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He was described by one critic as "the devil's expression after Eve slipped Adam the apple," but these days James Coburn could easily play God - white of hair and beard, his skin well worn and leathery, he has the air of a man who has seen it all. And in a career that's spanned several decades, that may not be too far from the truth.
Coburn was the original Austin Powers in the Flint movies, his favourite of which was In Like Flint. But get past that stunning grin and there was a lot more to him than met the eye.
Born in Nebraska on August 31st, 1928, Coburn has over 100 film and TV appearances to his name although fame came relatively soon after his big screen debut.
A year after making the movie Ride Lonesome in 1959, he was chosen for an integral part in The Magnificent Seven. That classic Western soon put him high on the lists of many a casting agent and before long, the roles started flooding in.
The Great Escape was one of the most successful War films in history and a few years later, Coburn was neck deep in espionage during the crazy days of Sixties psychedelia for Our Man Flint.
Derek Flint have been lumbered with a name more akin to Coronation Street than Cold war escapism but he was still a smash with audiences who needed a break from the political unrest of the time.
In the past few years, Coburn has made a few cameos in movies such as The Nutty Professor and Payback, but finally achieved critical acclaim and won an Oscar last year for his role opposite Nick Nolte in the acclaimed movie Affliction.
Now 71, Coburn is stricken with arthritis (a condition he attributes to the 'negative influence' of a divorce 20 years ago), but still cuts a remarkably distinguished figure.
He may be something of an icon to the lads mag generation, but his views on women can leave many viewers hurling abuse at the box.
Coburn states: "I believe I am a kind of feminist. I believe that women should take a responsibility for themselves, instead of expecting everything to be given to them because they are women."
