Editing James Coburn

{{short description|American actor (1928–2002)}}
{{other people}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = James Coburn
| image              = James Coburn The Californians 1959.JPG
| caption            = Coburn as Anthony Wayne in ''[[The Californians (TV series)|The Californians]]'' (1959)
| birth_name         = James Harrison Coburn III
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1928|8|31}}
| birth_place        = [[Laurel, Nebraska]], U.S.
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2002|11|18|1928|8|31}}
| death_place        = [[Beverly Hills, California]], U.S.
| resting_place      = [[Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary]], [[Westwood, Los Angeles|Westwood, California]], U.S.
| alma_mater         = [[Los Angeles City College]]
| occupation         = Actor
| years_active       = 1953–2002
| spouse             = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Beverly Kelly|1959|1979|end=div}}
* {{marriage|Paula Murad|1993}}}}
| children           = 2
| awards             = [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]] – ''[[Affliction (1997 film)|Affliction]]'' (1997)
}}
'''James Harrison Coburn III'''<ref name="info">{{cite web|url=http://www.newenglandancestors.org/education/articles/research/special_guests/member_staff/james_coburn_1928_2002_a_genealogical_tribute_659_510.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024131657/http://www.newenglandancestors.org/education/articles/research/special_guests/member_staff/james_coburn_1928_2002_a_genealogical_tribute_659_510.asp|url-status=dead|title=New England Historic Genealogical Society|archive-date=October 24, 2007}}</ref> (August 31, 1928&nbsp;– November 18, 2002) was an American film and television actor who was featured in more than 70 films, largely action roles, and made 100 television appearances during a 45-year career.<ref name=amgbio>Allmovie [https://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=2:195536~T1 Biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526202604/https://www.allmovie.com/ |date=May 26, 2021 }}</ref>

Coburn was a perfect tough guy in numerous leading roles in [[Western (genre)|Westerns]] and action films.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Turner Classic Movies]]|url=http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/245393%7C0/James-Coburn-August-4-.html|title=James Coburn Profile|access-date=November 24, 2011|archive-date=June 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619135940/http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/245393%7C0/James-Coburn-August-4-.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He played supporting roles in ''[[The Magnificent Seven]]'', ''[[Hell Is for Heroes (film)|Hell Is for Heroes]]'', ''[[The Great Escape (film)|The Great Escape]]'', ''[[Charade (1963 film)|Charade]]'' and ''[[Hard Times (1975 film)|Hard Times]]'' as well as the lead role in ''[[Our Man Flint]]'' and its sequel ''[[In Like Flint]]'', ''[[The President's Analyst]]'',  ''[[Duck, You Sucker!]]'', ''[[Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid]]'', and ''[[Cross of Iron]]''. In 1998, Coburn won an [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Academy Award for his supporting role]] as Glen Whitehouse in ''[[Affliction (1997 film)|Affliction]]''. In 2002, he received a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries]] nomination for producing ''[[The Mists of Avalon (miniseries)|The Mists of Avalon]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2002/outstanding-miniseries-or-movie | title = 54th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners: Outstanding Miniseries - 2002 | website = [[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|Television Academy]] | access-date = November 6, 2019 | archive-date = August 1, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200801221846/https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2002/outstanding-miniseries-or-movie | url-status = live }}</ref>

During the [[New Hollywood]] era, he cultivated an image synonymous with "cool".<ref>{{Cite interview |last1=Coburn |first1=James |interviewer=Timothy Rhys |title=Quintessential Cool: A Conversation with James Coburn |url=https://www.moviemaker.com/quintessential-cool-a-conversation-with-james-coburn-3244/ |website=[[MovieMaker]] |date=April 9, 1999}}</ref>

==Early life==
James Harrison Coburn III was born in [[Laurel, Nebraska]], on August 31, 1928, the son of James Harrison Coburn II and Mylet S. Coburn ([[married and maiden names|''née'']] Johnson). His father and namesake was of [[Scottish-Irish American|Scots-Irish]] ancestry and his mother was an [[Swedish Americans|immigrant from Sweden]]. His father had a garage business in Laurel that was destroyed by the [[Great Depression]].<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Turner Classic Movies]]|title=James Coburn|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/participant.jsp?spid=36024|access-date=September 26, 2010|archive-date=November 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091107140457/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/participant.jsp?spid=36024|url-status=dead}}</ref> Coburn was raised in [[Compton, California]], where he attended [[El Camino College Compton Center|Compton Junior College]].

In 1950, Coburn was drafted into the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]], where he served as a truck driver and occasionally a disc jockey on an Army radio station in [[Texas]]. He also narrated Army training films in [[Mainz]], West Germany.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1413677/James-Coburn.html |title=Obituary |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=March 14, 2010 |location=London |archive-date=December 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215164507/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1413677/James-Coburn.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

He attended [[Los Angeles City College]],<ref name="obituary" /> where he studied acting with fellow actor [[Jeff Corey]] under [[Stella Adler]]'s tutelage, and later made his stage debut at the [[La Jolla Playhouse]] in [[Herman Melville]]'s ''[[Billy Budd]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800017369/bio |title=James Coburn Biography - Yahoo! Movies |publisher=Yahoo! Movies |access-date=March 14, 2010 |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604010700/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800017369/bio |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Career==
===Early television work===
Coburn's first television appearance was in 1953 on ''[[Four Star Playhouse]]''.

He was selected for a [[Remington Products]] razor commercial, where he was able to shave off 11 days of beard growth in less than 60 seconds<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehollywoodinterview.blogspot.com/2008/02/james-coburn-hollywood-interview.html |title=The Hollywood Interview blogsite |publisher=Thehollywoodinterview.blogspot.com |date=February 28, 2008 |access-date=March 14, 2010 |archive-date=June 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617000126/http://thehollywoodinterview.blogspot.com/2008/02/james-coburn-hollywood-interview.html |url-status=live }}</ref> while joking that he had more teeth to show on camera than the other 12 candidates for the part.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4857490-1.html |title=Allbusiness.com |publisher=Allbusiness.com |access-date=March 14, 2010}}</ref>

