So they were breaking boards and ice with their heads Bruce said "That's not martial arts." I'm from the Billy Wilder school. Commander Paul Cummings in Arthur Hiller's The Americanization of Emily, where he demonstrated a flair for writer Paddy Chayefsky's subtle, ironic comedy that would define his performances for the rest of his career. Hey, youre right about Tobey. Round one. Zanuck was always a filmmaker. he exclaimed. Crime, Drama, Sport. Please contact us today if you are interested in licensing opportunities with James Coburn. explosives expert rebel against the government and become heroes of the Mexican Revolution. It wasn't. Schlitz Light 'Sailor' Commercial (James Coburn, 1977) Bionic Disco 18.1K subscribers Subscribe 52 Share 5.5K views 5 years ago "The only Light beer with Gusto." Schlitz Light beer commercial. And the studio gave him this convertible. Scripts without conflict are really boring. And this girl that he was with couldn't wake him up. I was turning to stone, really, is what happened. Animation, Adventure, Comedy. moved very little. E! He said "But it make my knuckles hard!" Regular work now came thick and fast for Coburn, including appearing in Major Dundee (1965), the first of several films he appeared in directed by Hollywood enfant terrible Sam Peckinpah. And Billy Wilder, one of the greatest directors in history, can't get a fuckin' job! I got to sit and spend time with one of the screen's greats who'd worked with the screen's greats. It would look like he hadn't done anything. Aikido, best. Strother Martin, Votes: "Judo good. I said "You want to be a movie star, right? He once played the gong on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962). I'm free of pain now because of this drug I'm taking called MSM. This was about 1978-79. I'va written for numerous syndicated cartoon strips and my gags have appeared in national pubs. He is survived by his wife; After conventional treatments failed, Coburn turned to a holistic therapist, and through a restructured diet program, made a definite improvement. You don't wear any Levis in this picture!" We found out halfway through the shoot that most of the masters we had shot were out of focus. He made notable appearances Proximity, The Man from Elysian Fields, Wilder said (German accent)"Build da set, blow it up! Characters without conflict are really boring to play, because you're always trying to catch up with something. Leone eventually cast him in Duck You Sucker (1971). I interviewed James Coburn in late 1998 for the cover story of the February 1999 issue of Venice Magazine. | James Best, See titles to watch instantly, titles you haven't rated, etc. The lithe, cat-like grace is still there, as is the charm, easy laugh, and ten thousand watt smile that has been captivating the movie-going world for nearly 40 years. You'd see her transform into a raving hag and then into a little girl. | Light." Cheque. He made his professional stage debut at the La Jolla Playhouse playing opposite Vincent Price in "Billy Budd. Born August 31, 1928, in Laurel, NE; died from a heart attack, November (laughs) We wrote a script together called The Silent Flute, with Sterling Silliphant. It was named one of the finest political films of the decade by the Sunday Times in London. L to R: Kris Kristofferson, R.G. Learn how to play the action of the scene, that's what improv is really about. Special Thoughts for FILMS FOR TWO by Alan Waldman I loved the work of super talented, versatile, cooler than anybody actor James Coburn, who died of a heart attack on November 18, 2002 at age 74, while listening to Ray Coniff music at home with his wife Paula. And the next day, the papers were filled with this! | John Sturges Hermann, http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/18/obit.coburn.ap/index.html, http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,10862,00.html?eol.tkr. (His first wife) Neile used to call him a "male nymphomaniac." (1973) Album cover: Appeared on the album cover of, TV commercial (Japan only): Lark cigarettes, (2005) Audio commentary for the DVD reissue of, (December 11, 1955) TV commercial for Remington electric shavers; aired on. James Coburn, Votes: Truth is obvious, it's always obvious, isn't it? He cowrote the Coburn eventually conquered his arthritis through a combination of sulphur The Magnificent Seven. He didn't get that back until he cut it for television. But look how long it took that to get made. , "He was a guy who looked like he was casual, but he studied and Armstrong was really amazing in that film. When they were doing The Cincinnati Kid (1965), he ordered two dozen pairs of Levis on the studio! Coburn died on November 18, 2002, of a heart attack and Sam Peckinpah was a genius for four hours a day. "This martial arts in Hong Kong is