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 numerous 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 City, 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; "Auflösung" (Season 8, Episode 8) 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 YearTitleRoleNotes 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 roleFinal film role
Television YearTitleRoleNotes 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) 1975–1978 Saturday Night Live Himself/Various characters Season 1; series regular (9 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 Abe (Voice role) TV Short "The Music" 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 YearTitleRoleNotes 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 YearTitleRoleNotes 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 YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResultsRef1969Academy AwardsBest Live Action Short FilmDe Duva: The Dove2009Screen Actors Guild AwardsRalph Morgan Award2012Behind the Voice Actors AwardsBest Vocal Ensemble in a Feature FilmTransformers: Dark of the Moon2013Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series — Comedy/MusicalArcher2014
See also Saturday Night Live season 1
References
External links