Paul Dooley Biography (2)

Paul Dooley's recent film work includes the independent features The Calling with Sean Young, Errors in Judgment with Joe Mantegna, Happy Texas with William H. Macy and Guinevere with Gabriel Byrne. Other recent film credits include Clockwatchers, a scene-stealing cameo in Christopher Guest's Waiting For Guffman, and Telling Lies In America, written by Joe Eszterhas. Among the many memorable film characters Dooley has created over the years are the gruff, but lovable father in Peter Yates' classic Breaking Away, Wimpy in Robert Altman's Popeye with Robin Williams, and Molly Ringwald's father in Sixteen Candles, among others.

Dooley earned an Emmy nomination in 1994 for his role as the out-of-the-closet father Martin Tupper on HBO's Dream On. Among his other TV credits are a recent recurring role on The Practice, the telefilm Angels in the Outfield, a starring role in Grace Under Fire, a recurring role as Sherry Stringfield's father on E.R., and a guest-starring role on My So-Called Life, the critically acclaimed series created by his wife, Winnie Holzman. Dooley was co-creator and head writer of the Emmy Award-winning PBS children's show, The Electric Company.

Dooley's theater work includes a recent stint starring in the West Coast debut of Anne Meara's stage comedy After-Play, and his acclaimed one-man show The Amazing Casey Stengel at the American Place Theatre. Dooley began his career in New York, performing in stock companies and off-Broadway. He joined the Second City improvisational group where he was spotted by Mike Nichols, who cast him in the original Broadway presentation of The Odd Couple as one of the poker-playing buddies. When Art Carney left the show, Dooley replaced him as Felix opposite Walter Matthau.

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