Charles Coburn
Biography
Charles Coburn was an American actor and theatrical producer who got his start in Savannah, Georgia, where he grew up and did odd jobs at the local theater as a teenager, running the house by 17 or 18. He made his Broadway debut in 1901, and he later formed an acting company that he managed while performing on Broadway. He then moved to Los Angeles and began working in films, earning three Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor and winning for The More the Merrier (1943). The Devil and Miss Jones (1941) and The Green Years brought the other two. He usually played comic parts, though Kings Row (1942) and Wilson (1944) showed his dramatic range. His other films included The Lady Eve (1941) and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). In 1960 the Hollywood Walk of Fame honored him with a star.
84years old at death
- Born Savannah
- Died Manhattan
- Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
- Also credited as Charles Douville Coburn
Movie Career
- Films
- 31
- Career span
- 25 years1938 to 1963
First and latest
Photos
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Charles Coburn movies on Netflix
Marilynas Sir Francis 'Piggy' Beekman
How to Murder a Rich Uncleas Uncle George Clitterbern
The Story of Mankindas Hippocrates
Town on Trialas Dr. John Fenner
The Long Waitas Gardiner
Gentlemen Prefer Blondesas Sir Francis 'Piggy' Beekman
Trouble Along the Wayas Father Burke
Has Anybody Seen My Galas Samuel Fulton / John Smith
Monkey Businessas Mr. Oliver Oxley
Impactas Lieutenant Quincy
The Gal Who Took the Westas Gen. Michael O'Hara
Luredas Harley Temple
The Paradine Caseas Sir Simon Flaquer
Wilsonas Professor Henry Holmes
Heaven Can Waitas Hugo Van Cleve
Princess O'Rourkeas Uncle Holman
The Constant Nymphas Charles Creighton
The More the Merrieras Benjamin Dingle
In This Our Lifeas William Fitzroy
Kings Rowas Henry Gordon
The Devil and Miss Jonesas John P. Merrick/Thomas Higgins
The Lady Eveas 'Colonel' Harrington
Edison, the Manas General Powell
Road to Singaporeas Joshua Mallon IV
Bachelor Motheras J. B. Merlin
In Name Onlyas Richard Walker
Made for Each Otheras Judge Joseph M. Doolittle
Stanley and Livingstoneas Lord Tyce
The Story of Alexander Graham Bellas Gardner Hubbard
Of Human Heartsas Dr. Charles Shingle
Vivacious Ladyas Mr. Morgan
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes1953 Comedy, Crime, Musicalas Sir Francis 'Piggy' Beekman
IMDb rating 7.147K votes
Most often with
Howard Hawks directed two of these films, George Stevens two and Sam Wood two. Two actors appear in four of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.









Films together
Cedric Hardwicke4 films together, 1939 to 1957
Cedric Hardwicke's page The Story of Mankind1957IMDb rating 4.8Coburn as HippocratesHardwicke as High Judge
Lured1947IMDb rating 7.0Coburn as Harley TempleHardwicke as Julian Wilde
Wilson1944IMDb rating 6.3Coburn as Professor Henry HolmesHardwicke as Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
Stanley and Livingstone1939IMDb rating 7.0Coburn as Lord TyceHardwicke as Dr. David Livingstone
Harry Davenport4 films together, 1939 to 1943
Harry Davenport's page Princess O'Rourke1943IMDb rating 6.7Coburn as Uncle HolmanDavenport as Supreme Court Judge
Kings Row1942IMDb rating 7.5Coburn as Henry GordonDavenport as Colonel Skeffington
Made for Each Other1939IMDb rating 6.3Coburn as Judge Joseph M. DoolittleDavenport as Dr. Healy
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell1939IMDb rating 6.9Coburn as Gardner HubbardDavenport as Judge Rider
James Stewart3 films together, 1938 to 1939
James Stewart's page Made for Each Other1939IMDb rating 6.3Coburn as Judge Joseph M. DoolittleStewart as John Horace Mason
Of Human Hearts1938IMDb rating 6.8Coburn as Dr. Charles ShingleStewart as Jason Wilkins
Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1Coburn as Mr. MorganStewart as Peter
Bobby Barber3 films together, 1938 to 1941
Bobby Barber's page The Lady Eve1941IMDb rating 7.7Coburn as 'Colonel' HarringtonBarber as Ship's Waiter with Toupee
Road to Singapore1940IMDb rating 6.6Coburn as Joshua Mallon IVBarber as Man Hit with Soap Suds
Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1Coburn as Mr. MorganBarber as Italian Waiter at Nightclub
Gene Lockhart3 films together, 1938 to 1940
Gene Lockhart's page Edison, the Man1940IMDb rating 7.0Coburn as General PowellLockhart as Mr. Taggart
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell1939IMDb rating 6.9Coburn as Gardner HubbardLockhart as Thomas Sanders
Of Human Hearts1938IMDb rating 6.8Coburn as Dr. Charles ShingleLockhart as Quid
Ginger Rogers3 films together, 1938 to 1952
Ginger Rogers's page Monkey Business1952IMDb rating 6.9Coburn as Mr. Oliver OxleyRogers as Mrs. Edwina Fulton
Bachelor Mother1939IMDb rating 7.5Coburn as J. B. MerlinRogers as Polly Parrish
Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1Coburn as Mr. MorganRogers as Francey
Howard HawksDirector, 2 films, 1952 to 1953
All films by Howard Hawks Gentlemen Prefer Blondes1953IMDb rating 7.1Coburn as Sir Francis 'Piggy' Beekman
Monkey Business1952IMDb rating 6.9Coburn as Mr. Oliver Oxley
George StevensDirector, 2 films, 1938 to 1943
All films by George Stevens The More the Merrier1943IMDb rating 7.6Coburn as Benjamin Dingle
Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1Coburn as Mr. Morgan
Sam WoodDirector, 2 films, 1941 to 1942
All films by Sam Wood Kings Row1942IMDb rating 7.5Coburn as Henry Gordon
The Devil and Miss Jones1941IMDb rating 7.6Coburn as John P. Merrick/Thomas Higgins
Also three films together5 more actors
- Marilyn MonroeMarilyn (1963), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and Monkey Business (1952)
- Spring ByingtonHeaven Can Wait (1943), The Devil and Miss Jones (1941) and The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939)
- Minor WatsonPrincess O'Rourke (1943), Kings Row (1942) and Of Human Hearts (1938)
- Arthur AylesworthEdison, the Man (1940), In Name Only (1939) and Of Human Hearts (1938)
- Robert CummingsPrincess O'Rourke (1943), Kings Row (1942) and The Devil and Miss Jones (1941)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Charles Coburn's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$17.8 million
7 of the 31 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 31 films: 7 worldwide figure; 3 us gross only; 21 figure not found.
- 7Worldwide figure
- 3US gross only
- 21Figure not found
Highest grossing
The seven biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$5.3M29.8% of the total
- 2$3.2M18.0% of the total
- 3$2.1M11.8% of the total
- 4$2.0M11.2% of the total
- 5$2.0M11.2% of the total
- 6$2.0M11.1% of the total
- 7$1.2M6.8% of the total
Awards
Two awards and honors, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | |||
| 1944 | Best Supporting Actor | The More the Merrier | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.











