James Coburn Wins Supporting Actor: 1999 Oscars

Kim Basinger presenting James Coburn with the Oscar® for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in "Affliction" at the 71st Academy Awards® in 1999. Introduced by Whoopi Goldberg.

[@jamesmoyner7499]

I can’t believe that the audience is not standing up for him winning an Oscar after a long career in the cinema!

[@LPMAN02]

RIP James Coburn (August 31, 1928 - November 18, 2002), aged 74 You will be remembered as a legend.

[@lookingforwyatteearp3137]

His beautiful young wife also passed away not long after him. She was too young.

[@tpampouk]

It came so late for this underrated amazing old school actor. But he did it. He deserved it . RIP James Coburn.

[@ethnicleanserberg7975]

JOHN GOODMAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED!

[@seankoontz4235]

@Ethnicleanser Berg For what?

[@christofferjenzen78]

The big Lebowski. Know Im late​ but its true.@@seankoontz4235

[@trumancapote9097]

They shouldn't have tried to play him off like that!! JAMES COBURN waited 50 YEARS to win that Oscar. Great actor with a magnificent voice sadly silenced only a few years later.

[@santiagonavarro125]

It took Christopher Plummer 80 years.

[@ironcito1101]

It's so obnoxious when they do that. It's not the award for best sound editing in a short foreign film, or whatever. It's best supporting actor, and he's a legend. Still, they can't give him two friggin' minutes to speak.

[@triciajohansen9295]

Good choices, tough decision!😎

[@fozzieatdetourbillnye5514]

@Stefano Pavone That's good. I bet he did know it

[@headshotsongs9465]

He won it with his wife sitting front row. Cool.

[@TheWasif]

What a voice. What a legend.

[@dneiss89]

James Coburn was a great actor. Rest in Peace

[@lucasgameskleijweg3603]

Dennis waternoose

[@richrome9897]

Along with Steve McQueen one of the Coolest dudes to ever grace the Screen.

[@hectorespinosa6599]

Two of Bruce Lee's students

[@jderrickson4597]

He deserved this. His role in 'Affliction' was *PHENOMENAL*

[@9114SouthCentralAv]

Absolutely! He was downright frightening, particularly in those flashback scenes.

[@codyhoskins1319]

I just watched Affliction and he's truly chilling in that role. I also found out that this was the only award he actually took home that year and none from any of the other award ceremonies. That's pretty rare when typically the same people keep winning the acting categories at every major award show. Coburn's win must have been one of those terrific surprises for a little film that hasn't gotten a lot of notice since then.

[@seankoontz4235]

It wasn’t common back then for an actor to win every award

[@kaejae24]

Even if he had lost , James Coburn got to go home with that absolutely beautiful woman, his wife. Lucky Man Indeed

[@ireneshurutova3447]

For 40 years Hollywood had been possessing this treasure, this marvellous combination of inborn talent and acquired style James Coburn by name. His teacher, Stella Adler could be proud of him for he never lost his unique style and never was boring. James Coburn was a really great actor and deserved this reward and the triumph.

[@docdave15]

Man James has an awesome voice.

[@jakartaman633]

Great underrated actor who finally got the recognition he so richly deserved. And that voice? If there's ever been a better one, I'm yet to hear it.

[@paulalexandermanley6479]

You can imagine it's what God would sound like

[@richspinaci8293]

An amazing actor who definitely deserved the Oscar. The definition of class and style. RIP Mr Coburn

[@rocknral]

James Coburn, Morgan Freeman, Orson Welles. Great voices.

[@herodotusfumosus4753]

Lovely acceptance speech. Humble and full of genuine emotion. No artificial heartstrings.

[@richspinaci8293]

A true gentleman

[@docdave15]

"My my my" Damn he's got an awesome voice.

[@anthonya1151]

He was cool as Mr. Waternoose in Monsters, Inc.

[@eivindgjengstjohansen9625]

Had i heard that voice behind me my blood pressure would be through the roof

[@danswitzer2733]

James was one of my movie heroes, , along with Yul B. Steve M ,Charles B. I think they deserved more recognition than they got.

[@MarcusAurelius21]

Yes and don't forget Lee Marvin he was amazing too

[@ronaldh8446]

Coburn was the epitomy of cool. One of the best voices and a fantastic persona. Thornton gave one of my favorite performances ever in A Simple Plan and I wished he would've won. But he had already been awarded an Oscar two years earlier. Watching this favorite of mine accept the award after decades of great work - and knowing now that two years later he would pass away - I'm glad he had this moment.

[@siabdelkaderfouad3330]

RIP James Coburn

[@dobazajr]

And so was his wife. His wife Paula died of cancer.

