Charles Coburn

Known for ActingBorn 1877-06-18Died 1961-08-30Macon, Georgia, USA

Charles Douville Coburn (June 19, 1877 – August 30, 1961) was an American film and theatre actor. Best known for his work in comedies, Coburn received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for 1943's The More the Merrier. Coburn was born in Macon, Georgia, the son of Scotch-Irish Americans Emma Louise Sprigman (May 11, 1838 Springfield, Ohio – November 12, 1896 Savannah, Georgia) and Moses Douville Coburn (April 27, 1834 Savannah, Georgia – December 27, 1902 Savannah, Georgia). Growing up in Savannah, he started out at age 14 doing odd jobs at the local Savannah Theater, handing out programs, ushering, or being the doorman. By age 17 or 18, he was the theater manager. He later became an actor, making his debut on Broadway in 1901. Coburn formed an acting company with actress Ivah Wills in 1905. They married in 1906. In addition to managing the company, the couple performed frequently on Broadway. After his wife's death in 1937, Coburn relocated to Los Angeles, California and began film work. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a retired millionaire playing Cupid in The More the Merrier in 1943. He was also nominated for The Devil and Miss Jones in 1941 and The Green Years in 1946. Other notable film credits include Of Human Hearts (1938), The Lady Eve (1941), Kings Row (1942), The Constant Nymph (1943), Heaven Can Wait (1943), Wilson (1944), Impact (1949), The Paradine Case (1947), Everybody Does It (1950), Has Anybody Seen My Gal? (1952), Monkey Business (1952), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), and John Paul Jones (1959). He usually played comedic parts, but Kings Row and Wilson were dramatic parts, showing his versatility. For his contributions to motion pictures, in 1960, Coburn was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6268 Hollywood Boulevard.Read more

Movies & web series

The Highwayman

Everybody Does It

Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line

The Rosemary Clooney Show

Studio 57

My Kingdom for a Cook

The George Gobel Show

It's Showtime

The Devil and Miss Jones

The Captain is a Lady

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Kings Row

The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker

The Lady Eve

Lord Jeff

Bachelor Mother

How to Murder a Rich Uncle

What's My Line?

Has Anybody Seen My Gal?

H.M. Pulham, Esq.

The More the Merrier

A Royal Scandal

In Name Only

The Colgate Comedy Hour

Vivacious Lady

The People's Enemy

Startime

The Ed Sullivan Show

Unexpected Uncle

Heaven Can Wait

In This Our Life

Green Grass of Wyoming

Around the World in 80 Days

Monkey Business

Edison, the Man

Lux Video Theatre

Our Wife

The Impatient Years

Over 21

Town on Trial

Rhapsody in Blue

Louisa

This Is Your Life

Mr. Music

The Rocket Man

Princess O'Rourke

Pepe

George Washington Slept Here