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Charles Coburn

Acting Born Jun 18, 1877 Macon, Georgia, USA 24 credits

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.

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Known for

The Ed Sullivan Show

as Self

What's My Line?

as Self
Film

Fantastic Mr. Fox

as Self
Film

Undercover Brother

as Pa Harrington
Film

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

as Sir Francis 'Piggy' Beekman
Film

Monkey Business

as Oliver Oxley

Full filmography

  • Studio One (1948) as Louis Hurst
  • The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
  • What's My Line? (1950) as Self
  • The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950) as Self
  • December Bride (1954)
  • This Is Your Life (1952) as Self
  • Studio 57 (1954)
  • Startime (1959) as Colonel Sykes
  • Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Pa Harrington
  • The George Gobel Show (1954) as Self
  • Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) as Sir Francis 'Piggy' Beekman
  • Around the World in 80 Days (1956) as Steamship Company Clerk
  • The Rosemary Clooney Show (1956) as Self
  • The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939) as Gardner Hubbard
  • Heaven Can Wait (1943) as Hugo Van Cleve
  • Monkey Business (1952) as Oliver Oxley
  • The More the Merrier (1943) as Benjamin Dingle
  • The Lady Eve (1941) as 'Colonel' Harrington
  • The Paradine Case (1947) as Sir Simon Flaquer
  • Vivacious Lady (1938) as Mr. Morgan
  • Impact (1949) as Lieutenant Quincy
  • Wilson (1944) as Professor Henry Holmes
  • Kings Row (1942) as Henry Gordon
  • John Paul Jones (1959) as Benjamin Franklin