Coburn's film debut came in 1959 as the sidekick of [[Pernell Roberts]] in the [[Randolph Scott]] Western ''[[Ride Lonesome]]''.<ref>{{cite news |work=San Jose Mercury News|title=Coburn's Comfort Zone at Home in Western with Heston and Berenger Supporting|page=6|date=January 22, 1995|first=Ron|last=Miller|quote=JAMES COBURN began his movie career in a saddle 36 years ago, playing the gangly and not-too-bright sidekick to bad guy Pernell Roberts in the 1959 Randolph Scott western "Ride Lonesome."}}</ref> He soon got a job in another Western, ''[[Face of a Fugitive]]'' (1959). ''Filmink'' argued "he made a terrific cowboy and was thus easily castable in the scores of Westerns being made for American TV at the time; indeed, Coburn guest starred in pretty much all of them."<ref name=
"coburn">{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Filmink|date=14 February 2025|access-date=14 February 2025|title=Movie Star Cold Streaks: James Coburn|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/movie-star-cold-streaks-james-coburn/}}</ref> These included several episodes of [[NBC]]'s ''[[Bonanza]]'' and appearing twice each on three other NBC Westerns: ''[[Laramie (TV series)|Laramie]]'' with [[Robert Fuller (actor)|Robert Fuller]],''[[Tales of Wells Fargo]]'' with [[Dale Robertson]], one episode in the role of [[Butch Cassidy]]; and ''[[The Restless Gun]]'' with [[John Payne (actor)|John Payne]] in "The Pawn" and "The Way Back", the latter segment alongside ''Bonanza'''s [[Dan Blocker]].<ref>''[[The Restless Gun]]'', DVD, Timeless Media Group</ref> "Butch Cassidy" aired in 1958. He played a rustler in ''[[The Rifleman]]'' - Season 1, Episode 13 - The Young Englishman.

Coburn's third film was a major breakthrough for him, as the knife-wielding Britt in ''[[The Magnificent Seven]]'' (1960), directed by [[John Sturges]] for the [[Mirisch Company]]. Coburn was hired on the recommendation of his friend [[Robert Vaughn]]. During the 1960–61 season, Coburn co-starred with [[Ralph Taeger]] and [[Joi Lansing]] in the NBC adventure/drama series ''[[Klondike (TV series)|Klondike]]'', set in the [[Alaska]]n [[gold rush]] town of [[Skagway, Alaska|Skagway]]. When ''Klondike'' was cancelled, Taeger and Coburn were regrouped as detectives in Mexico in NBC's equally short-lived ''[[Acapulco (1961 TV series)|Acapulco]]''.

Coburn also made two guest appearances on [[CBS]]'s ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'', both times as the murder victim, in "The Case of the Envious Editor" and "The Case of the Angry Astronaut". In 1962, he portrayed Col. Briscoe in the "Hostage Child" of CBS's ''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]''.

===Supporting actor in films===
[[File:James Coburn in Charade.jpg|thumb|right|160px|Coburn in ''[[Charade (1963 film)|Charade]]'' (1963)]]
Coburn had a good role in ''[[Hell Is for Heroes (film)|Hell Is for Heroes]]'' (1962), a war film with [[Steve McQueen]]. He followed it with another war film with McQueen, ''[[The Great Escape (film)|The Great Escape]]'' (1963), directed by Sturges for the Mirisches, where Coburn played an Australian POW. For the Mirisches, Coburn narrated ''[[Kings of the Sun]]'' (1963).

Coburn was one of the villains in ''[[Charade (1963 film)|Charade]]'' (1963), starring [[Cary Grant]] and [[Audrey Hepburn]]. He followed that role playing a glib naval officer in [[Paddy Chayefsky]]'s ''[[The Americanization of Emily]]'', replacing [[James Garner]], who had moved up to the lead role when [[William Holden]] withdrew from the production. As a result, Coburn was signed to a seven-year contract with 20th Century Fox.<ref>"Entertainment: Coburn Wins Pact, Role in 'High Wind' He'll Star with Anthony Quinn; Mrs. Ames Pens Kidnaping Tale" Hopper, Hedda. ''Los Angeles Times'' June 4, 1964: A10.</ref>

Coburn had another excellent supporting role as a one-armed Indian tracker in ''[[Major Dundee]]'' (1965), directed by [[Sam Peckinpah]] and starring [[Charlton Heston]].

At Fox, he was second-billed in the pirate film ''[[A High Wind in Jamaica (film)|A High Wind in Jamaica]]'' (1965), supporting [[Anthony Quinn]] in the lead role. He had a cameo in the [[black comedy]] ''[[The Loved One (film)|The Loved One]]'' (1965).

===Stardom===
In December 1964 it was announced Coburn would star in Fox's [[List of James Bond parodies and spin-offs|James Bond parody film]] ''[[Our Man Flint]]'' (1966), playing super agent [[Derek Flint]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Best of hollywood |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=30 December 1964 |page=23}}</ref> Producer [[Saul David]] commented, Coburn "is undoubtedly one of the most interesting looking actors in the business today. I would describe him as a cross between [[Humphrey Bogart]] and [[Jean Paul Belmondo]] - a true descendant of that bygone generation of character actors who became leading men by accident... Coburn has a fantastic effect on women filmgoers and I think it's because ladies go more for masculinity and charm than prettiness in a male star.""<ref name="david">{{cite news |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |date=5 February 1965 |title=Coburn just right for 'Our Man Flint' |page=9 Part 4}}</ref> The movie was a big success at the box office on its release in 1966 and established Coburn as a star.

Coburn followed it with ''[[What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?]]'' (1966), a wartime comedy from [[Blake Edwards]], which was made for the Mirisches; Coburn was top billed although the lead was Dick Shawn. It was a commercial disappointment. ''[[Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round]]'' (1966) was a crime movie made at Columbia.

Back at Fox, Coburn made a second Flint film, ''[[In Like Flint]]'' (1967), which was popular, but Coburn did not wish to make any more movies in that series. This has been called a "mistake" by Coburn as films in which he starred in where he did not play Flint were not as successful.<ref name="coburn"/> He went over to Paramount for a Western comedy made through Edwards' company, ''[[Waterhole No. 3]]'' (1967) and the political satire ''[[The President's Analyst]]'' (1967). Neither performed particularly well commercially, but over the years, ''The President's Analyst'' has become a cult film. In 1967, Coburn was voted the 12th-biggest star in Hollywood.<ref>"Star Glitter Is Catching" by Richard L. Coe. ''The Washington Post and Times-Herald'' [Washington, D.C.] January 7, 1968: H1.</ref>

Over at Columbia, Coburn was in a Swinging '60s heist film, ''[[Duffy (film)|Duffy]]'' (1968), which flopped. He was one of several stars who had cameos in ''[[Candy (1968 film)|Candy]]'' (1968), then played a hitman in ''[[Hard Contract]]'' (1969) for Fox, another flop.

