Movie Dad, Paul Dooley
Movie Dad, Paul Dooley
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Movie Dad
Finding Myself and My Family, On Screen and Off

Author: Paul Dooley

Narrator: Paul Dooley

Abridged: 7 hr 44 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/20/2025

Synopsis

Beloved character actor Paul Dooley started his career by entertaining his family in the house his father built. Already in love with comedy and movies as a little boy, he knew he wanted to be on the big screen. Today, he is an instantly recognizable “household face” best known for his roles as the father in films such as Sixteen Candles, Breaking Away, and Runaway Bride. With over sixty-five years as an actor and countless movies, TV shows, advertisements, and stage performances to his name, Dooley describes the hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking life behind the man on screen. In Movie Dad, Dooley reveals that before he played father to Hollywood stars like Julia Roberts, Molly Ringwald, Toni Collete, and Mia Farrow, his personal life included a painful episode involving his wife and children. Overcoming the shock of the traumatic event, he found fresh success as a movie actor, especially playing fathers.Brimming with show-business anecdotes, Movie Dad is a warmly remembered account of a life well-lived, told with wry irony but suffused with an uncommon sincerity and tenderness.

About Paul Dooley

Paul Dooley is an actor, writer, and comedian, and has appeared in hundreds of movies, TV shows, and plays. His films include Breaking Away, Sixteen Candles, Runaway Bride, Popeye, Insomnia, Waiting for Guffman, and the Cars franchise. His television appearances include roles in Curb Your Enthusiasm, My So-Called Life, Star Trek, Dream On (Emmy-nominated), and The Practice (Emmy-nominated). He lives in Burbank, California, with his wife Winnie Holzman, who, with songwriter Stephen Schwartz, created the hit Broadway musical Wicked.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Mary on February 16, 2023

I'm not sure what to say about this book which I was really looking forward to. I really have enjoyed many Paul Dooley performances, esp. Breaking away. And he has had many really remarkable professional experiences including helping to create The Electric Company. He has worked with other really re......more

Goodreads review by Tom on April 07, 2023

I never read autobiographies, but I read this one because it's Paul Dooley, a wonderful character actor and improvisor whose work has entertained me greatly for years. I suspect that watching him doing his thing is better than reading about him doing his thing. I don't know any actor who can be both......more

Goodreads review by Kimberly on January 07, 2024

There aren't enough words to thank this writer, creator, comedian, and actor. I'm grateful Paul shared his life with us in the beautifully crafted book. I could not put it down. Thank you, Sir, for the joy you brought into our lives. For finding your craft and your tribe and yourself!......more

Goodreads review by Mary on May 19, 2023

Light, fun review of his career as actor, and how his roles has a father touched his fans.......more

Goodreads review by Jack on March 05, 2024

Paul Dooley has lived a long and prolific life. Although the book is under 300 pages, you feel a sense of time and how the world changed around him. Even though I understood most of the culture references in his book(from Buster Keaton to Jack Parr), he kindly explains and contextualizes these aspec......more

Quotes

“This book captures the extraordinary life of this legendary character actor. What a life! It’s a really fun read.” Bryan Cranston, actor

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