--- name: "James Coburn" canonical: "https://film.one/person/james-coburn" fi1m_id: "james-coburn" imdb_id: "nm0000336" tmdb_id: 5563 wikidata_id: "Q4227" roles: ["Actor","Director"] born: "31 August 1928" died: "18 November 2002" reviewed_on_fi1m: 8 average_fi1m_score: 77 average_as: "actor" average_over: 7 updated: "2026-10-05T00:14:11.545018+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # James Coburn ## Identity James Coburn - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/james-coburn - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** james-coburn - **IMDb ID:** nm0000336 - **TMDB ID:** 5563 - **Wikidata ID:** Q4227 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Coburn, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4227, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000336/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5563 Actor and director. Born 31 August 1928 in Laurel, Nebraska, USA. Died 18 November 2002. ## Details - **Work:** Actor, Director - **Born:** 31 August 1928, Laurel, Nebraska, USA - **Died:** 18 November 2002 - **Active:** 1959–2001 - **Also known as:** 詹姆士·柯本, جیمز کابرن - **Titles on Fi1m:** 8: 7 acting, 1 directing - **Frequently works with:** [James Garner](https://film.one/person/james-garner.md), [Charles Bronson](https://film.one/person/charles-bronson.md), [John Sturges](https://film.one/person/john-sturges.md), [Steve McQueen](https://film.one/person/steve-mcqueen-13565.md) - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won) - **Average Fi1m score:** 77, as actor, over 7 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 83 (1), 1960s 82 (1), 1970s 82 (2), 1990s 69 (3), 2000s 86 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 69 across 6 titles - **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 6 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 4, Adventure 3, Drama 3, Action 2, Family 2, Mystery 2 - **Screen time:** 13 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,115m across 6 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Coburn, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4227, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000336/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5563 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Ride Lonesome*](https://film.one/film/ride-lonesome.md) (83), [*The Great Escape*](https://film.one/film/the-great-escape.md) (82), [*Maverick*](https://film.one/film/maverick.md) (64) - **Disney+:** [*Monsters, Inc.*](https://film.one/film/monsters-inc.md) (86), [*The Muppet Movie*](https://film.one/film/the-muppet-movie.md) (82) - **The Roku Channel:** [*The Rockford Files*](https://film.one/tv/the-rockford-files.md) (83), [*Eraser*](https://film.one/film/eraser.md) (58) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on James Coburn > James Coburn's dry delivery and wide grin could make tough men good company. We value the economy of his acting, particularly in an ensemble, while wishing more scripts had given him something beyond a job to do. In *The Great Escape* (1963), James Coburn's Sedgwick is the manufacturer, and we understand what he contributes before we know much about the man. Coburn fits an ensemble built around men with useful skills: his economy keeps the work moving without making his part anonymous. We enjoyed the escape preparations because Coburn and the other specialists made the work so easy to follow. He does not need much biography to establish that this man belongs in the team. John Sturges gets considerable value from that directness, but the role also exposes a limit in the material Coburn was often given. James Clavell and W.R. Burnett's screenplay makes the division of labour clear, then sometimes lets occupations stand in for personalities. We know what Sedgwick can do, but have less sense of what he is like when nobody needs anything made. A little more room for Coburn would have been welcome. The appeal was established with the laconic gunman Britt in *The Magnificent Seven* (1960), before *Our Man Flint* (1966) made him a leading man in a spy spoof. The dry humour mattered as much as the toughness: Coburn could be amusing without appearing to work towards a joke. Repeated collaborations with Sturges and Sam Peckinpah sit within a career that moved through westerns, war films and later supporting parts. Typecasting restricted him, and some leading roles after *Our Man Flint* left him underused or miscast. The later work gave a less comfortable use to that toughness. In *Affliction* (1997), his performance as the abusive father Glen Whitehouse brought renewed attention to his dramatic acting. Then came his voice role as Waternoose in *Monsters, Inc.