Biography of James Coburn

Hats off

August 31, 1928
November 18, 2002
After attending to the films of John Sturges ' "the magnificent seven" and "the great escape", which also launched, it is printed on the hero figure slouching, erratic and sly, of few words but quick to act if necessary, features with which it is likely they will remember forever. Born on August 31, 1928 in Laurel, in the State of Nebraska, after some experiences in University theatres and on television for many years James Coburn will be relegated to mere supporting roles; achieves success with the series of agent Flint, born in the wake of the boom linked to secret agent of Ian Fleming, James Bond, and spy stories. That role, however, seems to limit it to the nice image of the protagonist, even though its qualities as an actor are far more extensive.
Quality that will emerge when Coburn will have the opportunity to compete in roles less obvious, though, and it's inevitable, less popular. The career of James Coburn, a closer look, starts early on the boards of a theatre and ends with the prestigious Oscar statuette in hand, won in 1997 for best supporting actor for "Affliction", by Paul Schrader. Decades of television ("Bonanza" and "Perry Mason"), and dozens of roles from "hard" with the likes of Sergio Leone-memorable his character of Irish revolutionary in "head down" (1972, with Rod Steiger), Sam Peckinpah ("Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid") or the previously mentioned John Sturges. Also much appreciated her performance in a film like "the great escape". There is an anecdote that concerns him: Sergio Leone well before choosing Clint Eastwood, had thought of him for the role of Gunslinger in "a fistful of dollars".
But Coburn's career was already under way and its acting and its cachet quotes were too high for the film's budget. In recent years, Coburn worked in a highly original film, big and ferocious satire on information labeled uses: "the second civil war" and just a few months before his death he attended the film with Andy Garcia, "the ultimate Gigolo-The man from Elysian Fields". At the age of 74 years, the actor has been plucked from cardiac arrest on November 18, 2002 while he was at his home in Beverly Hills. James Coburn leaves his wife Paula, two children, Lisa and James Jr., and two grandchildren. A curiosity: martial arts enthusiast, James Coburn was a pupil of the great Bruce Lee, whose had the honor to carry the coffin at the funeral of 1973.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.