# What race was James Coburn? Was he part Asian? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251 "2011-04-21T16:58:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/21 "2011-04-21T22:20:41Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Coburn’s Swedish roots may include ethnic Sami (aka Lapp) people. A good portion of Sami have [epicanthic folds on their eyelids](http://www.baiki.org/images/postcard_mother.jpg), though not as pronounced as those of East Asian peoples. That has got to be the ticket right there. Similar bone structure of the face too. Bjork, who many people confuse for Asian, is probably also of this ancestry. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/22 "2011-04-21T22:29:36Z")
I have no idea about Bjork ( though it has been speculated before ), but notoriously squinty-eyed actress Renee Zellweger is apparently of Norwegian Sami descent on her mother’s side. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/23 "2011-04-22T00:43:41Z")
So, you’re saying there’s a Mongolian in the woodpile, eh? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/24 "2011-04-22T01:55:31Z")
Very disorienting. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/25 "2011-04-22T02:07:42Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Actors are surprising. I was always amazed at David Carradine, who played Kwai Chang Caine on the TV show _Kung Fu_ . He also plsyed Atahualpa the Incan Emperor in Peter Shaffer’s play _The Royal Hunt of the Sun_\*, and I could see how he would’ve been perfect. But as far as I know his ancestry was completely western Yeah, but he was turning Japanese at the time of his death. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/26 "2011-04-22T02:25:22Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > Yeah, but he was turning Japanese at the time of his death. Thread over, we have a winner! ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/27 "2011-04-22T16:20:35Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Well, actors sometimes have a way of changing their bios, though I don’t know why he would have done that. …especially since he died before his wikipedia article was written. Here’s a [link](http://replay.web.archive.org/20071024131657/http://newenglandancestors.org/education/articles/research/special_guests/member_staff/james_coburn_1928_2002_a_genealogical_tribute_659_510.asp) to that article on his genealogy. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/28 "2011-04-22T16:30:41Z")
Can’t conveniently link on mobile, but I’ve always wondered about First Sea Lord Jackie Fisher. Looking at pictures a century old, there’s no way that guy wasn’t half Asian. Any Brits know who I’m talking about? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/29 "2011-04-22T16:32:21Z")
> [@Telperion](#): > > Warner Oland, famous for playing Charlie Chan and Fu Manchu in the 1930’s, was also Swedish. He also played Dr. Yogami (clearly supposed to be Japanese) in the 1935 movie **Werewolf of London** He also played a slew of Asian characters, as seen in his iMDB rentry. But also a lot of Russian roles, which is telling – that same look can be classified as “Russian”, too: > **[Warner Oland | Actor, Soundtrack](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0645941/)** > > Known for: The Black Camel, Charlie Chan in Shanghai, The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/30 "2011-04-22T16:40:37Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > So, you’re saying there’s a Mongolian in the woodpile, eh? 😉 I almost never think of WC Fields’ “Ethiopian in the fuel supply” remark. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/31 "2011-04-22T16:57:25Z")
The Tilly sisters, Meg and Jennifer, are half Asian. ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/32 "2011-05-11T02:57:33Z")
bump-worthy post. here in the Philippines, both men and women say he had the sexiest voice of all hollywood actors (referring to the Carlsberg commercial.) i guess that’s a plus for the asian theory. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/33 "2011-05-11T13:30:50Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Very disorienting. It was completely occidental, I assure you! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/34 "2011-05-11T14:45:13Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Can’t conveniently link on mobile, but I’ve always wondered about First Sea Lord Jackie Fisher. Looking at pictures a century old, there’s no way that guy wasn’t half Asian. Any Brits know who I’m talking about? I looked him up…he absolutely looks Asian. Very interesting looking guy. Very interesting guy in general. (He actually coined the acronym “OMG”, believe it or not.) [Here](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3101/3166584898_35c854a9b6.jpg) is his photo. Very handsome facial proportions, in my opinion - although he refers to himself as “ugly,” I think he he is being uncharitable. But he certainly does not look like he is of 100% European ancestry. He looks at least 1/4 Asian. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/35 "2011-05-11T20:37:35Z")
Like I said before, it’s all about the eyelids. The eyelids are foldy on top, but he doesn’t have epicanthic folds at the nose. He looks completely Anglo to me. ---
**Author:** ![brocks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@brocks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brocks)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/36 "2011-05-11T21:34:27Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > The Tilly sisters, Meg and Jennifer, are half Asian. Jennifer’s boobs must be the other half. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/37 "2011-05-11T22:31:39Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I looked him up…he absolutely looks Asian. Very interesting looking guy. Very interesting guy in general. (He actually coined the acronym “OMG”, believe it or not.) > > [Here](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3101/3166584898_35c854a9b6.jpg) is his photo. Very handsome facial proportions, in my opinion - although he refers to himself as “ugly,” I think he he is being uncharitable. But he certainly does not look like he is of 100% European ancestry. He looks at least 1/4 Asian. Actually, he reminds me of [Bud Cort](http://sf360.linkingarts.com/images/441.jpg), who is another very mysterious-looking person. He, too, looks like he might be part Asian in some small proportion, possibly Japanese. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/38 "2011-05-12T03:11:56Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > He looks completely Anglo to me. Me too. I’m not sure where people are getting Asian from the photos posted in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/39 "2011-05-12T03:31:34Z")
[Jackie Fisher as a young man.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/JohnFisherMidshipman1856-60.jpg) He looks like an Asian (Malay) version of Bud Cort (Harold and Maude.) [Jackie Fisher as an old man.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Adm._John_Fisher.jpg) Everything about him looks exotic - his lips, his nose, his eyes. I can’t see how anyone could look at this guy and say “he looks Anglo.” [This](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Cecil_Rhodes_by_Violet_manners.jpg) is what “Anglo” looks like. ---
**Author:** ![sjc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@sjc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sjc)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/40 "2011-05-14T01:23:45Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > [Jackie Fisher as a young man.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/JohnFisherMidshipman1856-60.jpg) He looks like an Asian (Malay) version of Bud Cort (Harold and Maude.) > > [Jackie Fisher as an old man.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Adm._John_Fisher.jpg) Everything about him looks exotic - his lips, his nose, his eyes. I can’t see how anyone could look at this guy and say “he looks Anglo.” > > [This](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Cecil_Rhodes_by_Violet_manners.jpg) is what “Anglo” looks like. I think that the two actually look a bit similar, particularly if you look at some of the photos of Rhodes on his wikipedia entry: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil\_Rhodes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Rhodes). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251.md?page=3)