Movies
TV Shows
People

Charles Coburn

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
82

Gender
Male

Birthday
June 18, 1877 (149 years old)

Place of Birth
Macon, Georgia, USA

Charles Coburn

Biography

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.

Known For

Acting

1997Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Lineas Self (archive footage)
1976It's Showtimeas Self (archive footage)
1960Pepeas Charles Coburn
1959Startimeas Colonel Sykes
1959John Paul Jonesas Benjamin Franklin
1959A Stranger in My Armsas Vance Beasley
1959The Remarkable Mr. Pennypackeras Grampa Pennypacker
1957The Story of Mankindas Hippocrates
1957How to Murder a Rich Uncleas Uncle George Clitterbern
1957Town on Trialas Dr. John Fenner
1956Around the World in 80 Daysas Steamship Company Clerk
1956The Power and the Prizeas Guy Eliot
1956The Rosemary Clooney Showas Self
1955How to Be Very, Very Popularas Dr. Tweed
1954December Brideas
1954The George Gobel Showas Self
1954Studio 57as
1954The Long Waitas Gardiner
1954The Rocket Manas Mayor Ed Johnson
1953Gentlemen Prefer Blondesas Sir Francis 'Piggy' Beekman
1953Trouble Along the Wayas le Père Matthew William Burke
1952This Is Your Lifeas Self
1952Monkey Businessas Oliver Oxley
1952Has Anybody Seen My Gal?as Samuel Fulton / John Smith
1951The Highwaymanas Lord Walters
1950Mr. Musicas Alex Conway
1950Lux Video Theatreas Pa Harrington
1950The Colgate Comedy Houras Self
1950Peggyas Professor Brookfield
1950Louisaas Mr. Burnside
1950What's My Line?as Self
1949Everybody Does Itas Major Blair
1949The Doctor and the Girlas Dr. John Corday
1949Yes Sir, That's My Babyas Jason Hartley
1949The Gal Who Took the Westas General Michael O'Hara
1949Impactas Lieutenant Quincy
1948Studio Oneas Louis Hurst
1948The Ed Sullivan Showas Self
1948Green Grass of Wyomingas Beaver Greenway
1948B.F.'s Daughteras Burton F. 'B.F.' Fulton
1947The Paradine Caseas Sir Simon Flaquer
1947Luredas Harley Temple
1946The Green Yearsas Alexander Gow
1946Colonel Effingham's Raidas Colonel Will Seaborn Effingham
1945Shady Ladyas Col. John Appleby
1945Over 21as Robert Drexel Gow
1945Rhapsody in Blueas Max Dreyfus
1945A Royal Scandalas Nicolai Iiyitch
1944Together Againas Jonathan Crandall Sr
1944The Impatient Yearsas William Smith
1944Wilsonas Professor Henry Holmes
1944Knickerbocker Holidayas Peter Stuyvesant
1943My Kingdom for a Cookas Rudyard Morley
1943Princess O'Rourkeas Uncle Holman
1943Heaven Can Waitas Hugo Van Cleve
1943The Constant Nymphas Charles Creighton
1943The More the Merrieras Benjamin Dingle
1942Breakdowns of 1942as Self
1942George Washington Slept Hereas Stanley Menninger
1942In This Our Lifeas William Fitzroy
1942Kings Rowas Henry Gordon
1941H.M. Pulham, Esq.as John Pulham
1941Unexpected Uncleas Seton Mansley
1941Our Wifeas Professor Drake
1941The Devil and Miss Jonesas John P. Merrick/Thomas Higgins
1941The Lady Eveas 'Colonel' Harrington
1940Three Faces Westas Dr. Karl Braun
1940The Captain is a Ladyas Captain Abe Peabody
1940Florianas Dr. Johannes Hofer
1940Edison, the Manas General Powell
1940Road to Singaporeas Joshua Mallon IV
1939In Name Onlyas Richard Walker
1939Stanley and Livingstoneas Lord Tyce
1939Bachelor Motheras J. B. Merlin
1939The Story of Alexander Graham Bellas Gardner Hubbard
1939Made for Each Otheras Joseph Doolittle
1939Idiot's Delightas Dr. Hugo Waldersee
1938Lord Jeffas Captain Briggs
1938Yellow Jackas Dr. Finlay
1938Vivacious Ladyas Mr. Morgan
1938Of Human Heartsas Dr. Charles Shingle
1935The People's Enemyas Judge

Production