Magnificent Coburn died of a heart attack last night.

19/11/02
Hollywood Star James Coburn Dies

Oscar winning actor James Coburn died last night at his home in Los Angeles.

He was listening to music with his wife Paula when he was struck down with a severe heart attack at around 5pm (1am UK time).

	" He was very happy and very calm "
	Coburn's manager, Hillard Elkins

He made his name as a gravel-voiced "tough guy", with minor parts in various westerns such as Bonanza and The Magnificent Seven. Coburn racked up a huge array of credits starring in blockbuster films including 1960's hits The Great Escape, Charade and more recently The Nutty Professor and Maverick.

After acting for 40 years with little recognition, in 1998 Coburn was finally awarded an Oscar for his role as Nick Nolte's abusive alcoholic father in the film Affliction.

The star's family and friends are said to be in a state of shock at the news of his death, as he'd been an active man and seemed in good health. He and his wife had just put their $5.9m mansion up for sale so they could go travelling.

His Manager Hillard Elkins sounded choked as he spoke to reporters this morning, but he said Coburn was, "very happy and very calm" when he died.

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