Charles Coburn

Biography Born June 19, 1877 in Savannah, Georgia, USA Died August 30, 1961 in New York City, New York, USA (heart attack) Birth Name Charles Douville Coburn Nickname The Monocle from Georgia Height 6' (1.83 m) Mini Bio (1) A cigar-smoking, monocled, swag-bellied character actor known for his Old South manners and charm. In 1918 he and his first wife formed the Coburn Players and appeared on Broadway in many plays. With her death in 1937, he accepted a Hollywood contract and began making films at the age of sixty. Spouse (2) Winifred Jean Clements Natzka (18 October 1959 - 30 August 1961) ( his death) ( 1 child) Ivah Myrtle "Mae" Wills (20 January 1906 - 27 April 1937) ( her death) ( 6 children) Trade Mark (1) Wearing a monocle Trivia (21) One of the few Hollywood actors who actually lived on Hollywood Boulevard. His famous monocle was no affectation, but actually corrected an eye deficiency. "No point having two window panes where one will do," was always his explanation. On February 28, 2012, Coburn's Oscar statuette was auctioned by Nate D. Sanders Memorabilia. It sold for $170,459. Started as an usher and doorman at a theater in his hometown of Savannah, Georgia. By age 17, he had become manager of that establishment. He later turned to acting himself and made his bow on Broadway in 1901. Formed a repertory company with his actress-wife Ivah Wills, which endured until her death in 1937. He always carried a stack of cards with his autograph already written on them to satisfy fan requests. Although he was born in Macon, Georgia, he was often thought to be English. Made his Broadway debut in "Up York State" in 1901. Auditioned for the role of Judge Hardy in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's famous Andy Hardy series. Although he did not get the role, he was noticed by director Clarence Brown, who cast him in Of Human Hearts (1938). When asked by a reporter why he did not wear his omnipresent monocle while eating, he replied, "I once lost one in a bowl of soup.". The University of Georgia held a special day of celebration on January 30, 1956, as a distinguished native Georgian. The university has his archived library, correspondence, and memorabilia. He instructed his executor not to have a public funeral or burial. He wished to have his body cremated and his ashes mixed and scattered in various locations with those of his wife, who had died many years before. Studied the techniques of such late 19th-century stars as Henry Irving, DeWolf Hopper Sr., John Drew and Richard Mansfield when he was a young theater usher. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, he only stayed eight months a year in Hollywood. He returned east each summer to New York, which he considered home. In 1946, he moved to Hollywood full time. In 1928, he opened his own theater, the Coburn Theater, on Manhattan's 63rd Street, but the Depression brought hard times and he was forced to declare bankruptcy in December 1932. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6268 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960. According to Piper Laurie in her memoirs (Learning To Love Out Loud), Charles Coburn loved pinching women's bottoms. It was for him like a tic. Every female under one hundred and five had to move fast around. But no one ever considered reporting from sexual harassment. Said in an interview with local news reporters that his movie career began when he stood on the corner of Broughton Street in downtown Savannah, GA handing out playbills for the two downtown theaters. Was an honorary member of the Bohemian Club. Appears in five Oscar Best Picture nominees: Kings Row (1942), The More the Merrier (1943), Heaven Can Wait (1943), Wilson (1944) and Around the World in 80 Days (1956). Only the last of these won. His last role was on a TV episode of The Best of the Post (1960) entitled The Best of the Post: Six Months More to Live (1961). In fact, he had seventeen months to live. Personal Quotes (2) [a story he told fans each year at the Delaware County (OH) Fair Little Brown Jug Stakes for pacers, which as a devoted harness-racing fan he attended annually] I grew up in the city not far from a burlesque theater and my father cautioned me not to go there because I might see something I shouldn't see. So, of course, when I got old enough I went right in, and sure enough I saw something I shouldn't--my father! If it would sell tickets, I'd stand on my head in the middle of Times Square at noon.