# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/61 "2011-05-16T12:03:09Z")
> [@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. Bronson’s appearance is not at all uncommon among eastern Europeans. One of my great-uncles carried the nickname “Chink” through most of his life because of his eyelids. Two of my cousins through my dad’s sister have the same features. We always chalked it up to their being a Mongol or Tatar someplace in the family tree. ---
**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, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/62 "2011-05-16T13:46:38Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > 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. Yeah, that’s it. Dropped in popularity down here in recent years, especialy since the Thais started wanting to be Korean instead of Western. All things Korean are popular now. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/63 "2011-05-16T14:00:28Z")
I think Jackie Fisher looks like [Graham Greene](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001295/). StG ---
**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:** [May 16, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/64 "2011-05-16T20:14:54Z")
> [@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. But [this guy’s](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cache2.allpostersimages.com/p/MED/27/2770/PHXTD00Z/posters/roy-rogers.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.allposters.com/-st/Roy-Rogers-Posters_c66444_.htm&usg=__yx9AFeA6MIezWDzPJchMvLmIQuI=&h=160&w=128&sz=7&hl=en&start=10&zoom=1&itbs=1&tbnid=hbZq_4OhT0oioM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=78&prev=/search%3Fq%3Droy%2Brogers%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dig%26biw%3D1579%26bih%3D716%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&ei=T4TRTaHFFYOa0QHGtuTlDQ) got them both beat. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/65 "2011-05-16T22:45:18Z")
Something about John Wayne looks Asian in [this picture](http://whiteybeatz.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/conqueror8.jpg). I could have sworn that James Coburn was related to veteran character actor [Charles Coburn](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Coburn)but I can’t find confirmation of that. Does anybody know? ---
**Author:** ![GalileoSmith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f9ae1b/32.png) [@GalileoSmith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GalileoSmith)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/66 "2011-05-16T23:01:44Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Recently I watched the ridiculous _In Like Flint_, a spy spoof starring James Coburn. Throughout the film, I found myself wondering about the ethnic background of Coburn. He is a very interesting-looking man. He had extremely strong facial features, and there is definitely something about him that looks “exotic” to me. > > [Here](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=james%20coburn&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1416&bih=705) you can see for yourself a wide array of pictures of Coburn. > > [Here,](http://silverfoxes.provocateuse.com/images/photos/james_coburn_01.jpg) specifically, and [here,](http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/021119/967__coburn_l.jpg) I really think he looks part Japanese. James Coburn was a member of the “cool” race. Other members were Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, David McCallum, Warren Beatty, James Dean, Marlon Brando and James Garner. I apparently missed the cut. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/67 "2011-05-16T23:13:23Z")
> [@GalileoSmith](#): > > James Coburn was a member of the “cool” race. Other members were Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, David McCallum, Warren Beatty, James Dean, Marlon Brando and James Garner. I apparently missed the cut. You left out Dean Martin. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/68 "2011-05-17T00:44:29Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > You left out Dean Martin. And Yul Brynner. ---
**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 17, 2011, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/69 "2011-05-17T01:03:03Z")
And Sammy Davis Jr. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/70 "2011-05-17T01:13:43Z")
Even some people who have recent Asian ancestry don’t always have the epicanthic fold. I’ve known two guys who’s mothers were Japanese and whose father’s were American Caucasian, and until they mentioned their parentage I wouldn’t have known. I’ve seen photos of the children of Chang and Eng Bunker, the “Siamese” twins. They married American girls, sisters, from North Carolina. Some of the kids looked “Asian” and some did not, since the latter didn’t have the eyefold. ---
**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 17, 2011, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/71 "2011-05-17T01:13:54Z")
Sammy Davis Jr. had one of the best lines ever, when asked what his (golf) handicap was. “I’m a one-eyed black Jew…that’s my handicap!” ---
