James Coburn (1928–2002)

James Coburn - nascido a 31 de Agosto de 1928, em Laurel, e falecido a 18 de Novembro de 2002, em Los Angeles - foi um actor norte-americano famoso por interpretar papéis de "duro" no cinema e vencedor do Óscar de melhor actor secundário em 1998. Era neto de outro grande actor dos anos 40, também vencedor do Óscar, Charles Coburn.

Começando a carreira em seriados da televisão americana, especialmente westerns, tornou-se conhecido no começo dos anos 60 pelo seu trabalho nos filmes "Os Sete Magníficos" e "A Grande Evasão", nos quais tinha um papel secundário, um "durão" entre tantos astros como Yul Brynner, Charles Bronson e Steve McQueen.

A sua fama mundial chegou em 1966 como Derek Flint, o super espião americano criado por Hollywood para concorrer com James Bond, que fez dois filmes de grande popularidade - Flint, Agente Secreto (1966) e  Flint, perigo supremo (1967) - sendo o mais bem sucedido, em crítica e bilheteira, de todos os agentes que parodiavam 007 nos anos 60.

Mestre em karatê (aprendido com Bruce Lee), o que lhe dava grande suavidade de movimentos e agilidade, Coburn encarnou com grande competência e carisma o agente secreto mulherengo, mestre em artes marciais, fluente em quarenta e sete idiomas, neurocirurgião, espadachim, físico nuclear, que vivia numa mansão com quatro lindas mulheres (uma alusão a Hugh Hefner, editor da revista Playboy) e divertiu legiões de fãs nas telas de todo o mundo, principalmente pelo tom de comédia e exagero maior que nos filmes de Bond, (na época, Sean Connery).

Após conseguir o status de superstar no cinema, Coburn, adepto do budismo e de um estilo de vida mais recatado e contemplativo, dedicou-se apenas a pequenos filmes independentes, o que o tirou do centro das atenções em Hollywood, por quase dez anos, devido ao fracasso desses filmes.

Foi graças ao seu amigo, o realizador Sam Peckinpah (com quem trabalhara no western "Major Dundee", de 1965), que voltou às grandes produções no meio da década seguinte, com os filmes "Pat Garret e Billy the Kid", com Kris Kristofferson, e "Cruz de Ferro", um violento épico de guerra na frente russa da II Guerra Mundial.

Com um severo problema de artrite, pouco filmou nos anos 80, voltando a participar mais ativamente de filmes na década de 90, em "Cavalgada para a morte", "Reaser", "As Noites Loucas do Dr. Jerryll", "Maverick", "Payback - A Vingança" até ao Óscar de actor secundário, em 1998, como um velho durão e cruel que abusava do seu filho (Nick Nolte) em "Confrontação".

James Coburn morreu, repentinamente, na sua casa em Beverly Hills, a 18 de Novembro de 2002, com 74 anos, devido a um ataque cardíaco fulminante enquanto ouvia rádio, deixando mulher, filho e uma enteada.