[@XJoe360]

He has a great voice, was definitely not wasted for Monsters Inc

[@LenHummelChannel]

What a very lovely and heartfelt tribute to his wife also at the very end. I understand he died in her arms several years later. quite a life, indeed.

[@peliche77]

Yes, and she died of cancer at the age of 48 only two years after James Coburn. Truly sad.

[@EBSJones4]

A man who never lose his looks or gravelly, gorgeous voice.

[@depaola63]

This man was class! Great era of actors!! I am now 54 and remember all of those legends!

[@SLopyshOOter1497]

Robert DuVall looks genuinely happy for James Coburn

[@marioiacolucci]

too bad james died

[@danswitzer2733]

everybody dies. he made it to 74. be happy he gave us movies we can continue to enjoy watching until the day we go too.

[@MichaelHonscar]

His wife died two years after he did. Especially sad considering she was only 48 when she died.

[@870Rem12gauge]

He wasn't there.

[@Claude-Eckel]

You mean Nick Nolte?

[@dwood37]

He was superb in this role! SO we’ll deserved and I loved his speech!!!

[@CJODell12]

Coburn's performance in Affliction and his win for that film I feel has been unfairly maligned. I've seen it and he was fantastic.

[@1StIwY1]

One of the best actor ever......we miss you :-( Hail from Italy

[@paulalexandermanley6479]

He would have made an interesting James Bond.

[@1StIwY1]

@@paulalexandermanley6479 Dunno, I dislike Bond's movies.

[@headshotsongs9465]

"For my beautiful wife Paula." It had a Hollywood ending.

[@singingindark12]

such a sweet speech sir. RIP

[@RICCARDOREARDON]

UNCLE-MR.JAMES COBURN IS JUST SUCH A VASTLY UNDERRATED ACTOR... I LOVE..ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS GUY!!!!!

[@stupidfox6169]

I feel like John Goodman from The Big Lebowski should’ve been at least nominated. That man really tied the movie together.

[@dldee912]

RIP James Coburn RIP Paula O'Hara Coburn

[@Zenobiadream]

Kathy Bates sitting next to James Coburn is sooooo adorable!!!

[@ScottRoney]

That was an outstanding group of nominees! He could and I’m sure was justly proud of his selection as the winner. Wow what a tremendous group of actors.

[@4Micstromme]

He probably deserved it as he is a terrific actor. I loved his character in the 1963 film "Charade", starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. Great film that was.

[@CYP0]

Charade is a phenomenal movie. His performance was brilliantly creepy and sinister.

[@mariakelly4179]

4Micstromme And let's not forget Our Man Flint.

[@870Rem12gauge]

The guy had so much range as an actor.

[@TheChannelTV-bt8em]

+Joe Smith ... and rarely got the chance to show it off as he did in this movie. What a performance!!

[@870Rem12gauge]

When Coburn stepped in front of a film camera, he was all business. His role in Hard Times is very under rated.

[@KOHF34]

He was incredibly humble here. RIP, James.

[@adamzanzie]

Now's there's a fucking great actor. Can you believe this was his first and only Oscar nomination? I bet he would have gotten one for Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid if only the studio hadn't butchered it during its initial release. At any rate, his win for Affliction was well-deserved.

[@bobbydazzler1780]

Now go watch him in ‘A fistful if dynamite’ one of the most underrated movies ever with Coburn about as charismatic as an actor can be playing his part with such brilliance. Steiger also sublime. 50 years ago in 1971 - man oh man.

[@headshotsongs9465]

In his speech, he recognized the people that played in it and who put that movie together. Coburn was also a script writer and knew the behind the scenes work involved.

[@vfigueroa1]

I always liked him! Bruce Lee would be proud of him1

[@KINGSBLACKBELT]

ONE OF THE GREATEST..!!

[@triciajohansen3027]

Coburn was the man! RIP🙏😪

[@whitejosh444]

Wow... don't ever cut off someone like this. He is a legend in the film biz

[@billfisher9238]

he was genuinely great in AFFLICTION. sadly, his role was very much like my own father. i'd never seen any portrayal that was so close to home.

[@eamonndeane587]

Having seen the film, you have my sympathies for having a similarly awful father.

[@bardoface]

He kicked butt in that role. He deserved a standing ovation because of his career. Shameful to cue music on him also. A legend!

[@mikeb1828]

so well-deserved, his performance was haunting....playing a devil of a father!

[@DANIELLE_BREANNA_LACY]

Was also haunting playing a crab/spider monster who was secretly evil.

[@scottm8579]

I'd have given it to Billy Bob. But all of them deserved it. One of the toughest calls ever.

[@brianmarshall4753]

Actor James coburn first oscar award his a brilliant actor sadly missed RIP 🙏🏻

[@AtlasUniverse]

Kim Basinger always was a stunning woman. I adore her. Yes, she won the Oscar but Kim is very underrated as an actress though.