**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 17, 2011, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/72 "2011-05-17T07:46:42Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I could have sworn that James Coburn was related to veteran character actor [Charles Coburn](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Coburn)but I can’t find confirmation of that. Does anybody know? I thought Charles was James’ grandpaw. ---
**Author:** ![kath94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/67e7ee/32.png) [@kath94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kath94)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/73 "2011-05-17T18:37:28Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Well, actors sometimes have a way of changing their bios, though I don’t know why he would have done that. (It also says he grew up in Compton.) . . . and attended Compton Junior College. My mother did, too, and used to get alumni updates. Unfortunately, it’s not anything to brag about today.☹ ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/74 "2011-05-18T02:06:40Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > 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. That’s a fairly recent and romanticized ideal, much the same as the whole classical story of Pocahontas, “Indian Princess” and “Noble Savage”. I imagine the truth is more likely that any “non-anglo” liasons or resultant children were divergent from the official family records and/or swept under the rug, much the same as “plantation children”. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/75 "2011-05-18T02:24:30Z")
Well, you go on imagining, friend, and when you have any cites feel free to share. As for me, I know for a fact that people associated with my family have been boasting of, or at least acknowleding, some Indian heritiage since at least WWII. > [@devilsknew](#): > > That’s a fairly recent and romanticized ideal, much the same as the whole classical story of Pocahontas, “Indian Princess” and “Noble Savage”. If by “recent” you mean since the 17th century (Pocahontas) or 18th century (Noble Savage), I suppose you might have a point. Indeed, in times before the Mayflower I “imagine” you’d be hard pressed to find any white families boasting of Indian grandparents. Good call, sir! ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/76 "2011-05-18T02:35:17Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Well, you go on imagining, friend, and when you have any cites feel free to share. As for me, I know for a fact that people associated with my family have been boasting of, or at least acknowleding, some Indian heritiage since at least WWII. > > If by “recent” you mean since the 17th century (Pocahontas) or 18th century (Noble Savage), I suppose you might have a point. Indeed, in times before the Mayflower I “imagine” you’d be hard pressed to find any white families boasting of Indian grandparents. Good call, sir! Oh, my family claims some Indian Heritage, too. And I don’t doubt mine nor yours. I’m just saying that the ideal is maybe a bit different from the reality and truth of the matter. Our Country’s founders (English) were pretty conservative about interbreeding and there have always been some rather harsh social consequences to that in the past, much less so than the Spanish or Portugese, for instance. There might even be some centarians around who still remember the prejudices of the late 19th early 20th century about Indians and all of the Indian Fighters and Trail of Tears. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/77 "2011-05-18T02:40:32Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Our Country’s founders (English) were pretty conservative about interbreeding, much less so than the Spanish or Portugese for instance. I’m sure the peers of Washington and Jefferson might have been so, but I always figured that hardscrabble sodbusting frontiersmen were more practical. Also, I thought that it was in Latin America that a caste system was much more clearly defined between mulatto, mestizo, zambo and so on, and the purebred Spanish families would have been mightily insulted at the suggestion of an Aztec in the aquifer. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/78 "2011-05-18T02:47:00Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > I’m sure the peers of Washington and Jefferson might have been so, but I always figured that hardscrabble sodbusting frontiersmen were more practical. > > Also, I thought that it was in Latin America that a caste system was much more clearly defined between mulatto, mestizo, zambo and so on, and the purebred Spanish families would have been mightily insulted at the suggestion of an Aztec in the aquifer. Oh, quite right. That’s what I’m saying, there was a whole lotta fucking going on, but it wasn’t reflected in the “official family record” or pedigree. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/79 "2011-05-20T06:07:50Z")
Not unlike Der Arnolds predickament. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251/80 "2011-05-20T06:35:29Z")
I imagine that now a lot of Mexicans will be thinking that Der Arnolds Ninyo del Amour is awfully Alleman looking? He might have a future in movies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-was-james-coburn-was-he-part-asian/579251.md?page=5)