James Coburn - Actor Profile

James Coburn

Acting
Freshness: Jan 19, 2026
50Total Films
10.0 Highest Rated
Born: Aug 31, 1928
Birth Place: Laurel, Nebraska, USA

About James Coburn

James Harrison Coburn III (August 31, 1928 – November 18, 2002) was an American film and television actor. Coburn appeared in nearly 70 films and made over 100 television appearances during his 45-year career, and played a wide range of roles and won an Academy Award for his supporting role as Glen Whitehouse in Affliction.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of James Coburn reveals a career defined by exceptional commercial consistency. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Drama

The majority of James Coburn's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 74% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), James Coburn remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Call from Space, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best James Coburn Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from James Coburn's career based on audience ratings.

★10.0
Call from Space (1989) movie poster
★10.0

Call from Space — A movie director and his wanna-be actor/eccentric inventor nephew are filming a low-budget sci-fi movie. Things get inte

Call from Space

1989•Adventure
★8.6
Blood and Steel: The Making of Enter the Dragon (2004) movie poster
★8.6

Blood and Steel: The Making of Enter the Dragon — Documentary on the making of Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon (1973).

Blood and Steel: The Making of Enter the Dragon

2004•Documentary
★8.5
Walter and Henry (2001) movie poster
★8.5

Walter and Henry — Walter and his 12-year-old son Henry are a pair of New York City street musicians living at poverty level in an empty Br

Walter and Henry

2001•Drama
★8.0
Train to Heaven (1989) movie poster
★8.0

Train to Heaven — About Niño, an orphanage boy in the port city of Guayaquil in Ecuador.

Train to Heaven

1989•Drama
★8.0
Bruce Lee: The Legend Lives On (1999) movie poster
★8.0

Bruce Lee: The Legend Lives On — This insightful documentary takes an in-depth look at the life of Bruce Lee, and the physical and mental practices he em

Bruce Lee: The Legend Lives On

1999•Documentary

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of James Coburn.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2005 Passion & Poetry: The Ballad of Sam Peckinpah Self Hit Similar →
2004 Blood and Steel: The Making of Enter the Dragon Self Super Hit Similar →
2004 Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade Self (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
2002 I Love Muppets Self Average Similar →
2001 Monsters, Inc. Waternoose (voice) Super Hit Similar →
2001 Walter and Henry Charlie Super Hit Similar →
2001 Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days Narrator (voice) Hit Similar →
2000 Kurosawa Self Hit Similar →
2000 Guns for Hire: The Making of 'The Magnificent Seven' Self Hit Similar →
1999 Payback Justin Fairfax Hit Similar →
1999 Bruce Lee: The Legend Lives On Self Super Hit Similar →
1998 Affliction Glen Whitehouse Average Similar →
1998 The Path of the Dragon Self Average Similar →
1997 Twentieth Century Fox: The First 50 Years Host Hit Similar →
1994 Maverick Commodore Duvall Hit Similar →
1994 The Life of Bruce Lee Self - Actor & Student of Bruce Lee Hit Similar →
1993 Return to 'The Great Escape' Self Hit Similar →
1993 Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit Mr. Crisp Average Similar →
1993 The Curse of the Dragon Self Hit Similar →
1993 Sam Peckinpah: Man of Iron Self Hit Similar →
1992 The Player James Coburn Hit Similar →
1990 Young Guns II John Simpson Chisum Hit Similar →
1989 Train to Heaven Gregorius Super Hit Similar →
1989 Call from Space Studio Boss Super Hit Similar →
1986 The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years Self (archive footage) Hit Similar →
1985 Martin's Day Lt. Lardner Average Similar →
1984 Draw! Sam Starret Average Similar →
1981 Looker John Reston Average Similar →
1979 The Muppet Movie El Sleezo Cafe Owner Hit Similar →
1979 The Muppets Go Hollywood Self Average Similar →
1978 Formula 1 - Speed fever Self Hit Similar →
1977 Cross of Iron Unteroffizier / Feldwebel Rolf Steiner Hit Similar →
1976 Midway Capt. Vinton Maddox Hit Similar →
1975 Bite the Bullet Luke Matthews Average Similar →
1975 Hard Times Spencer "Speed" Weed Hit Similar →
1973 The Last of Sheila Clinton Greene Hit Similar →
1973 Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Pat Garrett Hit Similar →
1972 A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die Colonel Pembroke Average Similar →
1971 Duck, You Sucker John H. Mallory Super Hit Similar →
1966 Our Man Flint Derek Flint Average Similar →
1965 The Loved One Immigration Officer Average Similar →
1965 A High Wind in Jamaica Zac Average Similar →
1965 Major Dundee Samuel Potts Hit Similar →
1964 The Americanization of Emily Lt. Commander Paul "Bus" Cummings Hit Similar →
1963 Charade Tex Panthollow Super Hit Similar →
1963 The Great Escape Sedgwick 'Manufacturer' Super Hit Similar →
1962 Hell Is for Heroes Cpl. Frank Henshaw Hit Similar →
1960 The Magnificent Seven Britt Super Hit Similar →
1959 Ride Lonesome Whitt Hit Similar →
1957 The Night America Trembled Sam (as Jim Coburn) Super Hit Similar →

James Coburn - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of James Coburn?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring James Coburn is "Call from Space" with a rating of 10.0/10.

How many movies has James Coburn acted in?

James Coburn has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by James Coburn?

Other notable films include "Blood and Steel: The Making of Enter the Dragon", "Walter and Henry", and "Train to Heaven".