James Coburn Biography

Fast Facts

• Awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994
• Received the Life Career Award in 1999 from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films
• Studied acting at Los Angeles City College under the tutelage of legendary teachers Jeff Corey and Stella Adler
• Quote: "Actors are boring when they're not working, it's a natural condition, because they don't have anything to do, they just lay around and that's why so many of them get drunk․ They really get to be boring people․ My wife will attest to that․"
• Frequently portrays characters who are mean and unscrupulous
• Often takes on the role of a "tough-guy" in his films
• Served as a pallbearer at the funeral of his close friend Bruce Lee
• Was originally cast in the role of Hannibal Smith in "The A-Team․"
• Contributed to the backup vocals on Kris Kristofferson's album "Who's to Bless and Who's to Blame․"
• Only had 11 lines in "The Magnificent Seven" despite being one of the film's main stars