# 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:** 3
**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 14, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/41 "2011-05-14T01:32:38Z")
Really, I meant _that illustration_ is what “Anglo” looks like, moreso than what Cecil Rhodes, the actual man, actually looked like. You are correct that Cecil Rhodes did have some Eastern looking features, especially as a [young man.](http://www.kapstadt.org/images/images-08/rhodes/rhodes-3g.jpg) Maybe Rhodes is a bad example of what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/42 "2011-05-14T21:01:36Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Me too. I’m not sure where people are getting Asian from the photos posted in this thread. Looks a lot like [Peter Lorre](http://extremecatholic.blogspot.com/images/peter-lorre.jpg) who apparently was Hungarian. However, he did play some Asian characters too. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/43 "2011-05-14T21:48:04Z")
You know, not all squinty-eyed people have Asian ancestry to thank for it. Some of them just have narrow or heavy-lidded eyes. Trying to use that as “proof” that he must have Sami ancestry is kind of a reach. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/44 "2011-05-14T22:05:32Z")
**Argent Towers** , you seem to be reacting to seeing his wide, rounded face and assuming that must be an Asian feature. It is not isolated to Asians, and not exclusive of Europeans. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/45 "2011-05-14T22:11:41Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conflate](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conflate) [Yes, it was the wrong word.](http://galleyproofs.blogspot.com/2008/09/usage-tip-conflate-vs-confuse.html) Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/46 "2011-05-16T03:58:29Z")
Frankly, for my money, I think [Lee Marvin](http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&biw=1024&bih=578&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Lee+Marvin&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=) and [Charles Bronson](http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&biw=1024&bih=578&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Charles+Bronson&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=)look even more Asian. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/47 "2011-05-16T04:47:23Z")
Hmmm… is there such a thing as “eyelid circumcision” to get rid of that unsightly and possibly unsanitary flap of skin? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/48 "2011-05-16T04:59:30Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Hmmm… is there such a thing as “eyelid circumcision” to get rid of that unsightly and possibly unsanitary flap of skin? 🙂 There actually was such a fad among East and Southeast Asian girls who wanted to look more Western. I think it’s fallen out of fashion, as I’ve not heard of it for a while now. The No-1 squinter would probably be Clint Eastwood. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/49 "2011-05-16T05:04:10Z")
Since the factual aspects of this, such as they were, seem to have been addressed a long time ago, perhaps it’s time to send this to Cafe Society. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**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 16, 2011, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/50 "2011-05-16T05:18:10Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Frankly, for my money, I think [Lee Marvin](http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&biw=1024&bih=578&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Lee+Marvin&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=) and [Charles Bronson](http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&biw=1024&bih=578&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Charles+Bronson&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=)look even more Asian. Charles Bronson was a Lipka Tatar and therefore probably has Mongol ancestry. It is no surprise to see Asiatic features in his face. Marvin is a strange case; he does look exotic, but his facial features are extremely strong, fleshy and pronounced, not generally an Asian trait. His ancestry apparently is from the eastern part of England. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/51 "2011-05-16T05:36:33Z")
I was looking on Wikipedia to see if Coburn or Marvin might have American Indian ancestry, but I can’t see anything to that effect. (Reason being that Native Americans might be considered an offshoot Asian ethnicity.) ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/52 "2011-05-16T05:41:31Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > There actually was such a fad among East and Southeast Asian girls who wanted to look more Western. I think it’s fallen out of fashion, as I’ve not heard of it for a while now. I’m not sure if it’s the same thing as what you’re talking about, but [blepharoplasty](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Asian_blepharoplasty) is still popular in some parts of Asia. I’ve heard that something like 40% of Korean women have the prodecure. It’s not always solely for cosmetic reasons: I undertand that a very pronounced epicanthic fold can make one susceptible to ingrown eyelashes. Ouch! ---
**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 16, 2011, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/53 "2011-05-16T05:55:52Z")
All three of the Google ads are for silver and gold coins. What’s that all about? Another actor, this one more current, whose facial features have always baffled me: [Kevin Durand.](http://www.google.com/search?complete=1&hl=en&q=kevin%20durand&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1178&bih=658) Probably best known as Keamy from _Lost,_ and Little John in the execrable _Robin Hood_ with Russel Crowe, this guy is Canadian and as far as I can tell from looking around, his ethnicity is listed only as “white.” But really, his face looks remarkably Japanese. He looks similar to numerous guys I know who are half-Japanese and half-white. He played a Mexican character in _The Butterfly Effect_. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/54 "2011-05-16T06:03:44Z")
I never thought that Coburn looked in the least bit Oriental. But then, in grad school, I met a Korean student, who reminded me \*very \*strongly of James Coburn! So I can see what you are driving at… ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/55 "2011-05-16T06:06:58Z")
Kevin Durand has the same droopy upper eyelid skin that overhangs the crease and reaches nearly to the lashes, making his eyes look a bit Asian. [Tom Cavanaugh](http://www.google.com/search?q=Thomas+Cavanagh&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=T8W&rls=Palemoon:en-US:unofficial&prmd=ivnso&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Qb7QTdqvIYzSsAP1w8ioCw&ved=0CDkQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=638)’s are much the same. It happens to most people as they age, but it looks a little Asian when it occurs prematurely in people who are younger. It doesn’t make them part Asian. ---
**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 16, 2011, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/56 "2011-05-16T06:14:33Z")
Eh, kind of, but nobody would ever cast that guy as a non-white character, whereas they obviously thought Durand was exotic enough to pull it off. [Butterfly Effect.](http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTM2NjE1NjAxM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzg0MzE3MQ@@._V1._SX604_SY336_.jpg) He was supposed to be a Mexican gangster, but really, to me he looks Japanese. [Durand.](http://images.starpulse.com/Photos/pv/Kevin%20Durand-1.jpg) Looks almost exactly like a half-Japanese guy that I know. Cavanaugh may have similar eyes, but his face overall has strong European features. [Durand,](http://www.malestarz.com/uploads/photos/0e251ddb8e73ab0346a79650179423599.jpg) on the other hand, has a very smooth face, what taxonomists would call “gracile.” ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/57 "2011-05-16T06:21:41Z")
That’s what I said. It’s the droopy upper eyelid flap that gives the eyes the look that you take for Japanese. They all have it. The rest of James Coburn’s face doesn’t look at all Japanese, either. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/58 "2011-05-16T07:50:00Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > I was looking on Wikipedia to see if Coburn or Marvin might have American Indian ancestry, but I can’t see anything to that effect. (Reason being that Native Americans might be considered an offshoot Asian ethnicity.) You think if anybody fucked an Indian in the15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, even late 19th early twentieth century anybody would admit it in their family tree? ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/59 "2011-05-16T07:57:36Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > You think if anybody fucked an Indian in the15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, even late 19th early twentieth century anybody would admit it in their family tree? [Yes.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocohontas#Descendants) ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/60 "2011-05-16T08:16:30Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > You think if anybody fucked an Indian in the15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, even late 19th early twentieth century anybody would admit it in their family tree? Of course they would, even to the point of stretching the truth or making it up. IME it’s a quite point of pride for some otherwise thoroughly whitebread folks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251.md?page=4)