Coburn tried a change of pace, an adaptation of a [[Tennessee Williams]] play, ''[[Last of the Mobile Hot Shots]]'' (1970) directed by [[Sidney Lumet]], but the film was not popular.
In July 1970, Richard F Zanuck of Fox dropped the $300,000 option it had with Coburn.<ref>{{cite book|page=[https://archive.org/details/foxthatgotawayt00silv/page/223 223]|title=The Fox that got away: the last days of the Zanuck dynasty at Twentieth Century-Fox|url=https://archive.org/details/foxthatgotawayt00silv|url-access=registration|last=Silverman|first=Stephen M|year=1988|publisher=L. Stuart|isbn=9780818404856}}</ref>

In 1971, Coburn starred in the [[Zapata Western]] ''[[Duck, You Sucker!]]'', with [[Rod Steiger]] and directed by [[Sergio Leone]], as an Irish explosives expert and revolutionary who has fled to Mexico during the time of the [[Mexican Revolution]] in the early 20th century. In 1964, Coburn had said he would do ''[[A Fistful of Dollars]]'' if they paid him $25,000, which was too expensive for the production's tiny budget.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/how-italy-saved-the-western-with-a-fistful-of-dollars/article14396628/|title=How Italy saved the western with A Fistful of Dollars|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=September 19, 2013|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-date=August 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802003537/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/how-italy-saved-the-western-with-a-fistful-of-dollars/article14396628/|url-status=live|last1=Pevere|first1=Geoff}}</ref> ''Duck You Sucker'', also called ''A Fistful of Dynamite'', was not as highly regarded as Leone's four previous Westerns, but was hugely popular in Europe, especially France.

Back in the US, Coburn made another film with Blake Edwards, the thriller ''[[The Carey Treatment]]'' (1972). It was badly cut by MGM and was commercially unsuccessful. So, too, was ''[[The Honkers]]'' (1972), where Coburn played a rodeo rider.

Coburn went back to Italy to make another Western, ''[[A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die]]'' (1973), or ''Massacre at Fort Holman''. He then reteamed with director Sam Peckinpah for the 1973 film ''[[Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid]]'', playing [[Pat Garrett]]. In 1973, he was voted the 23rd-most popular star in Hollywood.<ref>"EASTWOOD SELECTED BOX-OFFICE CHAMPION" ''Los Angeles Times'' January 2, 1974: d17.</ref>

In 1973, Coburn was among the featured celebrities dressed in prison gear on the cover of the album ''[[Band on the Run]]'' made by [[Paul McCartney]] and his band [[Wings (band)|Wings]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/michael-parkinson-james-coburn-story-behind-wings-baffling-cover/ |title=Michael Parkinson and James Coburn? The story behind Wings' baffling cover for Band on the Run|first=Neil|last=McCormick|work=The Telegraph |location=London, England|publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited |access-date=July 2, 2023 |date=May 21, 2020 }}</ref>

Coburn was one of the [[pallbearers]] at the funeral of [[Bruce Lee]] along with Steve McQueen, Bruce's brother, Robert Lee, Peter Chin, [[Dan Inosanto|Danny Inosanto]], and Taky Kimura. Coburn gave a speech: "Farewell, Brother. It has been an honor to share this space in time with you. As a friend and a teacher, you have given to me, have brought my physical, spiritual, and psychological selves together. Thank you. May peace be with you."<ref name=bruce>{{cite web|url=http://www.historylink.org/File/3999//|last=Burrows|first=Alyssa|title=Lee, Bruce (1940-1973), Martial Arts Master and Film Maker|publisher=History Link.org|access-date=April 15, 2017|date=October 21, 2002|archive-date=July 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709222216/http://www.historylink.org/File/3999|url-status=live}}</ref>

Coburn was one of several stars in the popular ''[[The Last of Sheila]]'' (1973). He then starred in a series of thrillers: ''[[Harry in Your Pocket]]'' (1974), the debut feature from ''Mission Impossible'' creator Bruce Geller, and ''[[The Internecine Project]]'' (1975). Neither was widely seen.

===Mid-career===
Coburn began to drop back down the credit list: he was third billed in writer-director [[Richard Brooks]]' film ''[[Bite the Bullet (film)|Bite the Bullet]]'' (1975) behind [[Gene Hackman]] and [[Candice Bergen]]. He co-starred with [[Charles Bronson]] in ''[[Hard Times (1975 film)|Hard Times]]'' (1975), the directorial debut of [[Walter Hill (director)|Walter Hill]], but it was very much Bronson's film. The movie was popular.

Coburn played the lead in the action film ''[[Sky Riders]]'' (1976), then played Charlton Heston's antagonist in ''[[The Last Hard Men (film)|The Last Hard Men]]'' (1976). He narrated the official documentary film of the [[1976 Winter Olympics|1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympics]], ''[[White Rock (film)|White Rock]]''. He was one of the many stars in ''[[Midway (1976 film)|Midway]]'' (1976), then had the star role in Sam Peckinpah's ''[[Cross of Iron]]'' (1977) playing a German soldier. He finished directing the film because of Peckinpah's constant drunkenness. This critically acclaimed war epic performed poorly in the United States, but was a huge hit in Europe. Peckinpah and Coburn remained close friends until Peckinpah's death in 1984.

Coburn returned to television in 1978 to star in a [[The Dain Curse (miniseries)|three-part miniseries version]] of a [[Dashiell Hammett]] detective novel, ''[[The Dain Curse]]'', tailoring his character to bear a physical resemblance to the author. During the previous year as a spokesman for the [[Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company]], he was paid $500,000 to promote its new product in television advertisements by saying only two words: "Schlitz Light."<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1977/05/27/archives/advertising-a-tough-gay-to-sell-light-beer.html Dougherty, Philip H. "Advertising: A Tough Guy to Sell Light Beer," ''The New York Times'', Friday, May 27, 1977.] Retrieved February 15, 2025.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trivia-library.com/b/what-it-costs-by-barry-tarshis.htm|title=Trivia on What It Costs by Barry Tarshis - Trivia Library|access-date=October 31, 2013|archive-date=November 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102194529/http://www.trivia-library.com/b/what-it-costs-by-barry-tarshis.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In Japan, his masculine appearance was so appealing, he became an icon for its leading cigarette brand. He also supported himself in later years by exporting rare automobiles to Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/nov/20/guardianobituaries.filmnews|title=Obituary: James Coburn|first=Veronica|last=Horwell|date=November 20, 2002|work=The Guardian|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-date=May 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526202605/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/nov/20/guardianobituaries.filmnews|url-status=live}}</ref> He was deeply interested in Zen and Tibetan Buddhism, and collected sacred Buddhist artwork.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/james-coburn-the-ultimate-sixties-tough-guy | title=Get to know James Coburn, the ultimate Sixties tough guy | first=Sean | last=Macaulay | date=September 3, 2015 | website=British GQ | access-date=July 3, 2019 | archive-date=November 28, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128172414/http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/james-coburn-the-ultimate-sixties-tough-guy | url-status=live }}</ref> He narrated a film about the [[Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, 16th Karmapa|16th Karmapa]] called ''The Lion's Roar''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Lions-Roar-Narrator-James-Coburn/dp/B000HOMSS6|title=The Lion's Roar|website=Amazon|date=September 19, 2006|access-date=September 1, 2017|archive-date=May 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526202606/https://www.amazon.com/Lions-Roar-Narrator-James-Coburn/dp/B000HOMSS6|url-status=live}}</ref>