* (2001), a film we recommend for its wit and unforced affection, chiefly carried by John Goodman and Billy Crystal. For Coburn, begin with *The Great Escape*; choose *Monsters, Inc.* for the friendship at its centre. ## Biography James Coburn was an American actor. Born in Laurel, Nebraska, he appeared in nearly 70 films and over 100 television productions across a career spanning five decades. He is known for roles in *The Magnificent Seven* (1960), *The Great Escape* (1963), *Charade* (1963), *Duck, You Sucker* (1971), *Eraser* (1996), *The Nutty Professor* (1996) and *Payback* (1999). Coburn voiced Henry J. Waternoose III in the Pixar film *Monsters, Inc.* (2001). In 1999 he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in *Affliction* (1997). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, monstersinc.fandom.com.* ## On Fi1m (8) ### Performed in (7) — the average rests on these - *Monsters, Inc.* (2001), Fi1m 86, as Waternoose (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/monsters-inc.md) - *Eraser* (1996), Fi1m 58, as Beller — [page](https://film.one/film/eraser.md) - *Maverick* (1994), Fi1m 64, as Commodore Duvall — [page](https://film.one/film/maverick.md) - *The Player* (1992), Fi1m 85, as James Coburn — [page](https://film.one/film/the-player.md) - *The Muppet Movie* (1979), Fi1m 82, as El Sleezo Cafe Owner — [page](https://film.one/film/the-muppet-movie.md) - *The Great Escape* (1963), Fi1m 82, as Sedgwick 'Manufacturer' — [page](https://film.one/film/the-great-escape.md) - *Ride Lonesome* (1959), Fi1m 83, as Whitt — [page](https://film.one/film/ride-lonesome.md) ### Directed (1) - *The Rockford Files* (1974), Fi1m 83, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-rockford-files.md) ## Complete filmography (175) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Passion & Poetry: Sam Peckinpah's War* (2011), In Memory Of - *American Gun* (2002), as Martin Tillman - *The Yellow Bird* (2002), as Rev. Increase Tutwiler - *The Real Virgil Hilts: A Man Called Jones* (2002), as Narrator - *Snow Dogs* (2002), as Thunder Jack - *The Unbeatable Bruce Lee* (2001), Actor - *Texas Rangers* (2001), as Narrator (voice) (uncredited) - *Monsters, Inc.* (2001), as Waternoose (voice) — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/monsters-inc.md) - *The Man from Elysian Fields* (2001), as Alcot - *The Mists of Avalon* (2001), series, Executive Producer - *Walter and Henry* (2001), as Charlie - *Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days* (2001), as Narrator (voice) - *Proximity* (2001), as Jim Corcoran - *Missing Pieces* (2001), as Atticus Cody - *Intrepid* (2000), as Captain Hal Josephson - *Noah's Ark* (1999), series, as The 'Peddler' - *Payback* (1999), as Justin Fairfax - *World's Scariest Ghosts - Caught on Tape* (1999), as Narrator (voice) - *Mr. Murder* (1998), as Drew Oslett, Sr. - *Affliction* (1998), as Glen Whitehouse - *The Second Civil War* (1997), as Jack Buchan - *Keys to Tulsa* (1997), as Harmon Shaw - *Skeletons* (1997), as Frank Jove - *Twentieth Century Fox: The First 50 Years* (1997), as Host - *The Cherokee Kid* (1996), as Cyrus Bloomington - *Football America* (1996), as Narrator - *Profiler* (1996), series, as Charles Vanderhorn - *Ben Johnson: Third Cowboy on the Right* (1996), as Narrator - *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor - *Arli$$* (1996), series, as Sid Perelli - *The Nutty Professor* (1996), as Harlan Hartley - *Eraser* (1996), as Beller — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/eraser.md) - *Okavango: Africa's Wild Oasis* (1996), Actor - *The Set Up* (1995), as Jeremiah Cole - *Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder* (1995), as Jeffery Winslow - *The Avenging Angel* (1995), as Porter Rockwell - *A Christmas Reunion* (1994), as Santa - *Greyhounds* (1994), as John Dolan - *Maverick* (1994), as Commodore Duvall — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/maverick.md) - *Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice* (1994), as Jeffrey Winslow - *Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit* (1993), as Mr. Crisp - *Deadfall* (1993), as Mike Donan / Lou Donan - *The Hit List* (1993), as Peter Mayhew - *Mastergate* (1992), as Major Manley Battle - *Picket Fences* (1992), series, as Walter Brock - *HBO First Look* (1992), series, Actor - *The Player* (1992), as James Coburn — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-player.md) - *The Fifth Corner* (1992), series, as Dr. Grandwell - *Crash Landing: The Rescue of Flight 232* (1992), as Jim Hathaway - *Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time* (1992), as Narrator (voice) - *Silverfox* (1991), as Robert Fox - *Hudson Hawk* (1991), as George Kaplan - *Captain Planet and the Planeteers* (1990), series, as Looten Plunder (voice) - *Young Guns II* (1990), as John Simpson Chisum - *Steve McQueen: Man on the Edge* (1990), as Narrator - *Train to Heaven* (1989), as Gregorius - *Call from Space* (1989), as Studio Boss - *Death of a Soldier* (1986), as Maj. Patrick Dannenberg - *Martin's Day* (1985), as Lt. Lardner - *Sins of the Father* (1985), as Frank Murchison - *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Cyrus Ramsey - *Draw!