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Coleman's fate in these types of roles was cemented with roles such as that of Franklin Hart, Jr. in 1980's 9 to 5, a sexist boss whose murder is fantasized about by his office employees ( Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin ).

That role reunited him with actress Marian Mercer, with whom he also worked on the TV series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman ; he played Fernwood's mayor, Merle Jeeter and Marian played his second wife, Wanda Rittenhouse Jeeter.

He also had a role as an arrogant, sexist, soap opera director opposite Dustin Hoffman in Sydney Pollack's comedy classic Tootsie ( 1982 ).

In the film he is portrayed as Hoffman's enemy as Hoffman ( dressed in drag naturally ) does not like the way the director treats him, or his love interest played by Jessica Lange.

Coleman was originally hired by director Pollack to play Hoffman's agent in the film, but Hoffman insisted the director play the agent role, or he would abandon production entirely.

This was supposed to represent the friction that Hoffman and Pollack had offscreen, as director and actor.

So Coleman was later recast as the soap opera director, and Pollack with some reluctance played Hoffman's agent.

He broke from this type somewhat in his portrayal of military computer scientist John McKittrick in WarGames ( 1983 ).