Coburn starred in ''[[Firepower (1979 film)|Firepower]]'' (1979) with [[Sophia Loren]], replacing Charles Bronson when the latter pulled out. He had a cameo in ''[[The Muppet Movie]]'' (1979) and had leading roles in ''[[Goldengirl]]'' (1980) and ''[[The Baltimore Bullet]]'' (1980). He was Shirley MacLaine's husband in ''[[Loving Couples (1980 film)|Loving Couples]]'' (1980) and had the lead in a Canadian film, ''[[Crossover (1980 film)|Crossover]]'' (1980).

===Later years===
In 1981, Coburn moved almost entirely into supporting roles, such as those of the villains in both ''[[High Risk (1981 film)|High Risk]]'' (1981) and ''[[Looker]]'' (1981). He hosted a TV series of the horror-anthology type, ''[[Darkroom (TV series)|Darkroom]],'' in 1981 and 1982. According to [[Mr. T]], Coburn was slated to play the Hannibal character on the hit television series ''[[The A-Team]]'', but NBC changed their mind and went with [[George Peppard]]. He supported [[Walter Mondale]]'s campaign in the [[1984 United States presidential election|1984 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/11/04/Mixing-politics-with-show-business-makes-for-star-wars-in-Hollywood/5322468392400/ | title=Mixing politics with show business makes for star wars in Hollywood | first=Iris | last=Krasnow | date=November 4, 1984 | website=UPI | access-date=February 15, 2021 | archive-date=February 4, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204090527/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/11/04/Mixing-politics-with-show-business-makes-for-star-wars-in-Hollywood/5322468392400/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Coburn also portrayed Dwight Owen Barnes in the PC video game ''[[C.E.O. (video game)|C.E.O.]],'' developed by [[Artdink]] as a spin-off of its [[A-Train]] series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/ceo|title=C.E.O. for DOS (1995)|website=MobyGames|access-date=January 16, 2019|archive-date=January 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117070045/https://www.mobygames.com/game/ceo|url-status=live}}</ref>

Because of his severe [[rheumatoid arthritis]], Coburn appeared in very few films during the 1980s, despite continuing to work during his final years. This disease had left Coburn's body deformed and in pain. He told [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] in a 1999 interview: "You start to turn to stone. See, my hand is twisted now because tendons have shortened." For 20 years, Coburn tried a host of both conventional and unconventional treatments, but none of them worked. "There was so much pain that...every time I stood up, I would break into a sweat," he recalled. Then, in 1996, Coburn tried [[methylsulfonylmethane]] (MSM), a sulfur compound available at most health food stores. The result, he said, was nothing short of miraculous. "You take this stuff and it starts right away," said Coburn. "Everyone I've given it to has had a positive response." Though the MSM did not cure Coburn's arthritis, it did relieve his pain, allowing him to move more freely and resume his career.<ref>{{cite web | title=Holistic Treatment Relieved Coburn's Pain | first=John | last=McKenzie | date=November 19, 2002 | url=https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=130005&page=1 | publisher=ABC News | access-date=February 15, 2021 | archive-date=January 25, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125145750/https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=130005&page=1 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Coburn beats back tough disease | first=Ann | last=Oldenburg | work=USA Today | date=December 29, 1998 | page=02.D}}</ref>

Coburn was in a four-year relationship with British singer-songwriter [[Lynsey de Paul]] from the late 1970s. They co-wrote her songs "Losin' the Blues for You" and "Melancholy Melon" that appeared on her album ''[[Tigers and Fireflies]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11137014/Lynsey-de-Paul-obituary.html | title=Lynsey de Paul - obituary | date=October 2, 2014 | work=The Telegraph | access-date=July 21, 2019 | archive-date=July 21, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721085831/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11137014/Lynsey-de-Paul-obituary.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Coburn resumed his film career in the 1990s, where he appeared in supporting roles in ''[[Young Guns II]]'', ''[[Hudson Hawk]]'', ''[[Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit]]'', ''[[Maverick (film)|Maverick]]'', ''[[Eraser (film)|Eraser]]'', ''[[The Nutty Professor (1996 film)|The Nutty Professor]]'', ''[[Affliction (1997 film)|Affliction]]'', and ''[[Payback (1999 film)|Payback]]''. His performance as Glen Whitehouse in ''Affliction'' earned him an [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]].<ref>{{cite news | title=James Coburn, 74; Actor Won an Oscar Late in His Career | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-nov-19-me-coburn19-story.html | first=Louis | last=Sahagun | date=November 19, 2002 | access-date=November 3, 2020 | work=Los Angeles Times | language=en-US | archive-date=January 22, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122001255/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-nov-19-me-coburn19-story.html | url-status=live }}</ref> One of his final roles was in the [[Pixar]] animated film ''[[Monsters, Inc.]]'' as the voice of Henry J. Waternoose III.

==Cars==
[[File:Bob Bondurant James Coburn 1972.JPG|thumb|[[Bob Bondurant]] teaching Coburn in 1972]]
Coburn's interest in fast cars began with his father's garage business and continued throughout his life, as he exported rare cars to Japan.<ref name="obituary">{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/nov/20/guardianobituaries.filmnews | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Veronica | last=Horwell | title=James Coburn | date=November 20, 2002 | access-date=December 14, 2016 | archive-date=April 6, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406202149/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/nov/20/guardianobituaries.filmnews | url-status=live }}</ref> Coburn was credited with having introduced Steve McQueen to [[Ferrari]]s, and in the early 1960s, owned a [[Ferrari 250 GT Lusso]] and a [[Ferrari 250#250 GT Spider California SWB|Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California SWB]]. His Spyder was the 13th of just 56x built. Coburn imported the used car in 1964, shortly after completing ''The Great Escape.''<ref>{{cite news | url=https://money.cnn.com/2008/05/19/autos/record_ferrari_sale/index.htm?section=money_latest | work=CNN | first=Peter | last=Valdes-Dapena | title=$11&nbsp;million: Ferrari nets record price | date=May 19, 2008 | access-date=August 3, 2020 | archive-date=October 29, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029173602/https://money.cnn.com/2008/05/19/autos/record_ferrari_sale/index.htm?section=money_latest | url-status=live }}</ref>

