Paula Murad Coburn
| Paula Murad Coburn | |
|---|---|
| Born |
October 31, 1955 Kingston, Jamaica |
| Died |
July 30, 2004 (aged 48) Beverly Hills, California |
| Occupation | Actress, television host |
| Years active | 1991–2004 |
| Spouse(s) | James Coburn (m. 1993; d. 2002) |
Paula Josephine Murad Coburn[1] (October 31, 1955 - July 30, 2004), also known as Paula O'Hara[2] was a Jamaican-born American actress and television host.
Early life
Murad was born on October 31, 1955 in Jamaica to Leroy, a law professor, and Olive. She had three brothers, Claude, Mark and John, and three sisters, Ann, Catherine and Elizabeth. When she was a baby, the Murads moved to Cleveland.[1]
Career
Prior to her acting career, Murad resided in Washington, D.C., where she hosted a television show called Real Estate Digest.[1] Murad was also a television newsreader.[3] She later moved to Los Angeles, where she studied with acting coaches Warner Loughlin and Howard Fine.[1]
She appeared in the films The Set Up (1995) and American Gun (2002), both of which feature her husband James Coburn. She also appeared in an episode of USA High.[1]
Personal life and death
Murad met her future husband, actor James Coburn, in Los Angeles.[1] They married on October 22, 1993[1][2] or November 22, 1993.[4] Their marriage made her stepmother of Coburn's two children from his first marriage: Lisa and James IV.[1][4]
Murad and her husband founded the James and Paula Coburn Foundation.[1]
Coburn, who won an Oscar for his performance in Affliction (1998), mentioned Murad in his acceptance speech: "This, for my beautiful wife, Paula. She finally got to come to the Academy Awards. This is for you, baby!"[5]
Murad and Coburn remained together until his death on November 18, 2002.[2] The couple were at their Beverly Hills home listening to music together when Coburn died of a fatal heart attack.[4][6][7] According to Coburn's manager, Hillard Elkins, Coburn died in Murad's arms.[8]
On July 30, 2004, Murad died of cancer at her home in Beverly Hills.[9] She was 48 years old.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Actress Paula Coburn, Wife of Late Academy Award Winning Actor, James Coburn, Succumbs to Cancer at 48". PR Newswire. 4 August 2004. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Jerry Roberts, The Hollywood Scandal Almanac: 12 Months of Sinister, Salacious and Senseless History!, The History Press, 2012 p309
- ↑ "James Coburn". The Daily Telegraph. 20 November 2002. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- 1 2 3 Paul Donnelley, Fade to Black: A Book of Movie Obituaries, Music Sales Group, 2003 p161
- ↑ "Actor James Coburn dies at age 74". United Press International. 19 November 2002. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ↑ Grace, Francie (19 November 2002). "Actor James Coburn Dead At Age 74". CBS News. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ↑ Borger, Julian (19 November 2002). "James Coburn, Hollywood tough guy, dies at 74". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ↑ Sahagun, Louis (19 November 2002). "James Coburn, 74; Actor Won an Oscar Late in His Career". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ↑ "Paula Coburn". Los Angeles Times. 7 August 2004. Retrieved 20 February 2016.