FILMOGRAFIA

 2002 Arli$$ (TV Series)
Slaugterhouse Sid Perelli
- The Immortal (2002) ... Slaugterhouse Sid Perelli
 2002 American Gun
Martin Tillman
 2002 Herança Canina
Thunder Jack
 2001 Monstros E Companhia
Henry J. Waternoose (voice)
 2001 Homem de Aluguer
Alcott
 2001 Walter and Henry (TV Movie)
Charlie
 2001 The Yellow Bird (Short)
Rev. Increase Tutwiler
 2001 Proximity
Jim Corcoran
 2001 Rangers
Narrator (voice, uncredited)
 2000 The Good Doctor (Short)
Dr. Samuel Roberts
 2000 Intrepid
Captain Hal Josephson
 2000 Missing Pieces (TV Movie)
Atticus Cody
 1999 Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story (TV Movie)
Morris Gunn
 1999 Noah's Ark (TV Mini-Series)
The 'Peddler'
 1999/I Payback - A Vingança
Justin Fairfax (uncredited)
 1999 Vengeance Unlimited (TV Series)
Boone Paladin
- Judgment (1999) ... Boone Paladin (voice, uncredited)
 1998 Mr. Murder (TV Movie)
Drew Oslett, Sr.
 1998 Stories from My Childhood (TV Series)
The Archbishop
- The Wild Swans (1998) ... The Archbishop (voice)
 1997 Confrontação
Glen Whitehouse
 1997 Crime em Tulsa
Harmon Shaw
 1997 A Segunda Guerra Civil Americana (TV Movie)
Jack Buchan
 1997 Skeletons (TV Movie)
Frank Jove
 1997 Profiler (TV Series)
Charles Vanderhorn
- Shadow of Angels: Part 2 (1997) ... Charles Vanderhorn
- Shadow of Angels (1997) ... Charles Vanderhorn
 1996 The Cherokee Kid (TV Movie)
Cyrus B. Bloomington
 1996 Okavango: Africa's Savage Oasis (TV Movie)
Narrator
 1996 Football America (TV Movie)
Narrator
 1996 O Professor Chanfrado
Harlan Hartley
 1996 Eraser
WitSec Chief Beller
 1996 The Disappearance of Kevin Johnson
James Coburn
 1995 C.E.O. (Video Game)
Dwight Owen Barnes
 1995 Christmas Reunion (TV Movie)
Santa
 1995 The Set Up
Jeremiah Cole
 1995 Picket Fences (TV Series)
Walter Brock
- Upbringings (1995) ... Walter Brock
 1995 Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder (TV Movie)
Jeffery Winslow
 1995 The Avenging Angel (TV Movie)
Porter Rockwell
 1994 Greyhounds (TV Movie)
 1994 Maverick
Commodore Duvall
 1994 Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice (TV Movie)
Jeffrey Winslow
 1993 Do Cabaré para o Convento 2
Mr. Crisp
 1993 Confronto de Rivais
Mike Donan / Lou Donan
 1993 Na Lista para Matar
Peter Mayhew
 1990-1992 Captain Planet and the Planeteers (TV Series)
Looten Plunder
- The Night of the Wolf (1992) ... Looten Plunder (voice)
- Bitter Waters (1992) ... Looten Plunder (voice)
- Fare Thee Whale (1992) ... Looten Plunder (voice)
- Summit to Save Earth: Part 2 (1992) ... Looten Plunder (voice)
- Summit to Save Earth: Part 1 (1992) ... Looten Plunder (voice)
Show all 15 episodes
 1992 Mastergate (TV Movie)
Major Manley Battle
 1992 Crime, disse ela (TV Series)
Cyrus Ramsey
- Day of the Dead (1992) ... Cyrus Ramsey
 1992 The Fifth Corner (TV Series)
Dr. Grandwell
 1992 Crash Landing: The Rescue of Flight 232 (TV Movie)
Jim Hathaway
 1992 True Facts (TV Movie)
 1991 Silverfox (TV Movie)
Robert Fox
 1991 Hudson Hawk - O Falcão Ataca de Novo
George Kaplan
 1990 Cavalgada para a Morte
John Simpson Chisum
 1989 Call from Space (Short)
 1989 Tåg till himlen
Gregorius
 1986 The Wildest West Show of the Stars (TV Movie)
Grand Marshall
 1986 Death of a Soldier
Maj. Patrick Dannenberg
 1985 Martin's Day
Lt. Lardner