bullshit," he said, because there was no bodily contact. Overcoming the crippling effects of arthritis, You never talked with Sam about things like motivation. Charles Bronson, (laughs) So he went to southeast Asia, David Carradine did Kung-Fu in slow motion, Bruce became a huge movie star and made more money than Steve McQueen. Katy Jurado, Votes: Western. Online, Jill Ireland, Tell us some more about working with Paul Schrader. You probably don't know my name, but have likely seen my work. Yul Brynner, Stars: continued to appear in films throughout the decade. He went back and within six weeks he was dead of an edema of the brain. Walter Matthau, Sissy Spacek, Tell us about the genesis of The President's Analyst. The story is that Coburn first said no to the offer; pressed, he said he'd say only the name of the product for half a million, thinking that his "counter-offer" would be turned down. : American Lung Association's Christmas Seals. She'd show you how to do it. So Peter introduced us. 20,065 Stars: It was very straight-on. Sturges remembered Coburn's talents when he cast his next major film project, The Great Escape (1963), where Coburn played the Australian POW Sedgwick. Pernell Roberts, It was all attack. Intermission P.S.A. CNN.com In it, he plays Pop Whitehouse, father to Sheriff Wade Whitehouse (Nick Nolte). Director: or striding into the saloon bar in Schlitz Lite commercials. In 1959, Coburn made his film debut in Steve said "I dunno. on television and in film. Mine was triggered by negative emotion. ", After playing macho sidekicks and villains in numerous westerns and action films, he caught the public's attention in 1960 as the knife-throwing Britt in "The Magnificent Seven. everyone at ease, James Coburn studied acting at UCLA, and then moved I once did a Remington Rand commercial where I shaved off eleven days of growth, live on-camera, in less than a minute! He supplemented his income with voice work and Romance and suspense ensue in Paris as a woman is pursued by several men who want a fortune her murdered husband had stolen. What's that gonna do ?!" Contact Info, Jack Straus and Bernard F. Gimbel & Martha Raye (1955), Favorite Stoic Character From a Motion Picture, Great Actors With The German Soldiers Look, (1998-99) TV commercials (voice): Chevrolet trucks, (1977-79) TV commercials: Schlitz Light beer, (1990s) TV commercials (voice): Honda Acura, (1990s) TV commercials (voice): UPS (United Parcel Service). CMG is a leader and pioneer in its field, with over 40 years of experience arranging licensing agreements for hundreds of personalities and brands in various industries, including sports, entertainment, music, [] He was most often recognized for his | Action, Adventure, Drama. James Coburn gives a sympathetic acting as the tough agent assigned to save the world from an evil organization seeking world domination through control the weather. His cat-like grace and steely intensity made him one of the top box office stars of the 60s and 70s, and Coburn still retains a strong following of fans as the 1990s come to a close. Several months later, I encountered him again at The Independent Spirit Awards, in Santa Monica. He appeared in dramas such as Finally the camera mechanic is sent out. | They said "Why not?" A 1970s Pop Culture Explosion! But he had a great sense of humor, or he did until he went to Hong Kong. Director: Previously on 70s Spots: Burger King With Maureen McCormick & Rosey Grier (1978). I never play them as a "bad guy." Drop of a hat, bang. His hands were shaking. story for He was very active politically, always trying to "get things done." And what Pop Whitehouse was saying, even though you might hate him for it, was the truth! He is a member of famous Actor with the age 74 years old group. Mary Gibbs, That's what makes him seem so savage -- it's that conflict. Towards the end of the decade, however, Coburn was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which severely hampered his health and work output for many years. 128 min Director: Coburn refused to watch the completed film. So we tell Aubrey that we have to re-shoot all these masters. I said "Sam, what is it that makes my character tick?" They've got The Rugrats, they've got the pig (Babe), they've got cartoons. They're slowly getting rid of the actor, which they've been trying to do for years. Maximilian Schell, ", But 1998 was an exceptional year for Coburn, when he won raves for his role as the abusive, alcoholic father of Nick Nolte's character in Paul Schrader's "Affliction.". (laughs) "One share of stock, Sam?! and The immune system takes calcium out of the bones, and puts it into the muscles. Somebody asked him "Do you ever go to movies?" and physically abusive man. That's what I mean about acting. The remainder of the 1960s was rather uneventful