James Coburn was a popular American actor who starred in more than 70 films, mostly in action and western genres. He won an Oscar for his supporting role in Affliction (1997) and was known for his charismatic and cool persona. Charles Coburn was also a famous American actor who appeared in over 80 films, mostly in comedy and drama roles. He won an Oscar for his supporting role in The More the Merrier (1943) and was known for his monocle and cigar. But were these two actors related by blood or by name only? This article will explore the truth behind the Hollywood rumor that James Coburn was the grandson of Charles Coburn.
The Origin of the Rumor
The rumor that James Coburn was the grandson of Charles Coburn seems to have originated from a source that claimed to be a biography of James Coburn. According to this source, James was born in Laurel, Nebraska, on August 31, 1928, to James Harrison Coburn II and Mylet S. Coburn (née Johnson). His father was of Scots-Irish ancestry and his mother was an immigrant from Sweden. His father had a garage business in Laurel that was destroyed by the Great Depression. James was the grandson of cigar-chomping Oscar-winning character actor Charles Coburn and the son of an auto mechanic and a schoolteacher
However, this source is not reliable or accurate, as it contradicts other sources that provide more credible information about James Coburn’s family background and early life.
The Facts About James Coburn’s Family
According to other sources, such as his obituaries, interviews, and official records, James Coburn was not related to Charles Coburn at all. Here are some facts that disprove the rumor:
- James Coburn was born in Laurel, Nebraska, on August 31, 1928, to James Harrison Coburn Jr. and Mylet S. Coburn (née Johnson). His father was of English and Irish ancestry and his mother was of Swedish descent. His father worked as a garage mechanic and a gas station attendant
- James Coburn had two brothers: Robert and Donald. He also had a half-sister: Beverly Ann (from his father’s second marriage). He did not have any other siblings or relatives named Charles or Ivah (Charles Coburn’s wife)
- James Coburn moved with his family to Compton, California, when he was about four years old. He attended Compton Junior College and Los Angeles City College, where he studied acting under Stella Adler and Jeff Corey. He served in the U.S. Army as a truck driver and a disc jockey during the Korean War. He made his film debut in Ride Lonesome (1959) as a sidekick to Pernell Roberts
- Charles Coburn was born in Macon, Georgia, on June 19, 1877, to Moses Douville Coburn and Emma Louise Sprigman. His parents were of Scots-Irish origin. He grew up in Savannah, Georgia, where he worked at the local theater as a teenager. He married Ivah Wills in 1906 and formed a theater company with her. They had seven children: Emily Helen (who died in infancy), Emma Louise (who became an actress), Frances Margaret (who became an actress), Charles Douville Jr., Ivah Wills Jr., Emily Helen II (who became an actress), and Ruth Frances (who became an actress). He moved to Los Angeles, California, after his wife’s death in 1937 and began his film career at the age of sixty. He won an Oscar for his supporting role in The More the Merrier (1943) and was nominated for two more Oscars for The Devil and Miss Jones (1941) and The Green Years (1946). He died in New York City on August 30, 1961
- The Conclusion
Based on these facts, it is clear that James Coburn and Charles Coburn were not related by blood or by name. They had different parents, different siblings, different spouses, different children, different birthplaces, different careers, and different lifespans. They only shared a common surname and a common profession as actors.
The rumor that James Coburn was the grandson of Charles Coburn is therefore false and unfounded. It is likely that someone made up this story based on their superficial resemblance or their similar names without doing any proper research or verification.
James Coburn and Charles Coburn were both talented and successful actors who left a lasting legacy in Hollywood. They deserve to be remembered and appreciated for their own achievements and contributions, not for a fabricated family connection that never existed.
