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Charles Coburn
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 S…
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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.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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1997
Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line
Movie Self (archive footage)
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1976
It's Showtime
Movie Self (archive footage)
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1960
Pepe
Movie Charles Coburn
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1959
Startime
TV show Colonel Sykes
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1959
John Paul Jones
Movie Benjamin Franklin
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1959
A Stranger in My Arms
Movie Vance Beasley
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1959
The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker
Movie Grampa Pennypacker
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1957
The Story of Mankind
Movie Hippocrates
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1957
How to Murder a Rich Uncle
Movie Uncle George Clitterbern
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1957
Town on Trial
Movie Dr. John Fenner
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1956
Around the World in 80 Days
Movie Steamship Company Clerk
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1956
The Power and the Prize
Movie Guy Eliot
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1956
The Rosemary Clooney Show
TV show Self
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1955
How to Be Very, Very Popular
Movie Dr. Tweed
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1954
December Bride
TV show
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1954
The George Gobel Show
TV show Self
More credits
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1954
Studio 57
TV show
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1954
The Long Wait
Movie Gardiner
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1954
The Rocket Man
Movie Mayor Ed Johnson
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1953
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Movie Sir Francis 'Piggy' Beekman
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1953
Trouble Along the Way
Movie le Père Matthew William Burke
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1952
This Is Your Life
TV show Self
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1952
Monkey Business
Movie Oliver Oxley
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1952
Has Anybody Seen My Gal?
Movie Samuel Fulton / John Smith
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1951
The Highwayman
Movie Lord Walters
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1950
Mr. Music
Movie Alex Conway
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1950
Lux Video Theatre
TV show Pa Harrington
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1950
The Colgate Comedy Hour
TV show Self
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1950
Peggy
Movie Professor Brookfield
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1950
Louisa
Movie Mr. Burnside
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1950
What's My Line?
TV show Self
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1949
Everybody Does It
Movie Major Blair
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1949
The Doctor and the Girl
Movie Dr. John Corday
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1949
Yes Sir, That's My Baby
Movie Jason Hartley
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1949
The Gal Who Took the West
Movie General Michael O'Hara
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1949
Impact
Movie Lieutenant Quincy
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1948
Studio One
TV show Louis Hurst
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1948
The Ed Sullivan Show
TV show Self
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1948
Green Grass of Wyoming
Movie Beaver Greenway
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1948
B.F.'s Daughter
Movie Burton F. 'B.F.' Fulton