Cal Spyder #2377 was repainted several times during Coburn's ownership; it has been black, silver, and possibly red. He kept the car at his [[Beverly Hills, California|Beverly Hills]]-area home, where it was often serviced by [[Max Balchowsky]], who also worked on the suspension and frame modifications on the [[Ford Mustang|Mustang GTs]] used in the filming of McQueen's ''[[Bullitt]]''. Coburn sold the Spyder in 1987 after 24 years of ownership. The car was restored, had several owners, and was sold in 2008 for $10,894,400 to English broadcaster [[Chris Evans (presenter)|Chris Evans]]. At that time, it set a [[Most expensive cars sold in auction|new world record for the highest price ever paid for an automobile at auction]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/classic/112_0901_1961_ferrari_250_gt_spyder_california/test_drive.html|title=1961 Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California drive - Behind the wheel of the 11&nbsp;million dollar Ferrari formerly owned by James Coburn|page=3|date=January 1, 2009|work=Motor Trend magazine|access-date=September 26, 2010|archive-date=August 24, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824184320/http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/classic/112_0901_1961_ferrari_250_gt_spyder_california/test_drive.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Over time, he also owned a [[Ferrari Daytona]], at least one [[Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS|Ferrari 308]], and a [[Ferrari 412P|1967 Ferrari 412P]] sports racer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/classic/112_0901_1961_ferrari_250_gt_spyder_california/viewall.html|title=1961 Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California drive - Behind the wheel of the 11&nbsp;million dollar Ferrari formerly owned by James Coburn|date=January 1, 2009|work=Motor Trend magazine|access-date=July 27, 2011|archive-date=January 31, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131084636/http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/classic/112_0901_1961_ferrari_250_gt_spyder_california/viewall.html|url-status=live}}</ref> From 1998 until his death, Coburn did the voiceovers for [[Chevrolet]]'s [[Like a Rock (song)#In media|Like a Rock]] commercials.

==Personal life==
[[File:James Coburn grave at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Brentwood, California.JPG|thumb|Coburn's grave marker at [[Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary]] in [[Westwood, Los Angeles]].]]
Coburn was married twice. His first marriage was to Beverly Kelly, in 1959; they had two children together.<ref name="nytimes2002">{{cite news |author=Robert F. Worth |url=https://nytimes.com/2002/11/19/us/james-coburn-74-is-dead-a-sly-presence-in-80-films.html |title=James Coburn, 74, Is Dead; A Sly Presence in 80 Films - NYTimes.com |newspaper=nytimes.com |date=November 19, 2002 |access-date=January 28, 2017 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202070330/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/19/us/james-coburn-74-is-dead-a-sly-presence-in-80-films.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The couple divorced in 1979 after 20 years of marriage.<ref name = nytimes2002/>

He later married actress Paula Murad on October 22, 1993, in Versailles, France; they remained married until Coburn's death in 2002.<ref name="nytimes2002" /> The couple set up a charitable organization, the James and Paula Coburn Foundation.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 3, 2020|title=The James and Paula Coburn Foundation 123 G Street San Diego, CA 92101|url=https://jamesandpaulacoburnfoundation.org|url-status=live|archive-date=May 19, 2021|access-date=November 3, 2020|website=The James and Paula Coburn Foundation 123 G Street San Diego, CA 92101|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519195418/https://jamesandpaulacoburnfoundation.org/}}</ref>

In spite of his severe rheumatoid arthritis, Coburn was a [[martial arts]] student and a friend of fellow actor [[Bruce Lee]]. Upon Lee's early death, Coburn was one of his pallbearers at the funeral on July 25, 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=3999|title=Lee, Bruce (1940–1973), Martial Arts Master and Film Maker|website=www.historylink.org|access-date=November 3, 2019|archive-date=August 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825221754/http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=3999|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Death==
Coburn died from a [[heart attack]] at his home in Beverly Hills on November 18, 2002, at the age of 74. His wife, Paula, said that he died in her arms when they were listening to music together. He was rushed to [[Cedars-Sinai Medical Center]] where he was pronounced dead.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://badgerherald.com/artsetc/2002/11/20/oscarwinning-actor-j/ | title=Oscar-winning actor James Coburn dead at 74 }}</ref><ref name="nytimes2002"/><ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/archives/la-me-james-coburn-20021119-story.html|title = From the Archives: James Coburn, 74; Actor Won an Oscar Late in His Career|work = [[Los Angeles Times]]|date = November 19, 2002|last = Sagahún|first = Louis|accessdate = January 20, 2022|archive-date = January 21, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220121031129/https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/archives/la-me-james-coburn-20021119-story.html|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Borger |first=Julian |date=2002-11-20 |title=James Coburn, Hollywood tough guy, dies at 74 |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/nov/20/filmnews.film |access-date=2023-12-05 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Paula Coburn died from [[cancer]] less than two years later, on July 30, 2004, at the age of 48.<ref>{{cite news|title=Paula Coburn|date=August 7, 2004|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-aug-07-me-passings7.2-story.html|access-date=February 20, 2016|archive-date=April 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429112636/http://articles.latimes.com/2004/aug/07/local/me-passings7.2|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Critical analysis==
In ''[[The New Biographical Dictionary of Film]]'', critic [[David Thomson (film critic)|David Thomson]] states that "Coburn is a modern rarity: an actor who projects lazy, humorous [[Human male sexuality|sexuality]]. He has made a variety of flawed, pleasurable films, the merits of which invariably depend on his laconic presence. Increasingly, he was the best thing in his movies, smiling privately, seeming to suggest that he was in contact with some profound source of amusement".<ref>Thomson, David. "The New Biographical Dictionary Of Film". Knopf 2004</ref> Film critic [[Pauline Kael]] remarked on Coburn's unusual characteristics, stating that "he looked like the child of the liaison between Lt. Pinkerton and [[Madama Butterfly|Madame Butterfly]]".<ref>Rule, Vera. "James Coburn". ''The Guardian'', Friday 3/6/99</ref> George Hickenlooper, who directed Coburn in ''[[The Man from Elysian Fields]]'' called him "the masculine male".<ref>"Tough Guise". ''People Magazine''. August 3, 2001</ref> [[Andy García]] called him "the personification of class, the hippest of the hip", and [[Paul Schrader]] noted "he was of that 50s generation. He had that part hipster, part cool-cat aura about him. He was one of those kind of men who were formed by the [[Rat Pack]] kind of style."<ref>Breznican, Anthony. "Actor James Coburn dead of heart attack at age 74". ''Today's News-Herald''. July 23, 2001</ref>

