James Coburn Dead At 74; Oscar Winner, Fan Favorite
By Duane Byrge
Wednesday, November 20 2002
Wednesday, November 20 2002
Published on AllBusiness.com
A private funeral service is being planned for Oscar-winning actor James Coburn, the "elegant wolf" who won international fame playing a sinewy knife fighter in "The Magnificent Seven" and delighted audiences with his flip-hip portrayal of superagent Derek Flint in the James Bond-style spoofs "Our Man Flint" and "In Like Flint."
Coburn died Monday of a heart attack while listening to music with his wife at home in Beverly Hills. He was 74.
Throughout a varied career, Coburn appeared in such films as "The Great Escape," "Charade," "The Americanization of Emily," "What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?" "Candy," "The President's Analyst" and "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid."
His performance in 1997's "Affliction" won him an Oscar for best supporting actor.
With his robust, deep voice and squinty smile, Coburn often played wily, dashing characters in nearly 100 films, men with more than a bit of menace in them. Physically, he was once described as an "elegant wolf"; his prowling gait and confident mannerisms meshed well with worldly, sinister characters.
In more recent years, he used the rich depth of his voice to evoke authority, voicing several national TV commercials. He gave the aura of a man on his way to a casino: In a tux and fondling an opulent cigar, the silver-maned player was a figure of prosperity while extolling the virtues of MasterCard.
Coburn was born Aug. 31, 1928, in Laurel, Neb. When he was 5, his family moved to Compton, Calif., where he attended public schools and was active in dramatic clubs. He entered Compton Junior College but enlisted in the service in 1950. Following discharge, Coburn enrolled in Los Angeles City College, where he participated in the dramatic program, winning the school's best supporting actor award for his role in "Country Girl."
A casting director saw the play and got him a part in the La Jolla (Calif.) Playhouse production of "Billy Budd." From there, Coburn ventured to New York, studying at the Stella Adler workshop. He landed a shaving commercial. "I had the most teeth to grin with of the 12 candidates," he once said.
He soon won several stage and TV parts, performing in such live TV shows as "Studio One," "General Electric Theatre" and "Robert Montgomery Presents." He subsequently returned to Hollywood and quickly landed TV and movie roles.
Coburn's first film role was in the Randolph Scott Western "Ride Lonesome" (1959), and his first lead role was in "Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round" (1959). He got his big break when he was signed to portray the knife-happy hombre in John Sturges' "The Magnificent Seven." Sturges recruited him again for "The Great Escape." He continued in big movies, with a
Coburn died Monday of a heart attack while listening to music with his wife at home in Beverly Hills. He was 74.
Throughout a varied career, Coburn appeared in such films as "The Great Escape," "Charade," "The Americanization of Emily," "What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?" "Candy," "The President's Analyst" and "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid."
His performance in 1997's "Affliction" won him an Oscar for best supporting actor.
With his robust, deep voice and squinty smile, Coburn often played wily, dashing characters in nearly 100 films, men with more than a bit of menace in them. Physically, he was once described as an "elegant wolf"; his prowling gait and confident mannerisms meshed well with worldly, sinister characters.
In more recent years, he used the rich depth of his voice to evoke authority, voicing several national TV commercials. He gave the aura of a man on his way to a casino: In a tux and fondling an opulent cigar, the silver-maned player was a figure of prosperity while extolling the virtues of MasterCard.
Coburn was born Aug. 31, 1928, in Laurel, Neb. When he was 5, his family moved to Compton, Calif., where he attended public schools and was active in dramatic clubs. He entered Compton Junior College but enlisted in the service in 1950. Following discharge, Coburn enrolled in Los Angeles City College, where he participated in the dramatic program, winning the school's best supporting actor award for his role in "Country Girl."
A casting director saw the play and got him a part in the La Jolla (Calif.) Playhouse production of "Billy Budd." From there, Coburn ventured to New York, studying at the Stella Adler workshop. He landed a shaving commercial. "I had the most teeth to grin with of the 12 candidates," he once said.
He soon won several stage and TV parts, performing in such live TV shows as "Studio One," "General Electric Theatre" and "Robert Montgomery Presents." He subsequently returned to Hollywood and quickly landed TV and movie roles.
Coburn's first film role was in the Randolph Scott Western "Ride Lonesome" (1959), and his first lead role was in "Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round" (1959). He got his big break when he was signed to portray the knife-happy hombre in John Sturges' "The Magnificent Seven." Sturges recruited him again for "The Great Escape." He continued in big movies, with a