[@headshotsongs9465]

Sometimes beauty works against you.

[@dreamthedream8929]

How can she be underrated and have an oscar? How do these even go together?

[@AtlasUniverse]

@@dreamthedream8929 After that Oscar win she was criticized for almost every movie she was in.

[@dreamthedream8929]

@@AtlasUniverse nicolas cage and Robert de niro too got critisised a lot after their oscar wins. Are they too underrated?

[@AtlasUniverse]

@@dreamthedream8929 Not if their films are crap

[@johnt7630]

Iconic actor - The Magnificent seven, The Great Escape, Our Man Flint etc. Well deserved.

[@kimkelly5512]

James was an excellent actor, he was one of the few actors that could do all roles, especially westerns!

[@Sati1979]

Lovely actor. You know what I find really sad? His wife, Paula, died 2 years after he did.

[@870Rem12gauge]

She was his rock. Looked after all the little day to day things. His arthritis was slowing him down.

[@lukess.s]

@Wilhelm Geisler lol it's been two years but I can't believe you compared morgan freeman to bill cosby

[@robertthechannel1799]

That’s Mr. Waternoose!

[@marclaw4511]

Shame it came so late in his career.

[@870Rem12gauge]

But well deserved.

[@ericandy88]

Indeed, this was definitely not a "career award" like most sometimes feel for someone at their age. James genuinely acted like the father from hell in this movie.

[@Scott_From_Maine]

Hardly. It was great that he wes getting such good roles so late in his career. I bet the award meant more to him than it would have when he was younger.

[@consman22]

He was lucky to get one at all

[@edwardcochran5060]

Actors don't act for awards. Actors act, because they have no choice. Just as you, and l breath, Actors, act.

[@ronniecassol5555]

coburn is very intimidatory

[@JustSomeCanadianGuy]

It's a great performance in a tiny movie not enough people have seen. Very deserving win.

[@leninm.plazas1922]

I thought that Mr. Waternoose was voiced by Gregory Peck. R.I.P James and Paula Coburn.

[@jamalselesi182]

James Coburn was one of the greatest actors in the world and Gary Busey was sitting in the audience as I can tell by his face and Whoopi Goldberg on him on stage to because he won the Academy award back in 1999 he’ll always be missed

[@number-ok9wg]

The knife scene in 'The m 7'......the coolest movie scene ever. At least for me!

[@dweisbord]

Cool that he thanked the now late Hilly Elkins, who was his manager and a very cool guy!

[@jimmy_the_squid9456]

Great actor, with the voice of a God

[@870Rem12gauge]

He could do NFL films.

[@m9f9l9]

I came to hear his speech since part of it is in the prologue of his authorized biography, Dervish Dust, that just came out. His daughter-in-law has done a wonderful job with the book.

[@ahlethescout8404]

Ed Harris was amazing in the Truman show and although I doubt he would’ve won that year I think Jim Carrey should’ve also been nominated for his performance as it is an amazing film that deserves so much praise which I think it received the imagine if it received more praise.

[@tomarmstrongproductions5418]

It's Mr. Waternoose from Monster's Inc.

[@lewisfraser4153]

*THIS HAS GONE FAR ENOUGH, TOM*

[@wolfgangamadeusmozart1293]

@@lewisfraser4153 she's home now! Just leave her alone!

[@wolfgangamadeusmozart1293]

@Stephen Gamers it doesn't have to be this way!

[@stephengamers]

@@wolfgangamadeusmozart1293 I can't do that, she's seen too much, you both have

[@stephengamers]

@@wolfgangamadeusmozart1293 I have no choice, times have changed, scaring isn't enough anymore

[@serenity20001]

Beautiful speech!

[@nicknicknick5305]

1. James Cobern 2. Ed Harris 3. Geoffrey Rush 4. Robert Duvall 5. Billy Bob Thornton

[@FilmDisney]

2:48 like a boss

[@vernonhardapple6983]

Everyone check out Mr Coburn in PAYBACK-- He slays and steals every scene in which he appears

[@dvdude30]

Definitely the best in the category.

[@tommypetersen2540]

CLASS CLASS CLASS. This was really a sad/happy farewell to sixties "cool". He was one of those actors that no matter the project, when you saw him on screen it was always "oooh, I like that l guy" He really should have been nominated for "Pat Garret and Billy the kid" but Hollywood had a hate on for Peckinpah thus the snub. Do yourself a favor and watch his later interviews, such a wise man.

[@barryrichman2874]

Mr Coburn is a legend. He died three years after winning this award.

[@user-tg3tj2nq6v]

And his young wife 2 years after him.