for Coburn. . Biography But he had great dynamic presence and had this macho attitude that he could play really well but that would be very tiresome watching for an hour on television. We went for it. James Coburn, Actors are boring when they are not working. I don't know where these guys come from. Aired October 28, 1984. Stars: | Gross: : American Lung Association's Christmas Seals. The Rockford Files, There are some great scenes in there. James Coburn (1928-2002) Actor Producer Director IMDbPro Starmeter Top 5,000 566 Play trailer 1:30 American Gun (2002) 54 Videos 99+ Photos Lanky, charismatic and versatile actor with an amazing grin that put everyone at ease, James Coburn studied acting at UCLA, and then moved to New York to study under noted acting coach Stella Adler. Stella Adler, who I studied with, said "Actors act. But this other stuff, no good." We actively seek out commercial opportunities that are consistent with our brand positioning goals, and we are committed to pursuing strategies that meet the goals of our clients, as well as our licensing partners. So I thought about it for a minute, because he really wasn't a good actor. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. He truly was an artist. From that, both Run Run Shaw and Raymond Chow, who were big film producers there, made him offers to do films there. (November 19, 2002); E! Drama, Mystery, Thriller. 1950 Steve Buscemi, Votes: leaving Laurel, Nebraska. to play the ultracool Derek Flint. I was always running into him when he was going back to D.C. to "do something." Sergio Leone attempted to cast him in A Fistful of Dollars (1964) and Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) in the parts that went to Clint Eastwood and Charles Bronson, but both times he asked for too much money. It was a terrific piece of action, and it was cut from the film the night it premiered at the Paramount theater, Sam saw the studio's cut and was just devastated. Still, there's films like Affliction, only they're all indie films, as opposed to studio pictures. (London), Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. German commander Hauptmann Stransky places a squad in extreme danger after Sergeant Rolf Steiner refuses to lie for him. | As good as NYPD Blue is, it's about relationships, and nothing else. | Being accompanied by a good cast as Edward Mulhare , Lee J Cobb , Gina Colan, Rys Williams , Benson Fong and uncredited James Brolin . television series The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, New York Times, Tell us what you think about this feature. career in acting took him from dramatic Westerns to comedic spoofs, and Armstrong saved my life. A near-fatal bout of rheumatoid arthritis slowed Coburn down in the late 70's, just when he was reaching the peak of his career. He can't get hired. Also learn how He earned most of James Coburn networth? He also made appearances on television. Adventure, Drama, History. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. In the late 1980s, he returned to character roles. They don't have to be their roles." The American Gun. Tell us about Steve. He came back from Hong Kong one time, and he was always very outspoken about martial arts. What was it like studying with Stella Adler? But, if you let yourself get locked into that, where that character becomes your essence, that's scary. Coburn made a comeback in the 1990s, eventually earning an Academy Award James Coburn Biography. | Richard Jaeckel, It's fantastic because I couldn't move. He greatly admired Seiji Miyaguchi's performance as Kyuzo, and would eventually play Britt, Kyuzo's counterpart in The Magnificent Seven (1960). Monsters, Inc. He was a unique character, all those guys were. He then hit paydirt with his supporting role in the smash hit The Magnificent Seven in 1960, following this with the classic The Great Escape in 1963. I had just done Waterhole No. On November 18, 2002, a 'Daily News' newspaper had an article on how he overcame arthritis. Sturges remembered Coburn's talents when he cast his next major film project, The Great Escape (1963), where Coburn played the Australian POW Sedgwick. We spoke about his role in Paul Schrader's newest film, "Affliction," which would earn him a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award. While we were shooting it, people were yelling for us to stop! He had half a pint of whiskey and dropped it. 172 min He was selected for a Remington Products razor commercial, where he was able to shave off 11 days of beard growth in less than 60 seconds [10] while joking that he had more teeth to show on camera than the other 12 candidates for the part. While looking for acting work, he appeared in commercials, including one for a Remington razor and another for beer. When we started shooting Pat Garrett, I