James Coburn

Biography

James Coburn was an American actor who worked for 45 years in more than 70 movies, most often in Westerns and action roles. He grew up in Compton, California, after being born in Laurel, Nebraska, and trained in acting at Los Angeles City College before appearing on stage in Billy Budd at the La Jolla Playhouse. Television work came first, starting in 1953, and he reached the screen in 1959 with Ride Lonesome. The Magnificent Seven (1960) brought him a breakthrough as Britt, and he went on to lead Our Man Flint (1966), In Like Flint (1967), The President's Analyst (1967), Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973) and Cross of Iron (1977). Supporting parts included Hell Is for Heroes (1962), The Great Escape (1963) and Charade (1963). He took home an Oscar for Affliction (1997), and later films included Eraser (1996), Maverick (1994) and Monsters, Inc. (2001).

74years old at death

Born August 31, 1928Laurel
Died November 18, 2002Beverly Hills
Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
James Harrison Coburn III (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 51
Career span: 43 years1959 to 2002

Genres

Drama47%, 24 films
Comedy37%, 19 films
Adventure27%, 14 films
Action25%, 13 films
Crime22%, 11 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Big break
Coburn's third movie, The Magnificent Seven (1960), gave him a big break as Britt, who wielded a knife. His friend Robert Vaughn suggested him for the part.
A role that slipped away
Mr. T said Coburn had been lined up for the Hannibal role on The A-Team, but the network had a change of heart and cast George Peppard instead.
Early training
At Los Angeles City College, Coburn took acting classes with Jeff Corey, who was guided by Stella Adler. His first stage role was in Herman Melville's Billy Budd at the La Jolla Playhouse.

James Coburn movies on Netflix

Snow Dogs2002IMDb rating 5.2as Thunder Jack
Monsters, Inc.2001IMDb rating 8.1as Henry J. Waternoose (voice)
Proximity2001IMDb rating 4.8as Jim Corcoran
The Unbeatable Bruce Lee2001IMDb rating 7.0as Himself
Wingspan2001IMDb rating 7.9as Character on the Band on the Run Cover
Payback1999IMDb rating 7.0as Justin Fairfax
Affliction1997IMDb rating 6.9as Glen Whitehouse
Keys to Tulsa1997IMDb rating 5.2as Harmon Shaw
The Second Civil War1997IMDb rating 6.6as Jack Buchan
Eraser1996IMDb rating 6.2as WitSec Chief Beller
The Cherokee Kid1996IMDb rating 6.0as Cyrus Bloomington
The Nutty Professor1996IMDb rating 5.7as Harlan Hartley
The Set Up1995IMDb rating 4.9as Jeremiah Cole
Greyhounds1994IMDb rating 6.1as John Dolan
Maverick1994IMDb rating 7.0as Commodore Duvall
Deadfall1993IMDb rating 4.1as Mike Donan / Lou Donan
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit1993IMDb rating 5.8as Mr. Crisp
Hudson Hawk1991IMDb rating 5.7as George Kaplan
Young Guns II1990IMDb rating 6.5as John Simpson Chisum
Death of a Soldier1986IMDb rating 5.8as Maj. Patrick Dannenberg
High Risk1981IMDb rating 5.6as Serrano
Looker1981IMDb rating 6.1as John Reston
The Muppet Movie1979IMDb rating 7.6as El Sleezo Cafe Owner
Formula 1 - Speed fever1978IMDb rating 6.7as Himself
Cross of Iron1977IMDb rating 7.4as Unteroffizier Feldwebel (S / Sgt.) Rolf Steiner
Midway1976IMDb rating 6.8as Capt. Vinton Maddox
Sky Riders1976IMDb rating 6.0as Jim McCabe
The Last Hard Men1976IMDb rating 6.2as Provo
Bite the Bullet1975IMDb rating 6.6as Luke Matthews
Hard Times1975IMDb rating 7.2as Speed
The Internecine Project1974IMDb rating 6.2as Robert Elliot
Harry in Your Pocket1973IMDb rating 6.3as Harry
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid1973IMDb rating 7.2as Pat Garrett
The Last of Sheila1973IMDb rating 7.2as Clinton
A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die1972IMDb rating 6.1as Colonel Pembroke
The Carey Treatment1972IMDb rating 6.2as Dr. Peter Carey
In Like Flint1967IMDb rating 6.1as Derek Flint
The President's Analyst1967IMDb rating 6.8as Dr. Sidney Schaefer
Our Man Flint1966IMDb rating 6.4as Derek Flint
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?1966IMDb rating 6.6as Lieutenant Christian
A High Wind in Jamaica1965IMDb rating 6.5as Zac
Major Dundee1965IMDb rating 6.7as Samuel Potts
The Loved One1965IMDb rating 6.9as Immigration Officer
The Americanization of Emily1964IMDb rating 7.3as Lt. Commander Paul "Bus" Cummings
Charade1963IMDb rating 7.8as Tex Panthollow
Kings of the Sun1963IMDb rating 6.1as Narrator
The Great Escape1963IMDb rating 8.2as Sedgwick 'Manufacturer'
Hell Is for Heroes1962IMDb rating 6.9as Cpl. Henshaw
The Magnificent Seven1960IMDb rating 7.7as Britt
Face of a Fugitive1959IMDb rating 6.6as Purdy
Ride Lonesome1959IMDb rating 7.1as Whit

