

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.
1997
Self (archive footage)
1960
Charles Coburn
1959
Benjamin Franklin
1959
Vance Beasley
1959
Grampa Pennypacker
1957
Hippocrates
1957
Dr. John Fenner
1956
Steamship Company Clerk
1956
Guy Eliot
1954
Unknown
1954
1954
Unknown
1954
Gardiner
1954
Mayor Ed Johnson
1953
Sir Francis Beekman
1953
le Père Matthew William Burke
1952
1952
Oliver Oxley
1952
Samuel Fulton / John Smith
1950
Pa Harrington
1950
1950
Mr. Burnside
1950
Self
1949
Major Blair
1949
Dr. John Corday
1949
Professor Jason Hartley
1949
General Michael O'Hara
1949
Lieutenant Quincy
1948
Louis Hurst
1948
1948
Beaver Greenway
1948
Burton F. 'B.F.' Fulton
1947
Sir Simon Flaquer
1947
Harley Temple
1946
Alexander Gow
1945
Robert Drexel Gow
1945
Max Dreyfus
1944
Jonathan Crandall Sr
1944
Professor Henry Holmes
1944
Peter Stuyvesant
1943
Rudyard Morley
1943
Uncle Holman
1943
Hugo Van Cleve
1943
Charles Creighton
1943
Benjamin Dingle
1942
1942
Stanley Menninger
1942
William Fitzroy
1942
Henry Gordon
1941
John P. Merrick/Thomas Higgins
1941
'Colonel' Harrington
1940
Dr. Karl Braun
1940
Captain Abe Peabody
1940
General Powell
1940
Joshua Mallon IV
1939
Lord Tyce
1939
J. B. Merlin
1939
Gardner Hubbard
1939
Judge Joseph M. Doolittle
1939
Dr. Hugo Waldersee
1938
Mr. Morgan
1938
Dr. Charles Shingle
Charles Douville Coburn