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1959 || ''[[Ride Lonesome]]'' || Whit ||
|-
| ''[[Face of a Fugitive]]'' || Purdy ||
|-
| 1960 || ''[[The Magnificent Seven]]'' || Britt ||
|-
| 1962 || ''[[Hell Is for Heroes (film)|Hell Is for Heroes]]'' || Corporal Frank Henshaw ||
|-
|rowspan="4"| 1963 || ''[[The Great Escape (film)|The Great Escape]]'' || [[Flying Officer]] Louis Sedgwick, "The Manufacturer"||
|-
| ''[[Charade (1963 film)|Charade]]'' || Tex Panthollow ||
|-
| ''[[Kings of the Sun]]'' || Narrator || Uncredited
|-
| ''The Man from Galveston'' || Boyd Palmer || [[Television pilot]] of ''[[Temple Houston (TV series)|Temple Houston]]''
|-
| 1964 || ''[[The Americanization of Emily]]'' || Lieutenant Commander Paul "Bus" Cummings ||
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1965 || ''[[Major Dundee]]'' || Samuel Potts ||
|-
| ''[[A High Wind in Jamaica (film)|A High Wind in Jamaica]]'' || Zac ||
|-
| ''[[The Loved One (film)|The Loved One]]'' || Immigration Officer ||
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1966 || ''[[Our Man Flint]]'' || Derek Flint ||
|-
| ''[[What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?]]'' || Lieutenant Christian ||
|-
| ''[[Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round]]'' || Eli Kotch ||
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1967 || ''[[In Like Flint]]'' || Derek Flint ||
|-
| ''[[Waterhole No. 3]]'' || Lewton Cole ||
|-
| ''[[The President's Analyst]]'' || Dr. Sidney Schaefer || Also producer
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1968 || ''[[Duffy (film)|Duffy]]'' || Duffy ||
|-
| ''[[Candy (1968 film)|Candy]]'' || Dr. A.B. Krankheit ||
|-
| 1969 || ''[[Hard Contract]]'' || John Cunningham ||
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Last of the Mobile Hot Shots]]'' || Jeb Thornton ||
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Duck, You Sucker!]]'' || John H. Mallory || Renamed ''A Fistful of Dynamite'' for U.S. release
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1972 || ''[[The Carey Treatment]]'' || Dr. Peter Carey ||
|-
| ''[[The Honkers]]'' || Lew Lathrop ||
|-
| ''[[A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die]]'' || Colonel Pembroke || Renamed ''Massacre at Fort Holman'' for U.S. release
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1973 || ''[[Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid]]'' || [[Pat Garrett]] ||
|-
| ''[[The Last of Sheila]]'' || Clinton Green ||
|-
| ''[[Harry in Your Pocket]]'' || Harry ||
|-
| 1974 || ''[[The Internecine Project]]'' || Robert Elliot ||
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1975 || ''[[Bite the Bullet (film)|Bite the Bullet]]'' || Luke Matthews ||
|-
| ''[[Hard Times (1975 film)|Hard Times]]'' || Speed ||
|-
| ''[[Jackpot (unfinished film)|Jackpot]]'' || ||Unfinished film
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1976 || ''[[Sky Riders]]'' || Jim McCabe ||
|-
| ''[[The Last Hard Men (film)|The Last Hard Men]]'' || Zach Provo ||
|-
| ''[[Midway (1976 film)|Midway]]'' || Captain Vinton Maddox ||
|-
|rowspan="2" |1977 || ''[[White Rock (film)|White Rock]]'' || Narrator ||
|-
| ''[[Cross of Iron]]'' || Sergeant Rolf Steiner ||
|-
| 1978 || ''[[California Suite (film)|California Suite]]'' || Pilot in Diana Barrie's Film on Airplane || Uncredited
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1979 || ''[[Firepower (1979 film)|Firepower]]'' || Fanon ||
|-
| ''[[The Muppet Movie]]'' || El Sleezo Cafe Owner || Cameo
|-
| ''[[Goldengirl]]'' || Jack Dryden ||
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1980 || ''[[The Baltimore Bullet]]'' || Nick Casey ||
|-
| ''[[Loving Couples (1980 film)|Loving Couples]]'' || Dr. Walter Kirby ||
|-
| ''[[Crossover (1980 film)|Mr. Patman]]'' || Patman ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1981 || ''[[High Risk (1981 film)|High Risk]]'' || Serrano ||
|-
| ''[[Looker]]'' || John Reston ||
|-1984 || ''[[Draw]]'' ||Sam Starret||

