I think was in my thirties before I realized that James Coburn and Lee Marvin were two different people. 

I still forget who played what.  Same features, same age, same era, arched eyebrows, prematurely grey.  Ostensibly the same height and weight in their prime (6′-1″, 187 lbs). Both play cowboys and heavies.  One was in The Dirty Dozen, one was in The Magnificent Seven.  One was shot by the The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, one was in The Muppet Movie. One was in a John Ford western with John Wayne; one was in a non-Western John Ford comedy with John Wayne.  Both appeared on episodes of The Twilight Zone and Route 66. One was in a mystery with Audrey Hepburn. One won an Oscar for a Western comedy.  One was on a Paul McCartney album cover.

There are differences, and with practice one can discern between the two.  Marvin’s got that deep resonant bass voice, while Coburn has more of a snarly drawl. Coburn is lankier. Both can deliver a wide smile, but it comes easier to Coburn. Lee Marvin purses his lips together. Marvin’s characters have more of an evil edge to them, but Coburn is no slouch in the malevolence department, partly because of that smile.

So just to help out anyone else out there who might be in the same boat, I’ve created this primer. Cut it out and put in your wallet.

James Coburn:

1928-2002

  • lots of tv in the 50s, especially westerns
  • did a Route 66 & Twilight Zone episode
  • voice is usually a snarly Texas drawl
  • Lanky
  • Wide smile, comes easy
  • KNIFE THROWER IN MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
  • Twilight Zone episode "The Old Man in the Cave", 1963
  • Route 66 episode "Kiss the Monster - Make Him Sleep, 1964
  • The Magnificent Seven, 1960
  • The Great Escape, 1963
  • Charade, 1963
  • Our Man Flint, 1966
  • In Like Flint, 1967
  • Duck, You Sucker ,1971
  • Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, 1973
  • The Muppet Movie, 1979

Lee Marvin:

1924-1987

  • showed up in movies earlier, but also did a lot of 50s tv
  • did TWO Route 66 episodes & Twilight Zone apiece
  • voice is deep resonant bass
  • Less lanky
  • Pursed lips, breaks into wide smile that takes work
  • DIRTY DOZEN 
  • Won Best Actor Oscar for CAT BALLOU
  • Twilight Zone episode "The Grave", 1961
  • Twilight Zone episode "Steel", 1963
  • Route 66 episode "Mon Petie Chou", 1961
  • Route 66 episode "Sheba", 1961
  • The Wild One, 1953
  • Bad Day at Black Rock, 1955
  • The Comancheros, 1961
  • The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, 1962
  • Donovan's Reef, 1963
  • The Killers, 1964
  • Cat Ballou, 1965
  • The Dirty Dozen, 1967
  • The Professionals, 1967
  • The Big Red One, 1980

POP QUIZ:

ANSWER: Jame Coburn.

They once appeared together on Marvin’s television show M Squad in 1959 before Coburn’s hair turned grey.  The guy with his back to us is Leonard Nimoy…