 1985 Sins of the Father (TV Movie)
Frank Murchison
 1984 Duelo de Amigos (TV Movie)
Sam Starret
 1984 Faerie Tale Theatre (TV Series)
The Gypsy
- Pinocchio (1984) ... The Gypsy
 1983 Digital Dreams (TV Movie)
 1983 Malibu (TV Movie)
Tom Wharton
 1981 As Belas São Assassinadas
John Reston
 1981 Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls (TV Movie)
Henry Bellamy
 1981 Mercenários por Conta Própria
Serrano
 1980 Superstunt II (TV Movie)
 1980 Mr. Patman
Patman
 1980 Amigos e Amantes
Dr. Walter Kirby
 1980 O Campeão de Baltimore
Nick Casey
 1979 A Rapariga de Ouro
Jack Dryden
 1979 As Aventuras dos Marretas
El Sleezo Cafe Owner
 1979 A Ferro e Fogo
Jerry Fanon / Eddie
 1978 Um Apartamento na Califórnia
Pilot in Diana Barrie's Film on Airplane (uncredited)
 1978 The Dain Curse (TV Mini-Series)
Hamilton Nash
 1977 A Grande Batalha
Unteroffizier Feldwebel (S / Sgt.) Rolf Steiner
 1976 Batalha de Midway
Capt. Vinton Maddox
 1976 A Lei do Ódio
Provo
 1976 Os Cavaleiros do Céu
Jim McCabe
 1975 Jackpot
 1975 O Lutador da Rua
Speed
 1975 Desafio à Coragem
Luke Matthews
 1974 The Internecine Project
Robert Elliot
 1973 Harry o Vigarista
Harry
 1973 A Charada da Morte
Clinton Green
 1973 Duelo na poeira
Pat Garrett
 1972 Uma Razão para Viver, Outra para Morrer
Colonello Pembroke
 1972 Os Centauros
Lew Lathrop
 1972 Um Caso de Urgência
Dr. Peter Carey
 1971 Aguenta-te, Canalha!
John H. Mallory
 1970 O parente mais próximo
Jeb Thornton
 1969 Estranho Contrato
John Cunningham
 1968 Candy
Dr. A.B. Krankheit
 1968 Uma Incógnita Chamada Duffy
Duffy
 1967 O Analista do Presidente
Dr. Sidney Schaefer
 1967 Ladrão que rouba a ladrão
Lewton Cole
 1967 Flint, perigo supremo
Derek Flint
 1966 Amar... nas Horas Vagas
Eli Kotch
 1966 O que fizeste na guerra, paizinho?
Lieutenant Christian
 1966 Flint, Agente Secreto
Derek Flint
 1965 O Caro Defunto
Immigration Officer
 1965 Tempestade na Jamaica
Zac
 1965 Major Dundee
Samuel Potts
 1964 Herói Precisa-se
Lt. Cmdr. Paul 'Bus' Cummings
 1964 The Defenders (TV Series)
Earl Chafee
- The Man Who Saved His Country (1964) ... Earl Chafee
 1964 Route 66 (TV Series)
Hamar Neilsen
- Kiss the Monster - Make Him Sleep (1964) ... Hamar Neilsen
 1963 Os Reis do Sol
Narrator (uncredited)
 1963 Ou vai ou racha
Boyd Palmer
 1963 Charada
Tex Panthollow
 1963 Quinta Dimensão (TV Series)
Major French
- The Old Man in the Cave (1963) ... Major French
 1963 The Eleventh Hour (TV Series)
Steve Kowlowski
- Oh, You Shouldn't Have Done It (1963) ... Steve Kowlowski
 1963 The Greatest Show on Earth (TV Series)
Kelly
- Uncaged (1963) ... Kelly
 1963 Combat! (TV Series)
Corporal Arnold Kanger
- Masquerade (1963) ... Corporal Arnold Kanger
 1963 A Grande Evasão
Sedgwick 'Manufacturer'
 1963 Stoney Burke (TV Series)
Jamison
- The Test (1963) ... Jamison
 1962 O Inferno É para os Heróis
Cpl. Henshaw
 1962 Naked City (TV Series)
Harry Brind
- Goodbye Mama, Hello Auntie Maud (1962) ... Harry Brind
 1958-1962 Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series)
Ben Crider / Idaho
- The Wayfarers (1962) ... Ben Crider
- Butch Cassidy (1958) ... Idaho
 1959-1962 Bonanza (TV Series)
Elmer Trace / Ross Marquette / Pete Jessup
- The Long Night (1962) ... Elmer Trace
- The Dark Gate (1961) ... Ross Marquette
- The Truckee Strip (1959) ... Pete Jessup
