Biography
Paul Dooley is fondly remembered by fans of '80s cinema as the forgetful but well-intending father of a disgruntled
Molly Ringwald in the
John Hughes teen classic
Sixteen Candles (1984). The longtime character actor's droopy, distinctive features and endearing onscreen warmth have kept him a familiar figure in both film and television. A Parkersurg, WV, native who originally aspired to become a cartoonist, Dooley drew comic strips for a local newspaper before entering the navy. Upon discharge, the future actor entered college, where he discovered his passion for the stage. A move to New York found the aspiring actor landing frequent stage work, and after discovering a previously untapped ability for comedy, Dooley tried his hand at standup for about five years. Always looking to expand his skills, he made his film debut in the 1970 comedy
The Out-of-Towners. From 1971 to 1972, Dooley was also head writer for the popular children's television series
The Electric Company.
After showing promise in such late-'70s efforts as
Slap Shot (1977) and
A Wedding (1978), Dooley made a big impression with his supporting role as the lead character's worrisome father in
Breaking Away (1979). Though he was overlooked at Oscar time, he was nominated for a New York Film Critics Circle award and won the National Board of Review award for Best Supporting Actor. He kicked off the most successful decade of his film career with a performance as Wimpy in the much-maligned
Robert Altman musical comedy
Popeye (1980). Besides his memorable turn in
Sixteen Candles, Dooley also delivered hilarious performances in the 1980s films
Strange Brew (1983) and
John Cassavetes'
Big Trouble (1985). Fans of the extraterrestrial comedy series
ALF will also remember him as the curiously named Whizzer Deaver.
Though his feature roles through the 1990s largely consisted of such B-grade fare as
My Boyfriend's Back (1993) and
Error in Judgment (1998), Dooley managed to stay on top thanks to parts in such popular television series as
Mad About You,
Dream On,
Grace Under Fire, and
The Practice. He also took on occasional roles in more notable films, including
Waiting for Guffman (1996),
Clockwatchers (1997), Happy, Texas (1999), and
Runaway Bride (also 1999), which served to remind movie buffs just how funny the talented comic actor could be when given the opportunity. Dooley's performances in such later efforts as
Insomnia (2002) hinted at a darker side rarely explored by the usually jovial actor. In 2003, after re-teaming with
Waiting for Guffman cohort
Christopher Guest to blow
A Mighty Wind, he took a supporting role in former MTV beauty queen
Jenny McCarthy's comedy
Dirty Love. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide