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Charles Coburn

Charles Coburn

Actor · 1877 – 1961 · Macon, 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.

Movies24

  • Movie6.7
  • Movie7.3

    Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

    1953 · 1.1K votes

  • Movie6.7

    Monkey Business

    1952 · 304 votes

  • Movie6.2

    The Paradine Case

    1947 · 271 votes

  • Movie6.9

    Heaven Can Wait

    1943 · 252 votes

  • Movie7.3

    The Lady Eve

    1941 · 412 votes

  • Movie7.0

    Vivacious Lady

    1938 · 71 votes

  • Movie7.2

    Bachelor Mother

    1939 · 81 votes

  • Movie7.0

    The More the Merrier

    1943 · 99 votes

  • Movie6.1

    Made for Each Other

    1939 · 57 votes

  • Movie6.1

    Trouble Along the Way

    1953 · 29 votes

  • Movie4.4

    The Story of Mankind

    1957 · 28 votes

  • Movie6.9

    In This Our Life

    1942 · 58 votes

  • Movie7.0

    Has Anybody Seen My Gal?

    1952 · 25 votes

  • Movie7.6

    The Devil and Miss Jones

    1941 · 66 votes

  • Movie7.0

    In Name Only

    1939 · 63 votes

  • Movie6.1

    Impact

    1949 · 67 votes

  • Movie7.7
  • Movie7.1

    H.M. Pulham, Esq.

    1941 · 11 votes

  • Movie6.3

    Lured

    1947 · 95 votes

  • Movie6.3
  • Movie6.8

    Edison, the Man

    1940 · 27 votes

  • Movie6.8

    Our Wife

    1941 · 4 votes

  • Movie6.9

    A Royal Scandal

    1945 · 20 votes

Series11

  • TV7.0

    What's My Line?

    1950 · 29 votes

  • TV5.4

    Studio One

    1948 · 13 votes

  • TV6.8

    The Ed Sullivan Show

    1948 · 23 votes

  • TV6.9

    The Colgate Comedy Hour

    1950 · 13 votes

  • TV7.5

    Studio 57

    1954 · 2 votes

  • TV6.5

    This Is Your Life

    1952 · 13 votes

  • TV6.8

    Startime

    1959 · 4 votes

  • TV6.3

    December Bride

    1954 · 4 votes

  • TV6.7

    Lux Video Theatre

    1950 · 7 votes

  • TV7.8

    The George Gobel Show

    1954 · 4 votes

  • TV8.0