Paul Dooley

Paul Dooley was born Paul Brown in Parkersburg, West Virginia, the son of Ruth Irene (née Barringer), a homemaker, and Peter James Brown, a factory worker. Dooley was a keen cartoonist as a youth and drew a strip for a local paper in Parkersburg. He joined the Navy before discovering acting while at college. He is married to writer Winnie Holzman, with whom he has one daughter, Savannah Dooley (born 1985). Moving to New York, he soon found success as a regular on the stage. Also having an interest in comedy, Dooley was a standup comedian for five years, and a member of the Compass Players and The Second City troupe in NYC, as well as having brief stints as a magician and as a clown. Not afraid of trying different areas of entertainment, he also worked as a writer. He was one of the writers on The Electric Company and appeared in commercials. Besides appearing in many movies, including most notably Popeye, Sixteen Candles, and Breaking Away, Dooley has also appeared as a variety of recurrent characters on numerous television shows, including My So-Called Life, Dream On, Grace Under Fire, Curb Your Enthusiasm, ALF (playing Whizzer Deaver) and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine where he played the recurring role of Enabran Tain. He guest starred in other prime time shows like Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, The Golden Girls, and Desperate Housewives. In 2000, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role as an eccentric judge on The Practice. He was also in the infamous alternate ...

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God's Lonely Man (1996)

As each relentless night turns towards day, Ernest Rackman turns towards violence to escape thoughts of loneliness and suicide. Then he poses as a police officer and rescues a young girl from her parent's apartment, where she was forced into a compromising life. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francis von Zerneck
CAST:  Heather McComb  •  Paul Dooley  •  Michael Wyle  •  Justine Bateman

As each relentless night turns towards day, Ernest Rackman turns towards violence to escape thoughts of loneliness and suicide. Then he poses as a police officer and rescues a young girl from her parent's apartment, where she was forced into a compromising life. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francis von Zerneck
CAST:  Heather McComb  •  Paul Dooley  •  Michael Wyle  •  Justine Bateman

Kiss Me Goodbye (1982)

Not until three years after the death of her husband Jolly, Kay dares to move back into their former home, persuaded by her new fiancée Rupert. But soon her worst expectations come true, when not only her old memories haunt her, but also Jolly's ghost, who doesn't ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Mulligan
CAST:  Sally Field  •  James Caan  •  Jeff Bridges  •  Paul Dooley

Not until three years after the death of her husband Jolly, Kay dares to move back into their former home, persuaded by her new fiancée Rupert. But soon her worst expectations come true, when not only her old memories haunt her, but also Jolly's ghost, who doesn't ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Mulligan
CAST:  Sally Field  •  James Caan  •  Jeff Bridges  •  Paul Dooley

Endangered Species (1982)

A retired New York cop on vacation in America's West is drawn into a sheriff's investigation of a mysterious series of cattle killings.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alan Rudolph
CAST:  Robert Urich  •  JoBeth Williams  •  Paul Dooley  •  Hoyt Axton

A retired New York cop on vacation in America's West is drawn into a sheriff's investigation of a mysterious series of cattle killings.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alan Rudolph
CAST:  Robert Urich  •  JoBeth Williams  •  Paul Dooley  •  Hoyt Axton

A Dangerous Woman (1993)

Martha Horgan is a withdrawn, mentally disabled woman who lives with her aunt, Frances. One of Martha's unusual traits is that she doesn't lie, a quality that leads to her getting fired from a dry-cleaning shop thanks to the actions of the shifty Getso. Conflict ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Gyllenhaal
CAST:  Debra Winger  •  Gabriel Byrne  •  Barbara Hershey  •  Laurie Metcalf

Martha Horgan is a withdrawn, mentally disabled woman who lives with her aunt, Frances. One of Martha's unusual traits is that she doesn't lie, a quality that leads to her getting fired from a dry-cleaning shop thanks to the actions of the shifty Getso. Conflict ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Gyllenhaal
CAST:  Debra Winger  •  Gabriel Byrne  •  Barbara Hershey  •  Laurie Metcalf

Mother of the Bride (1993)

A mother's plans for her daughter's wedding are complicated when her ex-husband, who abandoned the family more than 20 years earlier, shows up.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles Correll
CAST:  Rue McClanahan  •  Kristy McNichol  •  Paul Dooley  •  Anne Bobby

A mother's plans for her daughter's wedding are complicated when her ex-husband, who abandoned the family more than 20 years earlier, shows up.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles Correll
CAST:  Rue McClanahan  •  Kristy McNichol  •  Paul Dooley  •  Anne Bobby

Paternity (1981)

A single man searches for a woman who will bear his baby with no strings attached.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Steinberg
CAST:  Burt Reynolds  •  Beverly D'Angelo  •  Norman Fell  •  Paul Dooley

