Anecdotes

Co-created and wrote the groundbreaking children's series The Electric Company (1971) in the 1970s.

Was discovered in New York by Mike Nichols, who cast the actor as one of the poker-playing buddies in the original 1965 Broadway production of "The Odd Couple." When star Art Carney left, Dooley replaced him as the fastidious roommate Felix Unger opposite Walter Matthau's hedonistic Oscar Madison.

Had an Emmy-nominated guest turn on the HBO sitcom Dream On (1990), playing the gay father of the lead character, Martin Tupper (played by Brian Benben).

Dooley and Dennis Christopher have played father and son twice in movies: Liam and Hughie Brenner in A Wedding (1978), and Raymond and Dave Stoller in La bande des quatre (1979). They later played father and son (Stan and Roger Coffman) in the Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) episode, Cherry Red (2003).

Has four children: Robin, Peter, Adam (by first wife Donna) and Savannah (by second wife Winnie Holzman). Son Adam Dooley wrote, directed and produced the short film Adventures in Homeschooling (2004), which featured Paul Dooley. Savannah Dooley wrote episodes for What Goes On (2007). Winnie Holzman wrote for the last two seasons of Thirtysomething (1987) and was creator and writer for the acclaimed teen drama series My So-Called Life (1994).

In the original, unused ending of La petite boutique des horreurs (1986) he played the character of Patrick Martin. The role was eventually played by Jim Belushi but Dooley still gets a credit in the movie's DVD and in the special thanks section of the movie.

Early career in the entertainment business included jobs as a magician and clown.

Attended high school with actor James Dukas. Later, while the two attended the University of West Virginia at Morgantown, they "palled around" with Don Knotts. Dooley graduated in 1952 with a BA in speech and drama.

Won the National Board of Review award for his hapless father in the film La bande des quatre (1979).

On stage he played the titular baseball great in the acclaimed one-man show "The Amazing Casey Stengel" at the American Place Theatre in 1980-1981.

Performing in "The Sunshine Boys", with Jack Klugman, at The George Street Play House in New Brunswick, New Jersey. (octobre 2007)

Dooley voiced characters in two rival animated movies about racing. In Pixar's Les Bagnoles (2006), he voiced "Sarge the Army Jeep, and in Dreamworks' Turbo (2013), he voiced "The Foreman Snail".

Appeared as on-screen spokesman for Top Job (cleaner) in television commercials of the late 1960's.

Appeared as newscaster "Mike Walrus" in the trailer for Cold Turkey (1970), but does not appear in the film.