George Coe
A versatile character actor whose face became familiar to millions, from the original 'Saturday Night Live' cast to decades of sharp, often corporate, roles on screen.
1929–2015 (age 86)·American actor·Birthday: May 10·The Silent Generation
Biography
George Coe's career was a study in reliable, intelligent presence. He first gained wide notice as a founding member of the 'Saturday Night Live' cast in its debut 1975 season, though not as a regular performer. His niche was the commercial parody, where his dignified, executive demeanor was perfect for sending up corporate America. This persona became his stock-in-trade for the next forty years. With a lean frame and a voice that could convey weary authority or sly menace, he appeared in hundreds of television shows and films, often as lawyers, doctors, executives, or politicians. He was the steady hand in comedies like 'The West Wing' and dramas like 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' and provided voice work for animated projects like 'Archer,' where he played the wooden-voiced butler, Woodhouse. Coe never sought the spotlight, but his precise, understated craft made him an indispensable part of the scenery in American entertainment.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
George was born in 1929, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When George Was Born
The biggest hits of 1929
#1 Movie
The Broadway Melody
Best Picture
The Broadway Melody
George's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1929Born
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1934Started school
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1942Became a teenager
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1945Could drive
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1947Could vote
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1950Turned 21
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1959Turned 30
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 40
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 50
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 60
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 70
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 80
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2015Died at 86
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
Key Achievements
- Was a credited founding cast member on the first season of 'Saturday Night Live' in 1975.
- Received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role on 'The West Wing' (2003).
- Had a long-running voice role as Woodhouse on the animated series 'Archer' from 2009 until his death.
- Appeared in over 100 television series, including recurring roles on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' and 'Matlock.'
Did You Know?
He was one of the original members of The Practical Theatre Company, which also launched the career of Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
On 'SNL,' he was part of a subgroup called 'The Mighty Carson Art Players,' who performed pre-taped commercial parodies.
He was nominated for a Tony Award in 1984 for Best Featured Actor in a Play for 'The Real Thing.'
He served in the United States Army before pursuing acting.
“I was the guy in the suit selling the fake product.”