A single man searches for a woman who will bear his baby with no strings attached.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Steinberg
CAST:  Burt Reynolds  •  Beverly D'Angelo  •  Norman Fell  •  Paul Dooley

Loved (1997)

After a man is accused of droving his third wife to suicide, his first wife Hedda, a troubled woman who can't hate or hurt others even if they had wronged her, is subpoenaed to testify on his abusive behavior during their marriage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Erin Dignam
CAST:  Sean Penn  •  Robin Wright  •  William Hurt  •  Anthony Lucero

After a man is accused of droving his third wife to suicide, his first wife Hedda, a troubled woman who can't hate or hurt others even if they had wronged her, is subpoenaed to testify on his abusive behavior during their marriage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Erin Dignam
CAST:  Sean Penn  •  Robin Wright  •  William Hurt  •  Anthony Lucero

Chronic Town (2008)

Truman Korovin is a lonely, sharp-witted cab driver in Fairbanks, Alaska, 1980. The usual routine of picking up fares and spending his nights at his favorite bar, the Boatel, is disrupted when his girlfriend, Emily, dumps him on one of the coldest nights of the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tom Hines
CAST:  JR Bourne  •  Emily Wagner  •  Alice Drummond  •  Dan Butler

Truman Korovin is a lonely, sharp-witted cab driver in Fairbanks, Alaska, 1980. The usual routine of picking up fares and spending his nights at his favorite bar, the Boatel, is disrupted when his girlfriend, Emily, dumps him on one of the coldest nights of the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tom Hines
CAST:  JR Bourne  •  Emily Wagner  •  Alice Drummond  •  Dan Butler

A Woman's a Helluva Thing (2001)

After the death of his estranged mother, a misogynistic womanizer returns home to find that his ex-girlfriend had been his mother's secret lesbian lover.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Karen Leigh Hopkins
CAST:  Angus Macfadyen  •  Penelope Ann Miller  •  Ann-Margret  •  Kathryn Harrold

After the death of his estranged mother, a misogynistic womanizer returns home to find that his ex-girlfriend had been his mother's secret lesbian lover.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Karen Leigh Hopkins
CAST:  Angus Macfadyen  •  Penelope Ann Miller  •  Ann-Margret  •  Kathryn Harrold

Error in Judgment (1999)

Eric's art gallery is losing money, and even though his psychiatrist wife wants to help, she can't do much to cheer him up. When a young, sexy woman named Toni accepts a sales position at the gallery, she instantly brings it back to life, jump-starting Eric's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Scott P. Levy
CAST:  Joanna Pacula  •  Joe Mantegna  •  Sung-Hi Lee  •  Kate Jackson

Eric's art gallery is losing money, and even though his psychiatrist wife wants to help, she can't do much to cheer him up. When a young, sexy woman named Toni accepts a sales position at the gallery, she instantly brings it back to life, jump-starting Eric's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Scott P. Levy
CAST:  Joanna Pacula  •  Joe Mantegna  •  Sung-Hi Lee  •  Kate Jackson

Nobody Knows Anything! (2004)

An aspiring filmmaker learns that success in Hollywood doesn't come as easy as she suspected as she attempts to discover the formula to success. When the guidance of her helpful has-been uncle fails to pave the way, Sarah Wilder must seek the advice of such ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Tannen
CAST:  Alanna Ubach  •  Michael Lerner  •  Mike Myers  •  Janeane Garofalo

An aspiring filmmaker learns that success in Hollywood doesn't come as easy as she suspected as she attempts to discover the formula to success. When the guidance of her helpful has-been uncle fails to pave the way, Sarah Wilder must seek the advice of such ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Tannen
CAST:  Alanna Ubach  •  Michael Lerner  •  Mike Myers  •  Janeane Garofalo

Come Away Home (2005)

Twelve-year-old Annie Lamm's first day of summer break quickly turns into a disaster. She realizes that her parents have not only decided to fly her to Hilton Head Island during their second honeymoon, but they also plan to coerce her to spend half her summer with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Doug McKeon
CAST:  Paul Dooley  •  Jordan-Claire Green  •  Martin Mull  •  Lea Thompson

Twelve-year-old Annie Lamm's first day of summer break quickly turns into a disaster. She realizes that her parents have not only decided to fly her to Hilton Head Island during their second honeymoon, but they also plan to coerce her to spend half her summer with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Doug McKeon
CAST:  Paul Dooley  •  Jordan-Claire Green  •  Martin Mull  •  Lea Thompson

White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd (1991)

When '30s film star Thelma Todd dies mysteriously, her relationship with New York mobster Lucky Luciano is investigated.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Wendkos
CAST:  Loni Anderson  •  Maryedith Burrell  •  Robert Davi  •  Paul Dooley

When '30s film star Thelma Todd dies mysteriously, her relationship with New York mobster Lucky Luciano is investigated.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Wendkos
CAST:  Loni Anderson  •  Maryedith Burrell  •  Robert Davi  •  Paul Dooley

