James Coburn Bio

Date of Birth: August 31, 1928

Born in Laurel, Nebraska, the son of an auto mechanic, Coburn started playing the tough guy in the 1960s. After working in television, he made his debut as a supporting actor in Ride Lonesome (1959), which launched his appearance in a number of well-known movies, including The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, Charade, The Americanization of Emily, The President's Analyst and the spy spoof, Our Man Flint. With his trademark slouch and casual grin, Coburn soon came to be regarded by fans and critics as the best part of many films.

Coburn starred as Pat Garret in Sam Peckinpah's Pat Garret and Billy the Kid, a film over which the director and studio had such a falling out that Peckinpah tried to withdraw his name from the credits. The film also featured Kris Kristofferson and Bob Dylan, who, in addition, composed the soundtrack. In spite of the director's violent dislike of the final edit, Coburn's performance as a sheriff thrust into an unwanted confrontation, was hailed as a brilliant insight into an aging man-of-action.

Coburn's longevity on the screen can be attributed to his unique ability to interpret the public's current taste for heroes, whether they be wisemen or wiseacres. He suffered a fatal heart attack and died on November 18, 2002, leaving behind his second wife of almost 10 years and two children from his first marriage.

FILMOGRAPHY

American Gun (2002)
Snow Dogs (2002)
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Payback (1998)
Keys to Tulsa (1997)
Skeletons (1997)
The Second Civil War (1997)
Eraser (1996)
The Nutty Professor (1996)
The Cherokee Kid (1996)
The Avenging Angel (1995)
The Set Up (1995)
A Thousand Heroes (1994)
Maverick (1994)
The Hit List (1993)
Deadfall (1993)
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)
A Christmas Reunion (1993)
Hudson Hawk (1991)
Steve McQueen - Man on the Edge (1987)
Death of a Soldier (1986)
Sins of the Father (1985)
Draw (1984)
Martin's Day (1984)
Digital Dreams (1983)
Faerie Tale Theatre - Pinocchio (1983)
Malibu (1983)
Crossover (1982)
Tuxedo Warrior (1982)
Looker (1981)
High Risk (1981)
Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls (1981)
Baltimore Bullet (1980)
Loving Couples (1980)
Mr. Patman (1980)
Firepower (1979)
Golden Girl (1979)
The Muppet Movie (1979)
Goldengirl (1979)
The Dain Curse (1978)
Cross of Iron (1977)
High Risk (1976)
Midway (1976)
Sky Riders (1976)
The Last Hard Men (1976)
Midway (1976)
Bite the Bullet (1975)
Hard Times (1975)
The Internecine Project (1974)
Massacre at Fort Holman (1974)
A Reason to Live, A Reason to Die (1974)
The Last of Sheila (1973)
Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973)
Harry in Your Pocket (1973)
A Fistful of Dynamite (1972)
The Honkers (1972)
Duck, You Sucker (1972)
Hard Contract (1969)
The Last of the Mobile Hot-Shots (1969)
Duffy (1968)
In Like Flint (1967)
The President's Analyst (1967)
Waterhole #3 (1967)
Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round (1966)
Our Man Flint (1966)
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966)
Major Dundee (1965)
A High Wind in Jamaica (1965)
The Americanization of Emily (1964)
Charade (1963)
The Great Escape (1963)
Hell Is for Heroes (1962)

The Magnificent Seven (1960)
Bronco - The Shadow of Jesse James (1960)
Wanted: Dead or Alive - V. 1 (1959)
Ride Lonesome (1959)