* (1984), as Sam Starret - *Pinocchio* (1984), as The Gypsy - *Digital Dreams* (1983), as God's Gift to Wyman - *Malibu* (1983), as Tom Wharton - *Faerie Tale Theatre* (1982), series, as The Gypsy - *Darkroom* (1981), series, as Host - *The Fall Guy* (1981), series, as James Coburn - *Looker* (1981), as John Reston - *Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls "1981"* (1981), as Henry Bellamy - *High Risk* (1981), as Serrano - *Mr. Patman* (1981), as Patman - *Loving Couples* (1980), as Walter - *The Baltimore Bullet* (1980), as Nick Casey - *Goldengirl* (1979), as Jack Dryden - *The Muppet Movie* (1979), as El Sleezo Cafe Owner — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-muppet-movie.md) - *Firepower* (1979), as Jerry Fanon / Eddie - *Circle of Iron* (1978), Story - *Convoy* (1978), Second Unit Director - *The Dain Curse* (1978), series, as Hamilton Nash - *California Suite* (1978), as Actor in Diana's Movie (uncredited) - *White Rock* (1977), as James Coburn - *Cross of Iron* (1977), as Unteroffizier / Feldwebel Rolf Steiner - *Midway* (1976), as Capt. Vinton Maddox - *The Last Hard Men* (1976), as Provo - *Sky Riders* (1976), as Jim McCabe - *Bite the Bullet* (1975), as Luke Matthews - *Hard Times* (1975), as Spencer "Speed" Weed - *The Rockford Files* (1974), series, Director — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-rockford-files.md) - *The Internecine Project* (1974), as Robert Elliot - *Harry in Your Pocket* (1973), as Harry - *The Last of Sheila* (1973), as Clinton Greene - *Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid* (1973), as Pat Garrett - *A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die* (1972), as Colonel Pembroke - *The Honkers* (1972), as Lew Lathrop - *The Carey Treatment* (1972), as Dr. Peter Carey - *Duck, You Sucker* (1971), as John H. Mallory - *Last of the Mobile Hot Shots* (1970), as Jeb Stuart Thornton - *Hard Contract* (1969), as John Cunningham - *Candy* (1968), as Dr. A.B. Krankheit - *Duffy* (1968), as Duffy - *The President's Analyst* (1967), as Dr. Sidney Schaefer - *Waterhole #3* (1967), as Lewton Cole - *In Like Flint* (1967), as Derek Flint - *Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round* (1966), as Eli Kotch - *What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?* (1966), as Lieutenant Christian - *Our Man Flint* (1966), as Derek Flint - *The Loved One* (1965), as Immigration Officer - *A High Wind in Jamaica* (1965), as Zac - *Major Dundee* (1965), as Samuel Potts - *The Americanization of Emily* (1964), as Lt. Commander Paul "Bus" Cummings - *Kings of the Sun* (1963), as Narrator (uncredited) - *The Man from Galveston* (1963), as Boyd Palmer - *Charade* (1963), as Tex Panthollow - *The Greatest Show on Earth* (1963), series, as Kelly - *The Great Escape* (1963), as Sedgwick 'Manufacturer' — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-great-escape.md) - *Combat!* (1962), series, as Cpl. Arnold Kanger - *Stoney Burke* (1962), series, as Dr. Henry Jamison - *Hell Is for Heroes* (1962), as Cpl. Frank Henshaw - *Cain's Hundred* (1961), series, as Arthur Troy - *The Defenders* (1961), series, as Earl Chafee - *Acapulco* (1961), series, as Gregg Miles - *The Murder Men* (1961), as Arthur Troy - *The Magnificent Seven* (1960), as Britt - *Klondike* (1960), series, as Jeff Durain - *Route 66* (1960), series, Actor - *Stagecoach West* (1960), series, as Sam Murdock - *Outlaws* (1960), series, Actor - *Checkmate* (1960), series, as Gresch - *The Aquanauts* (1960), series, as Joe Casey - *The Tall Man* (1960), series, as John Miller - *Tate* (1960), series, Actor - *The Detectives* (1959), series, Actor - *The Untouchables* (1959), series, as Dennis Garrity - *Bourbon Street Beat* (1959), series, as Buzz Griffin - *The Twilight Zone* (1959), series, as Major French — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md) - *Johnny Ringo* (1959), series, as Moss Taylor - *Men Into Space* (1959), series, as Dr. Narry - *Wichita Town* (1959), series, Actor - *The DuPont Show with June Allyson* (1959), series, as Floyd - *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Pete Jessup, Ross Marquette, Elmer Trace - *The Deputy* (1959), series, as Coffer - *Face of a Fugitive* (1959), as Purdy - *Ride Lonesome* (1959), as Whitt — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/ride-lonesome.md) - *Black Saddle* (1959), series, as Niles - *Rawhide* (1959), series, as Colonel Briscoe - *Bat Masterson* (1958), series, as Poke Otis, Leo Talley - *Lawman* (1958), series, as Lank Bailey - *The Rifleman* (1958), series, as Cy Parker, Ambrose - *Naked City* (1958), series, as Harry Brind - *The Texan* (1958), series, Actor - *Bronco* (1958), series, Actor - *Peter Gunn* (1958), series, Actor - *Wanted: Dead or Alive* (1958), series, as Henry Turner, Jesse Holloway, Howard Catlett - *Trackdown* (1957), series, as Joker Wells - *Suspicion* (1957), series, as Matt Carson - *The Californians* (1957), series, as Anthony Wayne, Deputy Anthony Wayne - *The Restless Gun* (1957), series, Actor - *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as Donald Fletcher, General Addison Brand - *Wagon Train* (1957), series, as Ike Daggett - *Have Gun, Will Travel* (1957), series, as Jack Harvey - *The Night America Trembled* (1957), as Sam (as Jim Coburn) - *Richard Diamond, Private Detective* (1957), series, as Victor Tavo - *Tales of Wells Fargo* (1957), series, as Idaho - *Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre* (1956), series, as Jess Newton, Charlie Doyle - *State Trooper* (1956), series, as Dobie - *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Andrews, Union Sergeant - *Cheyenne* (1955), series, as Kell - *The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp* (1955), series, as Buckskin Frank Leslie - *The Millionaire* (1955), series, as Lew Bennett - *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as Jack - Outlaw Leader, Mexican Police Captain (uncredited) - *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Claude Firman - *Death Valley Days* (1952), series, as Steve Barnes - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Atticus Cody - *Studio One* (1948), series, as Sam Chandler ## Gallery - ![Photo of Bob Bondurant teaching actor James Coburn how to drive a race car. (1972)](https://film.one/media/person/97248/gallery-b2ef67f322cf.jpg) Photo of Bob Bondurant teaching actor James Coburn how to drive a race car. (1972) — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Bob_Bondurant_James_Coburn_1972.JPG/1280px-Bob_Bondurant_James_Coburn_1972.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Photo of actor James Coburn being taught how to drive a racing car by Bob Bondurant. This was part of an ABC sports series called Challenge. (1972)](https://film.one/media/person/97248/gallery-12c6f7c491cc.jpg) Photo of actor James Coburn being taught how to drive a racing car by Bob Bondurant. This was part of an ABC sports series called Challenge. (1972) — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/James_Coburn_Bob_Bondurant_1972.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![James Coburn Mural](https://film.one/media/person/97248/gallery-6804ca1688e2.jpg) James Coburn Mural — agracier - NO VIEWS, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/James_Coburn_Mural_-_panoramio.jpg/1280px-James_Coburn_Mural_-_panoramio.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![James Coburn](https://film.one/media/person/97248/gallery-0b3bf0ec87bb.jpg) James Coburn — NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/James_Coburn_The_Californians_1959.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![James Coburn](https://film.one/media/person/97248/gallery-8afb1a97d7c8.jpg) James Coburn — Image via TMDB - ![James Coburn](https://film.one/media/person/97248/gallery-9ab09af0ee1e.jpg) James Coburn — Image via TMDB - ![James Coburn](https://film.one/media/person/97248/gallery-38642fff2aa6.jpg) James Coburn — Image via TMDB - ![James Coburn grave at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Brentwood, California. December 2011.](https://film.one/media/person/97248/gallery-bbf33d7966b9.jpg) James Coburn grave at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Brentwood, California. December 2011. — Meribona, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/James_Coburn_grave_at_Westwood_Village_Memorial_Park_Cemetery_in_Brentwood%2C_California.JPG/1280px-James_Coburn_grave_at_Westwood_Village_Memorial_Park_Cemetery_in_Brentwood%2C_California.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 1 won - 1999: Best Supporting Actor (won), for *Affliction* ### Other awards — 1 won - star on Hollywood Walk of Fame 1994: star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/james-coburn