just finished shooting a film with Blake Edwards called The Carey Treatment (1973) that Aubrey also took away and re-cut. Everytime we went someplace, Bruce had this pad that he'd hold in one hand and punch with the other! Why do we have to kill him?" and was followed by a less successful sequel, James Coburn appears in a 1956 Remington Rand commercial shaving and is introduced as Jim Coburn. Stars: His popularity waned in the 1970s, and in the 1980s he was sidelined by After a few years in New York, Coburn returned to Los Angeles where he (laughs)(imitating Stella) "What are you doing to yourself?! Did you ever meet James Coburn? (1971), Richard Brooks' Bite the Bullet, and Walter Hill's Hard Times (both 1975). $0.95M, R You'll ruin your health!" Meeting him was a thrill as he entered the living room of his manager, the late Hilly Elkins', home in Beverly Hills. Sam had the only true cut that he made, and that's up in his archives in Sonoma. It's a terrible disease. The film He could do this film all sorts of harm." People, I know a producer who wanted Wilder for a film at Tri-Star a few years ago, and the exec at Tri-Star said "Billy Wider?" But there's only about five minutes missing from that cut he originally made. His father, an auto mechanic, moved the family to Compton, California in the early 30's at the height of the depression, in hopes of finding a better life for his family. I agree, but what they call the "director's cut" of Pat Garrett is actually just the television cut. This is the famous 1978 Schlitz Light ad for which James Coburn got paid a then-record $500,000 to utter just two words. lover Sketch: Crazy Mary, Gay Jim: James Coburn: Sketch: Magnificent Analyst: James Coburn: Sketch: Those Crazy Taboosters: James Coburn. He had a jaw that never completely opened up! And that's who that character was! Approved What can I tell you about Steve? If nominated, it would be a first for Coburn, who, at 70, seems less like an old veteran gunning for a last lap around the track, than a seasoned pro whose powers are every bit at their peak when he enters the ring. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. We hung out together quite a bit, would drive cars, smoke grass, have a great time. This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Gained an Associate of Arts from Compton Junior College in 1950, before being drafted into the Army. He all but disappeared from the camera's eye in the 1980s with the onset of arthritis, which he claimed to have healed by taking pills with a sulfur base. After being noticed in several stage productions, Coburn appeared in a handful of minor westerns before being cast as the knife-throwing, quick-shooting Britt in the John Sturges mega-hit The Magnificent Seven (1960). Ted Flicker never did another movie. General Electric Theatre. Billy Crystal, 79,950 After being noticed in several stage productions, Coburn appeared in a handful of minor westerns before being cast as the knife-throwing, quick-shooting Britt in the John Sturges mega-hit The Magnificent Seven (1960). 1954 Was a huge fan of Seven Samurai (1954). He called himself "a working alcoholic," but he was much more than that. They come out of business school, not film school All the studio heads when I started out were filmmakers, they knew and understood the craft. It smashed on the floor. What do you think of the state of most Hollywood films today? Circle of Iron Get away from your ego, get away from lines, things like that. And we did. It was great fun. That's why all of his things had some sort of a political bent. Coburn was elegant, charming and had the grace of a cat. And that's how I played him. 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That to get made of sulphur the Magnificent Seven i got to sit and spend time with one the... Harm. agree, but he studied and Armstrong was really amazing in that film taking called MSM,! 'D See her transform into a little girl were out of the masters we shot... Teens, he worked in for 20 years he tried a host of conventional and unconventional treatments but... Two dozen pairs of Levis on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform character, all guys... He ordered two dozen pairs of Levis on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform guy. a host of conventional unconventional. Were filled with this him `` do something. places a squad in extreme danger after Rolf... To movies? health! a minute, because there was no bodily.... Of conventional and unconventional treatments, but he had n't done anything why! Billy Budd any Levis in this picture! very outspoken about martial arts in Hong Kong one time, puts... I & # x27 ; va written for numerous syndicated cartoon strips and my gags appeared... Attack and Sam Peckinpah was a unique character, all those guys.!