State of Emergency (1994)

Medical drama about a major hospital whose emergency room regularly faces an overload of patients. One of the doctors finds it necessary to adopt an unorthodox procedure to try to save a patient, and finds himself in trouble in consequence.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lesli Linka Glatter
CAST:  Joe Mantegna  •  Lynn Whitfield  •  Melinda Dillon  •  Paul Dooley

Medical drama about a major hospital whose emergency room regularly faces an overload of patients. One of the doctors finds it necessary to adopt an unorthodox procedure to try to save a patient, and finds himself in trouble in consequence.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lesli Linka Glatter
CAST:  Joe Mantegna  •  Lynn Whitfield  •  Melinda Dillon  •  Paul Dooley

Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales (2003)

Comedy special spotlighting Tracey Ullman’s larger than life character Ruby Romaine from HBO's “Tracey Takes On”. After an illustrious career, veteran Hollywood makeup artist Ruby has decided to call it quits. Or has she? In her makeup trailer, Ruby tells a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tracey Ullman
CAST:  Tracey Ullman  •  Debbie Reynolds  •  Paul Dooley  •  Lynne Marie Stewart

Comedy special spotlighting Tracey Ullman’s larger than life character Ruby Romaine from HBO's “Tracey Takes On”. After an illustrious career, veteran Hollywood makeup artist Ruby has decided to call it quits. Or has she? In her makeup trailer, Ruby tells a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tracey Ullman
CAST:  Tracey Ullman  •  Debbie Reynolds  •  Paul Dooley  •  Lynne Marie Stewart

Cars 2 (2011)

Star race car Lightning McQueen and his pal Mater head overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix race. But the road to the championship becomes rocky as Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Lasseter
CAST:  Owen Wilson  •  Michael Caine  •  Emily Mortimer  •  Jason Isaacs

Star race car Lightning McQueen and his pal Mater head overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix race. But the road to the championship becomes rocky as Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Lasseter
CAST:  Owen Wilson  •  Michael Caine  •  Emily Mortimer  •  Jason Isaacs

Horsemen (2009)

A recently widowed detective still grieving over his wife's death discovers a shocking connection between himself and the suspects in a serial killing spree linked to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonas Åkerlund
CAST:  Dennis Quaid  •  Zhang Ziyi  •  Lou Taylor Pucci  •  Clifton Collins Jr.

A recently widowed detective still grieving over his wife's death discovers a shocking connection between himself and the suspects in a serial killing spree linked to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonas Åkerlund
CAST:  Dennis Quaid  •  Zhang Ziyi  •  Lou Taylor Pucci  •  Clifton Collins Jr.

Last Rites (1988)

After witnessing her lover being murdered by his jealous wife, Angela seeks refuge in a church where she encounters a young priest named Michael, who gives her sanctuary. But the killing was not a simple act of passion, as the victim had ties to organized crime, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Donald P. Bellisario
CAST:  Tom Berenger  •  Daphne Zuniga  •  Chick Vennera  •  Anne Twomey

After witnessing her lover being murdered by his jealous wife, Angela seeks refuge in a church where she encounters a young priest named Michael, who gives her sanctuary. But the killing was not a simple act of passion, as the victim had ties to organized crime, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Donald P. Bellisario
CAST:  Tom Berenger  •  Daphne Zuniga  •  Chick Vennera  •  Anne Twomey

Sunshine Cleaning (2008)

CharmingUpliftingInspiringCute

A single mother and her slacker sister find an unexpected way to turn their lives around in the off-beat dramatic comedy. In order to raise the tuition to send her young son to private school the mom starts an unusual business – a biohazard removal/crime scene ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christine Jeffs
CAST:  Amy Adams  •  Emily Blunt  •  Alan Arkin  •  Mary Lynn Rajskub

A single mother and her slacker sister find an unexpected way to turn their lives around in the off-beat dramatic comedy. In order to raise the tuition to send her young son to private school the mom starts an unusual business – a biohazard removal/crime scene ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christine Jeffs
CAST:  Amy Adams  •  Emily Blunt  •  Alan Arkin  •  Mary Lynn Rajskub

The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1995)

By accident, the content of a computer encyclopedia is transferred into the brain of Dexter Riley, a less than average college boy. Because of his newly acquired knowledge he competes in a quiz show between various universities, where he sweeps all the points. A ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peyton Reed
CAST:  Kirk Cameron  •  Larry Miller  •  Jason Bernard  •  Andrew Woodworth

By accident, the content of a computer encyclopedia is transferred into the brain of Dexter Riley, a less than average college boy. Because of his newly acquired knowledge he competes in a quiz show between various universities, where he sweeps all the points. A ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peyton Reed
CAST:  Kirk Cameron  •  Larry Miller  •  Jason Bernard  •  Andrew Woodworth
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