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Monsters, Inc.2001 Adventure, Animation, Comedyas Henry J. Waternoosevoice
IMDb rating 8.11.1M votes
The Nutty Professor1996 Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fias Harlan Hartley
IMDb rating 5.7133K votes
Eraser1996as WitSec Chief Beller
IMDb rating 6.2125K votes
The Great Escape1963as Sedgwick 'Manufacturer'
IMDb rating 8.2280K votes
Charade1963as Tex Panthollow
IMDb rating 7.895K votes
Cross of Iron1977as Unteroffizier Feldwebel (S / Sgt.) Rolf Steiner
IMDb rating 7.432K votes
Maverick1994as Commodore Duvall
IMDb rating 7.0126K votes
Hudson Hawk1991as George Kaplan
IMDb rating 5.765K votes

Most often with

Sam Peckinpah directed three of these films, John Sturges two and Blake Edwards 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.

Top

James Garner

Steve McQueen

Charles Bronson

Charlton Heston

L.Q. Jones

Anthony Quinn

Sam PeckinpahDirector, 3 films

John SturgesDirector, 2 films

Blake EdwardsDirector, 2 films

Films together

James Garner4 films together, 1963 to 2001
James Garner's page
- The Unbeatable Bruce Lee2001IMDb rating 7.0Coburn as HimselfGarner as Himself
- Maverick1994IMDb rating 7.0Coburn as Commodore DuvallGarner as Marshal Zane Cooper
- The Americanization of Emily1964IMDb rating 7.3Coburn as Lt. Commander Paul "Bus" CummingsGarner as Lt. Commander Charles E. Madison
- The Great Escape1963IMDb rating 8.2Coburn as Sedgwick 'Manufacturer'Garner as Hendley 'The Scrounger'
Steve McQueen4 films together, 1960 to 2001
Steve McQueen's page
- The Unbeatable Bruce Lee2001IMDb rating 7.0Coburn as HimselfMcQueen as Himself
- The Great Escape1963IMDb rating 8.2Coburn as Sedgwick 'Manufacturer'McQueen as Hilts 'The Cooler King'
- Hell Is for Heroes1962IMDb rating 6.9Coburn as Cpl. HenshawMcQueen as Reese
- The Magnificent Seven1960IMDb rating 7.7Coburn as BrittMcQueen as Vin Tanner
Charles Bronson3 films together, 1960 to 1975
Charles Bronson's page
- Hard Times1975IMDb rating 7.2Coburn as SpeedBronson as Chaney
- The Great Escape1963IMDb rating 8.2Coburn as Sedgwick 'Manufacturer'Bronson as Danny 'Tunnel King'
- The Magnificent Seven1960IMDb rating 7.7Coburn as BrittBronson as Bernardo O'Reilly
Charlton Heston3 films together, 1965 to 1976
Charlton Heston's page
- Midway1976IMDb rating 6.8Coburn as Capt. Vinton MaddoxHeston as Capt. Matt Garth
- The Last Hard Men1976IMDb rating 6.2Coburn as ProvoHeston as Sam Burgade
- Major Dundee1965IMDb rating 6.7Coburn as Samuel PottsHeston as Major Amos Charles Dundee
L.Q. Jones3 films together, 1962 to 1973
L.Q. Jones's page
- Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid1973IMDb rating 7.2Coburn as Pat GarrettJones as Black Harris
- Major Dundee1965IMDb rating 6.7Coburn as Samuel PottsJones as Arthur Hadley
- Hell Is for Heroes1962IMDb rating 6.9Coburn as Cpl. HenshawJones as Supply Sgt. Frazer
Anthony Quinn2 films together, 1965 to 1981
Anthony Quinn's page
- High Risk1981IMDb rating 5.6Coburn as SerranoQuinn as Mariano