| 1985 || ''[[Martin's Day]]'' || Lieutenant Lardner ||
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Death of a Soldier]]'' || Major Patrick Dannenberg ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1989 || ''Train to Heaven'' || Gregorius ||
|-
| ''Call from Space'' || || Short
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Young Guns II]]'' || John Simpson Chisum ||
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Hudson Hawk]]'' || George Kaplan ||
|-
|rowspan="3" | 1993 || ''The Hit List'' || Peter Mayhew ||
|-
| ''[[Deadfall (1993 film)|Deadfall]]'' || Mike / Lou Donan ||
|-
| ''[[Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit]]'' || Mr. Crisp ||
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Maverick (film)|Maverick]]'' || Commodore Duvall ||
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1995 || ''[[The Set-Up (1995 film)|The Set-Up]]'' || Jeremiah Cole ||
|-
| ''[[The Avenging Angel]]'' || Porter Rockwell || Television film
|-
| ''Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder'' || Jeffery Winslow || Television film
|-
| ''Christmas Reunion'' || Santa || Television film
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1996 || ''[[The Disappearance of Kevin Johnson]]'' || Himself ||
|-
| ''[[Eraser (film)|Eraser]]'' || WitSec Chief Arthur Beller ||
|-
| ''[[The Nutty Professor (1996 film)|The Nutty Professor]]'' || Harlan Hartley ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1997 || ''[[Keys to Tulsa]]'' || Harmon Shaw ||
|-
| ''[[Affliction (1997 film)|Affliction]]'' || Glen Whitehouse || [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]]<br />Nominated—[[Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male]]<br />Nominated—[[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role]]
|-
| 1999 || ''[[Payback (1999 film)|Payback]]'' || Justin Fairfax ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2000 || ''[[Intrepid (film)|Intrepid]]'' || Captain Hal Josephson ||
|-
| ''The Good Doctor'' || Dr. Samuel Roberts || Short
|-
|rowspan="5"| 2001 || ''[[Texas Rangers (film)|Texas Rangers]]'' || Narrator ||
|-
| ''[[Proximity (2000 film)|Proximity]]'' || Jim Corcoran ||
|-
| ''The Yellow Bird'' || Reverend Increase Tutwiler || Short
|-
| ''[[The Man from Elysian Fields]]'' || Alcott ||
|-
| ''[[Monsters, Inc.]]'' || Henry J. Waternoose III || Voice
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2002 || ''[[Snow Dogs]]'' || James "Thunder Jack" Johnson ||
|-
| ''[[American Gun (2002 film)|American Gun]]'' || Martin Tillman ||Final film role
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 1953 || ''[[Four Star Playhouse]]'' || Sailor || Episode: "The Last Voyage"
|-
| 1957 || ''[[Studio One (CBS series)|Studio One in Hollywood]]'' || Sam || Episode: "The Night America Trembled"
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1958 || ''[[Suspicion (American TV series)|Suspicion]]'' || Carson || Episode: "The Voice in the Night"
|-
| ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'' || Andrews || Season 4 Episode 3: "The Jokester"
|-
| ''[[General Electric Theater]]'' || Claude Firman || Episode: "Ah There, Beau Brummel"
|-
| ''[[Wagon Train]]'' || Ike Daggett || "The Millie Davis Story"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1958–1959 || ''[[The Restless Gun]]'' || Vestry / Tom Quinn || 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Walt Disney anthology television series|Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color]]'' || Jack, Outlaw Leader / Mexican Police Captain || Uncredited<br />3 episodes
|-
| 1958–1961 || ''[[The Rifleman]]'' || Ambrose / Cy Parker || 2 episodes
|-
| 1958–1962 || ''[[Tales of Wells Fargo]]'' || Ben Crider / Idaho || 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan="16"| 1959 || ''[[Trackdown (TV series)|Trackdown]]'' || Joker Wells || Episode: "Hard Lines"
|-
| ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'' || Union Sergeant || Season 5 Episode 13: "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"
|-
| ''[[State Trooper (TV series)|State Trooper]]''|| Dobie || Episode: "Hard Money, Soft Touch"
|-
| ''[[Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre]]''|| Jess || Episode: "A Thread of Respect"
|-
| ''[[Black Saddle]]'' || Niles || Episode: "Client: Steele"
|-
| ''[[M Squad]]'' || Harry Blacker || Episode: "The Fire Makers"
|-
| ''[[The Rough Riders (TV series)|The Rough Riders]]'' || Judson || Episode: "Deadfall"
|-
| ''[[The Californians (TV series)|The Californians]]'' || Deputy Anthony Wayne || 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Johnny Ringo (TV series)|Johnny Ringo]]'' || Moss Taylor || Episode: "The Arrival"
|-
| ''[[Whirlybirds]]'' || Steve Alexander || Episode: "Mr. Jinx"
|-
| ''[[Tombstone Territory]]'' || Chuck Ashley || Episode: "The Gunfighter"
|-
| ''[[The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp]]'' || Buckskin Frank Leslie || Episode: "The Noble Outlaws"
|-
| ''[[The DuPont Show with June Allyson]]'' || Floyd || Episode: "The Girl"
|-
| ''[[The Millionaire (TV series)|The Millionaire]]'' || Lew Bennett || Episode: "Millionaire Timothy Mackail"
|-
| ''[[Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV series)|Dead or Alive]]'' || Henry Turner || Episode: "Reunion for Revenge"
|-
| ''[[Bat Masterson (TV series)|Bat Masterson]]'' || Pole Otis || Episode: "The Black Pearls"
|-
|rowspan="6"| 1959–1960 || ''[[Bronco (TV series)|Bronco]]'' || Jesse James / Adam Coverly || 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Wichita Town]]'' || Wally / Fletcher || 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Bat Masterson (TV series)|Bat Masterson]]'' || Leo Talley || Episode: "Six Feet of Gold"
|-
| ''[[Have Gun – Will Travel]]'' || Bill Sledge / Jack || 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV series)|Wanted: Dead or Alive]]'' || Howard Catlett / Jesse Holloway / Henry Turner || 3 episodes
|-
| ''[[Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre]]'' || Doyle / Jess Newton || 2 episodes
|-
| 1959–1961 || ''[[Laramie (TV series)|Laramie]]'' || Finch / Gil Spanner || 2 episodes
|-
| 1959–1966 || ''[[Bonanza]]'' || Pete Jessup / Ross Marquette / Elmer Trace / Heckler || 4 episodes
|-
| rowspan="10"| 1960 || ''[[The Texan (TV series)|The Texan]]'' || Cal Gruder || Episode: "Friend of the Family"
|-
| ''[[Sugarfoot]]'' || Rome Morgan || "Blackwater Swamp"
|-
| ''[[Men into Space]]'' || Dr. Narry || Episode: "Contraband"
|-
| ''[[Bourbon Street Beat]]'' || Buzz Griffin || "Target of Hate"
|-
| ''[[Peter Gunn]]'' || Bud Bailey || Episode: "The Murder Clause"
|-
| ''[[The Deputy (TV series)|The Deputy]]'' || Coffer || Episode: "The Truly Yours"
|-
| ''[[Tate (TV series)|Tate]]'' || Jory || Episode: "Home Town"
|-
| ''[[Richard Diamond, Private Detective]]'' || || Episode: "Coat of Arms"
|-
| ''[[Death Valley Days]]'' || || "Pamela's Oxen"
|-
| ''[[Lawman (TV series)|Lawman]]'' || Lank Bailey / Blake Carr || 2 episodes
|-
| 1960–1961 || ''[[Klondike (TV series)|Klondike]]'' || Jeff Durain / Jefferson Durain || 10 episodes
|-
| rowspan="7"| 1961 || ''[[Cheyenne (TV series)|Cheyenne]]'' || Kell || Episode: "Trouble Street"
|-
| ''[[The Untouchables (1959 TV series)|The Untouchables]]'' || Dennis Garrity || Episode: "The Jamaica Ginger Story"
|-
| ''[[The Tall Man (TV series)|The Tall Man]]'' || John Miller || Episode: "The Best Policy"
|-
| ''[[Stagecoach West (TV series)|Stagecoach West]]'' || Sam Murdock || Episode: "Come Home Again"
|-
| ''[[The Detectives (1959 TV series)|The Detectives]]'' || Duke Hawkins || Episode: "The Frightened Ones"
|-
| ''[[The Murder Men (film)|The Murder Men]]'' || Arthur Troy || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Aquanauts]]'' || Joe Casey || Episode: "River Gold"
|-
| 1961–1962 || ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'' || General Addison Brand / Donald Fletcher || 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan="5"| 1962 || ''[[Naked City (TV series)|Naked City]]'' || Harry Brind || Episode: "Goodbye Mama, Hello Auntie Maud"
|-
| ''[[The Dick Powell Show]]'' || Charlie Allnut || Episode: "The Safari" ([[television pilot]] for a series based on ''[[The African Queen (film)|The African Queen]]'')
|-
| ''[[Checkmate (American TV series)|Checkmate]]'' || Gresch || Episode: "A Chant of Silence"
|-
| ''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]'' || Colonel Briscoe || Episode: "Hostage Child"
|-
| ''[[Cain's Hundred]]'' || Arthur Troy || Episode: "Blues for a Junkman: Arthur Troy"
|-
|rowspan="5"| 1963 || ''[[Stoney Burke (TV series)|Stoney Burke]]'' || Jamison || Episode: "The Test"
|-
| ''[[Combat!]]'' || Corporal Arnold Kanger || Episode: "Masquerade"
|-
| ''[[The Greatest Show on Earth (TV series)|The Greatest Show on Earth]]'' || Kelly || Episode: "Uncaged"
|-
| ''[[The Eleventh Hour (1962 TV series)|The Eleventh Hour]]'' || Steve Kowlowski || Episode: "Oh, You Shouldn't Have Done It"
|-
| ''[[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]'' || Major French || Episode: "The Old Man in the Cave"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1964 || ''[[Route 66 (TV series)|Route 66]]'' || Hamar Neilsen || Episode: "Kiss the Monster - Make Him Sleep"
|-
| ''[[The Defenders (1961 TV series)|The Defenders]]'' || Earl Chafee || Episode: "The Man Who Saved His Country"
|-
| 1977 ||''[[The Rockford Files]]'' || Director || Episode: "Irving the Explainer"
|-
| 1978 || ''[[The Dain Curse (miniseries)|The Dain Curse]]'' || Hamilton Nash || Mini-series
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1980 || ''[[The Muppet Show]]'' || Himself || Guest appearance
|-
| ''Superstunt'' || || Television film
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1981 || ''[[Darkroom (TV series)|Darkroom]]'' || Host || Series
|-
| ''[[The Fall Guy]]'' || Himself || Episode: "Pilot"
|-
| ''[[Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls|Valley of the Dolls]]'' || Henry Bellamy || Mini-series
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' || Himself || Episode: "James Coburn/[[Lindsey Buckingham]]"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1983 || ''Digital Dreams'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[Malibu (film)|Malibu]]'' || Tom Wharton || Television film
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1984 || ''[[Faerie Tale Theatre]]'' || The Gypsy || Episode: "Pinocchio"
|-
| ''[[Draw!]]'' || Sam Starret || Television film
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Sins of the Father (1985 film)|Sins of the Father]]'' || Frank Murchison || Television film
|-
| 1986 || ''The Wildest West Show of the Stars'' || Grand Marshall || Television film
|-
| 1990–1992 || ''[[Captain Planet and the Planeteers]]'' || Looten Plunder (voice) || 15 episodes
|-
| rowspan="6"| 1992 || ''[[The Fifth Corner]]'' || Dr. Grandwell || 2 episodes
|-
| ''Silverfox'' || Robert Fox || Television film
|-
| ''True Facts'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[Crash Landing: The Rescue of Flight 232]]'' || Jim Hathaway || Television film
|-
| ''[[Mastergate]]'' || Major Manley Battle || Television film
|-
| ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'' || Cyrus Ramsey || Episode: "Day of the Dead"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1994 || ''Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice'' || Jeffrey Winslow || Television film
|-
| ''Greyhounds'' || John || Television film
|-
| 1995 || ''Picket Fences'' || Walter Brock || Episode: "Upbringings"
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1996 || ''[[Football America]]'' || Narrator || Television film
|-
| ''Okavango: Africa's Savage Oasis'' || Narrator || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Cherokee Kid]]'' || Cyrus B. Bloomington || Television film
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1997 || ''[[Profiler (TV series)|Profiler]]'' || Charles Vanderhorn || 2 episodes
|-
| ''Skeletons'' || Frank Jove || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Second Civil War]]'' || Jack Buchan || Television film
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1998 || ''[[Mr. Murder (miniseries)|Mr. Murder]]'' || Drew Oslett, Sr. || Television mini-series
|-
| ''Stories from My Childhood'' || The Archbishop (voice) || Episode: "The Wild Swans"
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1999 || ''[[Vengeance Unlimited]]'' || Boone Paladin (voice) || Uncredited<br />Episode: "Judgment"
|-
| ''[[Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story]]'' || Morris Gunn || Television film
|-
| ''[[Noah's Ark (1999 film)|Noah's Ark]]'' || The Peddler || Television film
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2000 || ''Scene by Scene'' || Himself ||
|-
| ''[[Missing Pieces (2000 film)|Missing Pieces]]'' || Atticus Cody || Television film
|-
| 2001 || | ''Walter and Henry'' || Charlie || Television film
|-
| 2002 || ''[[Arliss (TV series)|Arliss]]'' || Slaughterhouse Sid Perelli || Episode: "The Immortal" (final appearance)
|}

