pilot" |
| Becker | Mr. Spector | "Really Good Advice" | |
| 2001–2002 | The West Wing | Senator Howard Stackhouse | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Smallville | William Clark | "Redux" |
| Crossing Jordan | Warren Lauer | "Scared Straight" | |
| 2002–2007 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | General manager | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | The Division | Joe Marks | "Oh Mother, Who Art Thou?" |
| Judging Amy | Judge | "The Best Interests of the Child" | |
| 2005 | Gilmore Girls | Grandpa Huntzberger | "But I'm a Gilmore!" |
| Numb3rs | Steve Logan | "Bettor or Worse" | |
| 2006 | Cold Case | Bill Simmons | "Superstar" |
| 2006–2007 | Celebrity Death Match | Albert Einstein / Bud Selig (voice role) | 3 episodes |
| 2007 | Bones | Father William Donlan | "The Priest in the Churchyard" |
| The King of Queens | Father Biskup | "Singe Spaced" | |
| Private Practice | Stan | "In Which Addison Has a Very Casual Get Together" | |
| Nip/Tuck | Dr. Joshua Lee | "Dr. Joshua Lee" | |
| 2008 | Supernatural | Pat Fremont | "No Rest for the Wicked" |
| Grey's Anatomy | Ed Bullard | "Rise Up" | |
| 2009 | Star Wars: The Clone Wars | Tee Watt Kaa (voice role) | 2 episodes |
| 2009–2019 | Archer | Arthur Woodhouse / The Pope (voice role) | Recurring role (22 episodes) |
| "Archer: 1999 — Cubert" (appeared using previously recorded material) | |||
| 2011–2013 | Wilfred | Gene | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | The Legend of Korra | Toza | "A Leaf in the Wind" |
| 2013 | Two and a Half Men | Victor | "My Bodacious Vidalia" |
| :: |
Video games
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Reservoir Dogs | Unknown | Voice Role |
| 2011 | The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | Tolfdir / Calcelmo / Calixto Corrium | |
| Star Wars: The Old Republic | Dr. Godera / Grommik Kurthson / Keyo-So | ||
| 2012 | Guild Wars 2 | Ghostly Norn Longship Captain / Yakov / Zenik Konsman | |
| 2013 | Star Wars: The Old Republic – Rise of the Hutt Cartel | Archivist Varus / Kai Teyun / Civilian Hostage | |
| :: |
Theatre
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964–1965 | What Makes Sammy Run? | Julian Blumberg | 540 performances |
| 1966–1970 | Mame | M. Lindsay Woolsey | 1,508 performances |
| 1970–1972 | Company | David | 705 performances |
| 1978–1979 | On the Twentieth Century | Owen O'Malley | 449 performances |
| 1986–1987 | Into the Woods | The Mysterious Man/Cinderella's Father | 50 Performances |
| :: |
Accolades
::data[format=table]
| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Results | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Academy Awards | Best Live Action Short Film | De Duva: The Dove | ||
| 2009 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Ralph Morgan Award | |||
| 2012 | Behind the Voice Actors Awards | Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film | Transformers: Dark of the Moon | ||
| 2013 | Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series — Comedy/Musical | Archer | |||
| 2014 | |||||
| :: |
References
References
- (2015-07-21). "George Coe, actor who was original 'SNL' member, dies at 86".
- Stewart, Matthew. (October 25, 2024). "Leslie Jones Joined the SNL Cast 10 Years Ago Today". LateNighter.com.
- (26 July 2015). "George Coe, character actor and veteran of 'Saturday Night Live,' dies at 86". The Washington Post.
- McNary, Dave. (2015-07-20). "George Coe, Oscar-Nominated Actor and SAG Activist, Dies at 86".
- (July 20, 2015). "George Coe, Original 'SNL' Cast Member, Dead at 86".
- (July 23, 2013). "Saturday Night's Children: George Coe (1975-1976)".
- (2015-07-20). "Original 'SNL' Cast Member Dies -- George Coe Dead at 86".
- "Transformers: Dark of the Moon". rottentomatoes.com.
- McNary, Dave. (20 July 2015). "George Coe, Oscar-Nominated Actor and SAG Activist, Dies at 86". variety.com.
- "Browser Unsupported - Academy Awards Search {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences".
- "George Coe and Sumi Haru winners of the Ralph Morgan award! {{!}} SAG Watchdog".
- "Behind the Voice Actors Awards (2012)".
- "Behind the Voice Actors Awards (2013)".
- "Behind the Voice Actors Awards (2014)".
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