- A High Wind in Jamaica1965IMDb rating 6.5Coburn as ZacQuinn as Chavez
Sam PeckinpahDirector, 3 films, 1965 to 1977
All films by Sam Peckinpah
- Cross of Iron1977IMDb rating 7.4Coburn as Unteroffizier Feldwebel (S / Sgt.) Rolf Steiner
- Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid1973IMDb rating 7.2Coburn as Pat Garrett
- Major Dundee1965IMDb rating 6.7Coburn as Samuel Potts
John SturgesDirector, 2 films, 1960 to 1963
All films by John Sturges
- The Great Escape1963IMDb rating 8.2Coburn as Sedgwick 'Manufacturer'
- The Magnificent Seven1960IMDb rating 7.7Coburn as Britt
Blake EdwardsDirector, 2 films, 1966 to 1972
All films by Blake Edwards
- The Carey Treatment1972IMDb rating 6.2Coburn as Dr. Peter Carey
- What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?1966IMDb rating 6.6Coburn as Lieutenant Christian
Also two films together31 more actors
- Gene HackmanFormula 1 - Speed fever (1978) and Bite the Bullet (1975)
- James MasonCross of Iron (1977) and The Last of Sheila (1973)
- Kris KristoffersonPayback (1999) and Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)
- Keenan WynnThe Internecine Project (1974) and The Americanization of Emily (1964)
- Mel GibsonPayback (1999) and Maverick (1994)
- Dan HedayaThe Second Civil War (1997) and Maverick (1994)
- Harry AndrewsSky Riders (1976) and The Internecine Project (1974)
- R.G. ArmstrongPat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973) and Major Dundee (1965)
- Ben JohnsonBite the Bullet (1975) and Major Dundee (1965)
- Dub TaylorMaverick (1994) and Major Dundee (1965)
- James BrolinHigh Risk (1981) and Our Man Flint (1966)
- Lee J. CobbIn Like Flint (1967) and Our Man Flint (1966)
- Graham GreeneSnow Dogs (2002) and Maverick (1994)
- Slim PickensPat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973) and Major Dundee (1965)
- Frank OzMonsters, Inc. (2001) and The Muppet Movie (1979)
- Roy JensonThe Set Up (1995) and Ride Lonesome (1959)
- Yul BrynnerKings of the Sun (1963) and The Magnificent Seven (1960)
- Mark RolstonEraser (1996) and The Set Up (1995)
- Pat MoritaGreyhounds (1994) and Midway (1976)
- Leo GordonMaverick (1994) and Kings of the Sun (1963)
- Telly SavalasThe Muppet Movie (1979) and A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)
- Deborah Kara UngerPayback (1999) and Keys to Tulsa (1997)
- Michael PateDeath of a Soldier (1986) and Major Dundee (1965)
- Robert DonnerThe Last Hard Men (1976) and Bite the Bullet (1975)
- Brad DexterKings of the Sun (1963) and The Magnificent Seven (1960)
- Senta BergerCross of Iron (1977) and Major Dundee (1965)
- Lorraine ToussaintThe Cherokee Kid (1996) and Hudson Hawk (1991)
- John BeckSky Riders (1976) and Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)
- Milton BerleThe Muppet Movie (1979) and The Loved One (1965)
- Robert PastorelliEraser (1996) and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)
- Robert 'Buzz' HenryIn Like Flint (1967) and Face of a Fugitive (1959)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.