Charles Douville Coburn (June 19, 1877 – August 30, 1961) was an American actor and theatrical producer.[1] He was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award ("Oscar") three times – for The Devil and Miss Jones (1941), The More the Merrier (1943) and The Green Years (1946) – winning for his performance in The More the Merrier. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California) in 1960 for his contribution to the film industry.
Charles Coburn | |
|---|---|
 Charles Coburn in 1939 | |
| Born | June 19, 1877 Macon, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | August 30, 1961 (aged 84) New York City, U.S. |
| Resting place | Bonaventure Cemetery, (near Savannah, Georgia) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1901–1960 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 7 |
Biography
editCoburn was born in Macon, Georgia,[2] the son of Scots-Irish Americans Emma Louise Sprigman and Moses Douville Coburn.[citation needed]
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.[2][3] He later became an actor, making his debut on Broadway in 1901. Coburn formed an acting company with actress Ivah Wills in 1905.[2][3] They married in 1906. In addition to managing the company, the couple performed frequently on Broadway.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed] 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 his roles in Kings Row and Wilson showed his dramatic 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.[4]
Political activity
editIn the 1940s, Coburn served as vice president of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, a group opposed to leftist infiltration and proselytization in Hollywood during the Cold War.[5]
Born and raised in the southern state of Georgia, Coburn was a member of the White Citizens' Council, which was part of a network of states' rights groups known as the Citizens' Councils. These groups were associated with their opposition to the Civil Rights movement.[6][7]
A staunch Republican, Coburn supported Thomas Dewey in the 1944 United States presidential election.[8]
Personal life
editCoburn married Ivah Wills on January 29, 1906, in Atlanta, Georgia. They had six children.[9] They were married until her death in 1937.
In the 1940s, Coburn made his home at the National Arts Club in New York City. His late wife's mother lived there with him.[10]
Coburn married Winifred Natzka on June 30, 1959, in Los Angeles. She was the widow of the New Zealand bass opera singer Oscar Natzka. They had one child,[9] a daughter.
Coburn died of a heart attack on August 30, 1961, at age 84 in New York City. He was interred at Bonaventure Cemetery.[11]
Complete filmography
editRadio appearances
edit| Year | Program | Episode/source |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Academy Award | The Devil and Miss Jones[12] |
| 1949 | Duffy's Tavern | Card Games |
| 1950 | Duffy's Tavern | Charles Coburn Plays Santa Claus |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Obituary Variety, September 6, 1971.
- ^ a b c "Charles Coburn (1877–1961)". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2006.
- ^ a b "Charles Coburn Collection". University of Georgia Libraries – Hargrett Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
- ^ "Charles Coburn". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ Doyle Greene, The American Worker on Film: A Critical History, 1909-1999 (Jefferson NC: MacFarland, 2010), 80-82. ISBN 9780786457762
- ^ "Citizens Council". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
- ^ "The Bend Bulletin from Bend, Oregon on June 13, 1959 · Page 5". Newspapers.com. June 13, 1959.
- ^ Critchlow, Donald T. (October 21, 2013). When Hollywood Was Right: How Movie Stars, Studio Moguls, and Big Business Remade American Politics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107650282.
- ^ a b "Oscar Profile #104: Charles Coburn". CinemaSight. September 20, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- ^ "Mrs. Anna K. Wills". New York Times. April 19, 1944. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
- ^ Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
- ^ "Charles Coburn Is 'Academy' Star". Harrisburg Telegraph. Harrisburg Telegraph. October 19, 1946. p. 17. Retrieved September 29, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
Further reading
edit- Alistair, Rupert (2018). "Charles Coburn". The Name Below the Title : 65 Classic Movie Character Actors from Hollywood's Golden Age (softcover) (First ed.). Great Britain: Independently published. pp. 68–71. ISBN 978-1-7200-3837-5.