 1961-1962 Perry Mason (TV Series)
General Addison Brand / Donald Fletcher
- The Case of the Angry Astronaut (1962) ... General Addison Brand
- The Case of the Envious Editor (1961) ... Donald Fletcher (as James H. Coburn)
 1962 The Dick Powell Show (TV Series)
Charlie Allnut
- Safari (1962) ... Charlie Allnut
 1962 Checkmate (TV Series)
Gresch
- A Chant of Silence (1962) ... Gresch
 1962 Rawhide (TV Series)
Colonel Briscoe
- Hostage Child (1962) ... Colonel Briscoe
 1962 Cain's Hundred (TV Series)
Arthur Troy
- Blues for a Junkman: Arthur Troy (1962) ... Arthur Troy
 1962 King of Diamonds (TV Series)
Dekker
- Backlash (1962) ... Dekker
 1962 Ripcord (TV Series)
Bert Tucker
- Double Drop (1962) ... Bert Tucker
 1958-1961 The Rifleman (TV Series)
Ambrose / Cy Parker
- The High Country (1961) ... Ambrose
- The Young Englishman (1958) ... Cy Parker (as Jim Coburn)
 1961 Cheyenne (TV Series)
Kell
- Trouble Street (1961) ... Kell
 1961 The Brothers Brannagan (TV Series)
Dell
- Death Is not Deductible (1961) ... Dell
 1961 Acapulco (TV Series)
Gregg Miles
- Murder with Love (1961) ... Gregg Miles
- Blood Money (1961) ... Gregg Miles
- Death Is a Smiling Man (1961) ... Gregg Miles
- Fisher's Daughter (1961) ... Gregg Miles
- Carbon Copy Cat (1961) ... Gregg Miles
Show all 8 episodes
 1959-1961 Laramie (TV Series)
Gil Spanner / Finch
- The Mark of the Manhunters (1961) ... Gil Spanner
- The Iron Captain (1959) ... Finch
 1961 Outlaws (TV Series)
Culley Scott
- Culley (1961) ... Culley Scott
 1961 The Untouchables (TV Series)
Dennis Garrity
- The Jamaica Ginger Story (1961) ... Dennis Garrity
 1960-1961 Klondike (TV Series)
Jeff Durain / Jefferson Durain
- The Man Who Owned Skagway (1961) ... Jeff Durain
- Bare Knuckles (1960) ... Jeff Durain
- Taste of Danger (1960) ... Jeff Durain
- Swoger's Mule (1960) ... Jeff Durain
- Keys to Trouble (1960) ... Jeff Durain
Show all 9 episodes
 1961 The Tall Man (TV Series)
John Miller
- The Best Policy (1961) ... John Miller
 1961 Stagecoach West (TV Series)
Sam Murdock
- Come Home Again (1961) ... Sam Murdock
 1961 The Detectives (TV Series)
Duke Hawkins
- The Frightened Ones (1961) ... Duke Hawkins
 1961 The Aquanauts (TV Series)
Joe Casey
- River Gold (1961) ... Joe Casey
 1960 Lawman (TV Series)
Lank Bailey / Blake Carr
- The Catcher (1960) ... Lank Bailey
- The Showdown (1960) ... Blake Carr
 1960 Os Sete Magníficos
Britt
 1959-1960 Zane Grey Theater (TV Series)
Charlie Doyle / Jess Newton
- Desert Flight (1960) ... Charlie Doyle
- A Thread of Respect (1959) ... Jess Newton
 1960 Death Valley Days (TV Series)
- Pamela's Oxen (1960)
 1959-1960 Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV Series)
Howard Catlett / Jesse Holloway / Henry Turner
- The Trial (1960) ... Howard Catlett
- The Kovack Affair (1959) ... Jesse Holloway
- Reunion for a Revenge (1959) ... Henry Turner
 1960 Richard Diamond, Private Detective (TV Series)
Victor Tavo
- Coat of Arms (1960) ... Victor Tavo
 1960 Tate (TV Series)
Jory
- Home Town (1960) ... Jory
 1960 The Deputy (TV Series)
Coffer
- The Truly Yours (1960) ... Coffer
 1960 Peter Gunn (TV Series)
Bud Bailey
- The Murder Clause (1960) ... Bud Bailey
 1959-1960 Have Gun - Will Travel (TV Series)
Bill Sledge / Jack
- The Gladiators (1960) ... Bill Sledge