===Video games===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 1995 || ''[[C.E.O. (video game)|C.E.O]]'' || Dwight Owen Barnes || <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0195576/ IMDb]</ref><ref>[https://www.mobygames.com/game/6042/ceo/ MobyGames]</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2| 2001 || ''[[Monsters, Inc. (video game)|Monsters, Inc.]]'' || rowspan=2| Henry J. Waternoose III ||
|-
| ''[[Monsters, Inc. Scream Team]]'' ||
|}

==Biography==
* {{cite book |last1 = Coburn |first1=Robyn L |title=Dervish Dust: The Life and Words of James Coburn |publisher=[[University of Nebraska Press|Potomac Books, Inc.]] |date=April 5, 2022}} {{ISBN|978-1640124059}} (Hardcover), {{ASIN|B08ZJ8YS2D}} (Kindle)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{Tcmdb name}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards for James Coburn
| list  =
{{Academy Award Best Supporting Actor}}
{{The Life Career Award}}
}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|California|Film|Television}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coburn, James}}
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:American people of Scandinavian descent]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:American people of Scotch-Irish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Swedish descent]]
[[Category:Best Supporting Actor Academy Award winners]]
[[Category:Burials at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery]]
[[Category:Los Angeles City College alumni]]
[[Category:Male actors from Nebraska]]
[[Category:Male Spaghetti Western actors]]
[[Category:Male Western (genre) film actors]]
[[Category:People from Cedar County, Nebraska]]
[[Category:Entertainers from Compton, California]]
[[Category:Male actors from Beverly Hills, California]]
[[Category:Stella Adler Studio of Acting alumni]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of the Korean War]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:UCLA Film School alumni]]