Actor. Born James Harrison Coburn III, the son of an auto mechanic, he was raised in Compton, California and experienced his first taste of acting playing "Herod" in a school play at the age of four. He earned wages working as a janitor and ticket taker in a movie theater during his teenage years and attended Los Angeles City College where he studied acting. Coburn served a stint with the United States Military as a public information officer and following his discharge he continued his acting training in New York under the mentorship of Stella Adler. He acquired stage experience that led to his television debut in an episode of the series "Studio One" in 1957 and two years later, he marked his motion picture initiation in "Ride Lonesome" (1959). After many television guest appearances, he had his breakthrough role as Britt, the knife marksman in the John Sturges' all-star adventure "The Magnificent Seven." He followed this with "Hell is for Heroes" (1962, which starred Steve McQueen) and a reunion with Sturges in the star-studded "The Great Escape" (1963, as Sedgwick). Coburn's toothy grin often led to roles as heavies such as in "Charade" (1963) and that same year, he had a memorable performance in an episode of the classic TV series "The Twilight Zone" titled "The Old Man in the Cave." He will perhaps be best remembered for playing the title role in the "Flint" spy pictures "Our Man Flint" (1966) and "In Like Flint" (1967), as well as the offbeat film "The President's Analyst" (1967). He was the recipient of an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the film "Affliction" (1997 and provided the voice of Henry J. Waternoose in the Disney Pixar film "Monsters, Inc" (2001). Coburn remained an active performer in spite of suffering from the crippling effects of rheumatoid arthritis. He died from a heart attack while listening to music in his Beverly Hills home.
Actor. Born James Harrison Coburn III, the son of an auto mechanic, he was raised in Compton, California and experienced his first taste of acting playing "Herod" in a school play at the age of four. He earned wages working as a janitor and ticket taker in a movie theater during his teenage years and attended Los Angeles City College where he studied acting. Coburn served a stint with the United States Military as a public information officer and following his discharge he continued his acting training in New York under the mentorship of Stella Adler. He acquired stage experience that led to his television debut in an episode of the series "Studio One" in 1957 and two years later, he marked his motion picture initiation in "Ride Lonesome" (1959). After many television guest appearances, he had his breakthrough role as Britt, the knife marksman in the John Sturges' all-star adventure "The Magnificent Seven." He followed this with "Hell is for Heroes" (1962, which starred Steve McQueen) and a reunion with Sturges in the star-studded "The Great Escape" (1963, as Sedgwick). Coburn's toothy grin often led to roles as heavies such as in "Charade" (1963) and that same year, he had a memorable performance in an episode of the classic TV series "The Twilight Zone" titled "The Old Man in the Cave." He will perhaps be best remembered for playing the title role in the "Flint" spy pictures "Our Man Flint" (1966) and "In Like Flint" (1967), as well as the offbeat film "The President's Analyst" (1967). He was the recipient of an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the film "Affliction" (1997 and provided the voice of Henry J. Waternoose in the Disney Pixar film "Monsters, Inc" (2001). Coburn remained an active performer in spite of suffering from the crippling effects of rheumatoid arthritis. He died from a heart attack while listening to music in his Beverly Hills home.
Bio by: C.S.
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