- One Came Back (1959) ... Jack
 1960 Bourbon Street Beat (TV Series)
Buzz Griffin
- Target of Hate (1960) ... Buzz Griffin
 1960 Men Into Space (TV Series)
Dr. Narry
- Contraband (1960) ... Dr. Narry
 1960 Sugarfoot (TV Series)
Rome Morgan
- Blackwater Swamp (1960) ... Rome Morgan
 1959-1960 Bat Masterson (TV Series)
Leo Talley / Poke Otis
- Six Feet of Gold (1960) ... Leo Talley
- The Black Pearls (1959) ... Poke Otis
 1959-1960 Wichita Town (TV Series)
Wally / Fletcher
- Afternoon in Town (1960) ... Wally
- The Night the Cowboys Roared (1959) ... Fletcher
 1959-1960 Bronco (TV Series)
Jesse James / Adam Coverly
- Shadow of Jesse James (1960) ... Jesse James
- Payroll of the Dead (1959) ... Adam Coverly
 1960 The Texan (TV Series)
Cal Gruder
- Friend of the Family (1960) ... Cal Gruder
 1959 The Millionaire (TV Series)
Lew Bennett
- Millionaire Timothy Mackail (1959) ... Lew Bennett
 1958-1959 Alfred Hichtcock Apresenta (TV Series)
Union Sergeant / Andrews
- An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (1959) ... Union Sergeant
- The Jokester (1958) ... Andrews
 1959 The DuPont Show with June Allyson (TV Series)
Floyd
- The Girl (1959) ... Floyd
 1959 The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (TV Series)
Buckskin Frank Leslie
- The Noble Outlaws (1959) ... Buckskin Frank Leslie
 1958-1959 Disneyland (TV Series)
Jack - Outlaw Leader / Mexican Police Captain
- Elfego Baca: Mustang Man, Mustang Maid (1959) ... Jack - Outlaw Leader
- Elfego Baca: Move Along, Mustangers (1959) ... Jack - Outlaw Leader
- Four Down and Five Lives to Go (1958) ... Mexican Police Captain (uncredited)
 1959 Tombstone Territory (TV Series)
Chuck Ashley
- The Gunfighter (1959) ... Chuck Ashley
 1959 Whirlybirds (TV Series)
Steve Alexander
- Mr. Jinx (1959) ... Steve Alexander
 1959 Johnny Ringo (TV Series)
Moss Taylor
- The Arrival (1959) ... Moss Taylor
 1959 The Californians (TV Series)
Deputy Anthony Wayne / Anthony Wayne
- An Act of Faith (1959) ... Deputy Anthony Wayne
- One Ton of Peppercorns (1959) ... Anthony Wayne
 1959 The Rough Riders (TV Series)
Judson
- Deadfall (1959) ... Judson
 1959 A máscara de um fugitivo
Purdy
 1959 M Squad (TV Series)
Harry Blacker
- The Fire Makers (1959) ... Harry Blacker
 1958-1959 The Restless Gun (TV Series)
Vestry / Tom Quinn
- The Pawn (1959) ... Vestry
- The Way Back (1958) ... Tom Quinn
 1959 Black Saddle (TV Series)
Niles
- Client: Steele (1959) ... Niles
 1959 State Trooper (TV Series)
Dobie
- Hard Money, Soft Touch (1959) ... Dobie
 1959 Trackdown (TV Series)
Joker Wells
- Hard Lines (1959) ... Joker Wells (as Jim Coburn)
 1959 O homem que luta só
Whit
 1958 Wagon Train (TV Series)
Ike Daggett
- The Millie Davis Story (1958) ... Ike Daggett
 1958 General Electric Theater (TV Series)
Claude Firman
- Ah There, Beau Brummel (1958) ... Claude Firman
 1958 Suspicion (TV Series)
Carson
- Voice in the Night (1958) ... Carson
 1957 Studio One (TV Series)
Sam
- The Night America Trembled (1957) ... Sam (as Jim Coburn)

Nota: o presente texto é uma adaptação de outros documentos constantes na Wikipedia e na IMDB.

T O P    F I V E  (Recomendado)

Os Sete Magníficos (1960)

A Grande Evasão (1963)

Major Dundee (1965)

Flint, Agente Secreto (1966), Flint, perigo supremo (1967)

Confrontação (1997)