[@samuelokelly4941]

So richly deserved loved him in so many movies one of my favorites was Hard Times ! You were gift to us James Coburn !!

[@TheN158]

Wow just like Best Supporting Actress in 2000 everyone won something. Robert Duvall: SAG Geoffrey Rush: BAFTA Ed Harris: Golden Globe Billy Bob Thornton: Critics Choice James Coburn: Oscar

[@Charlie-rx3ni]

John Goodman should've at least received a nomination for the Big Lebowski

[@PatrickOCnMD]

Just a Legendary actor.

[@coltong2596]

R.I.P. James Coburn 1928-2002

[@jjgrey1488]

Anybody in Magnificent 7 has my undying loyalty..."Places that have a hold on you...None...Men you step aside for...None..."

[@AngelofMusic04]

Bill Murray should have been up for Rushmore. I haven't seen Affliction yet, but I hear great things about Coburn's performance.

[@kd17Burger]

First of all, there were rarely standing ovations during the 80's and 90's Not to mention, they were probably stunned that Billy Bob Thornton did not win, Thornton was the best, Duval a close second, then Coburn, Ed Harris and finally Geoffrey Rush in the least deserving nomination

[@izzycrybaby1164]

One part of me loves this, the other part is angrily screaming "Mr. F*ckin' Waternoose"

[@bobareeniobobareenio2935]

James Coburn: What a great man he was. What else can I say . It’s unlikely that we’ll ever see such actors as these again . ALthough, I hope we do . Unpretentious!

[@stephenhobbins4895]

R.I.P. James Harrison Coburn III 1928-2002 for the voice of Mr. Waternoose in the Pixar film Monsters, Inc and R.I.P. Paula Josephine O'Hara-Coburn 1955-2004 they will be missed

[@elvetrovfan]

capoislamort100 I was wondering why you said that James Coburn didn't age well? I thought he did and also of course, he suffered terribly from Rheumatoid Arthritis. A good actor and lovely to look at also. Should have lived much longer.

[@triciajohansen9295]

I agree!!!!!!!😎

[@TheChannelTV-bt8em]

In the long history of bastard fathers on film, Coburn's in Affliction was the best of them all. So deserved.

[@michaelmuldowney8]

Something of a surprise winner - as he had not won at any previous award shows that season. Probably worked in his favor - being a 70 year old veteran nominated for the first time. Audience was clearly practicing for their response to the Elia Kazan Award later on - by refusing Mr. Coburn a standing ovation.

[@consman22]

One of the best Oscar speech ever..and to think his wife died in 2004 at age of 48 2 years after James passed in 2002.

[@lapacker]

I love James Coburn. RIP. What a class act. He was the genuine article. Bless his beautiful eyes.

[@elianalima4388]

James Coburn R.I.P 🙏⚘️🕊

[@kylejarman2604]

An actor from a different era picking up an Oscar in modern times is testament to his ability. Beat some big competition and rightfully so. He was great in Affliction.

[@johnboy32064]

I had no memory of Coburn winning an Oscar. Never thought much of him as an actor and don’t remember him in the film but I do remember Nolte being brilliant in the film. I need to go back and watch it.

[@JenStylist]

James Coburn in Monsters, Inc.

[@supermariofan03]

For me this list should have been: James Coburn Robert Duvall Ed Harris Billy Bob Thornton Bill Murray

[@sorenthefilmbrony]

I'd also say Nick Nolte for The Thin Red Line. My pick for the win BTW.

[@uncreativelynamedchannel5887]

John Goodman in The Big Lebowski and Dylan Baker in Happiness. Don’t know how you can’t have these.

[@jamesmonroe7751]

Coburn joins anjelica huston. Why? Because they are Oscar winners whose grandfathers were Oscar winners that's why! Who could forget The Treasure of the Sierra Madre OR The More the Merrier! Amazing actors begat amazing grandchildren. Every supporting performance means something to the Coburns. They really made it count.

[@calebkief851]

My yearbook quote “I’ll kidnap a thousand children before I let his company die”

[@flaggerify]

Could've stood for him.

[@TheresiaSwiebel]

Wow! Great love for this great star , James Coburn!

[@WakandaBabe]

I love his voice. And that grin!! RIP

[@TaraAshleyTWILIGHT21]

Do you think Judi Dench deserved the win for Mrs. Brown or Notes on a Scandal?

[@stevenculver6416]

He was in my opinion the most underrated actor in the business. Watch dead heat on a merry go round, opening scene and you will understand why he was an amazing actor

[@user-tg3tj2nq6v]

He wasn't underrated, he was a big star in the 60s and earlly 70s.

[@Jensley_Report]

I loved his line in Payback. Mel shoots his luggage, "Thats mean man!! Just plain mean!"