Acting
Charles Coburn
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
Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line
Film · 1997
It's Showtime
Film · 1976
Pepe
Film · 1960
John Paul Jones
Film · 1959
A Stranger in My Arms
Film · 1959
The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker
Film · 1959
Startime
Series · 1959
The Story of Mankind
Film · 1957
Town on Trial
Film · 1957
How to Murder a Rich Uncle
Film · 1957
The Power and the Prize
Film · 1956
Around the World in 80 Days
Film · 1956
The Rosemary Clooney Show
Series · 1956
How to Be Very, Very Popular
Film · 1955
The Long Wait
Film · 1954
The Rocket Man
Film · 1954
December Bride
Series · 1954
Studio 57
Series · 1954
The George Gobel Show
Series · 1954
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Film · 1953
Trouble Along the Way
Film · 1953
Monkey Business
Film · 1952
Has Anybody Seen My Gal?
Film · 1952
This Is Your Life
Series · 1952
The Highwayman
Film · 1951
Mr. Music
Film · 1950
Peggy
Film · 1950
Louisa
Film · 1950
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Series · 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Series · 1950
What's My Line?
Series · 1950
Impact
Film · 1949
The Gal Who Took the West
Film · 1949
The Doctor and the Girl
Film · 1949
Everybody Does It
Film · 1949
Yes Sir, That's My Baby
Film · 1949
Green Grass of Wyoming
Film · 1948
B.F.'s Daughter
Film · 1948
Studio One
Series · 1948
The Ed Sullivan Show
Series · 1948
Lured
Film · 1947
The Paradine Case
Film · 1947
The Green Years
Film · 1946
Colonel Effingham's Raid
Film · 1946
Rhapsody in Blue
Film · 1945
A Royal Scandal
Film · 1945
Over 21
Film · 1945
Shady Lady
Film · 1945
Together Again
Film · 1944
Wilson
Film · 1944
The Impatient Years
Film · 1944
Knickerbocker Holiday
Film · 1944
Princess O'Rourke
Film · 1943
Heaven Can Wait
Film · 1943
The More the Merrier
Film · 1943
The Constant Nymph
Film · 1943
My Kingdom for a Cook
Film · 1943
George Washington Slept Here
Film · 1942
In This Our Life
Film · 1942
Kings Row
Film · 1942
Breakdowns of 1942
Film · 1942
The Lady Eve
Film · 1941
The Devil and Miss Jones
Film · 1941
Our Wife
Film · 1941
H.M. Pulham, Esq.
Film · 1941
Unexpected Uncle
Film · 1941
Three Faces West
Film · 1940
Edison, the Man
Film · 1940
Florian
Film · 1940
Road to Singapore
Film · 1940
The Captain is a Lady
Film · 1940
In Name Only
Film · 1939
Bachelor Mother
Film · 1939
Idiot's Delight
Film · 1939
Made for Each Other
Film · 1939
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell
Film · 1939
Stanley and Livingstone
Film · 1939
Vivacious Lady
Film · 1938
Lord Jeff
Film · 1938
Of Human Hearts
Film · 1938
Yellow Jack
Film · 1938
The People's Enemy
Film · 1935