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Charles Durning

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Charles Durning
Durning at the 2008 National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, D.C.
Born(1923-02-28)February 28, 1923
Highland Falls, New York, USA
DiedDecember 24, 2012(2012-12-24) (aged 89)
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery[1]
NationalityUnited States United States
OccupationActor
Years active1962–2012
Spouses
  • Carole Doughty (1959–1972; div.)
  • Mary Ann Amelio (1974–2010)
Children
  • Michele Durning
  • Douglas Durning
  • Jeanine Durning
Parents
  • Louise Durning (née Leonard; 1894–1982)
  • James Durning
Relatives
  • James G. Durning (brother)
  • Clifford John Durning (brother)
  • Frances Durning (sister)
  • Gerald J. Durning (brother)
  • 5 more sisters[1]
Military career
AllegianceUnited States United States
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service1944–1946
Rank Private First Class
Unit
Awards

Charles Durning (February 28, 1923 – December 24, 2012) was an American actor, with appearances in over 200 movies, television shows and plays.[2] Durning's memorable roles included the Oscar-winning The Sting (1973) and crime drama Dog Day Afternoon (1975), along with the comedies Tootsie, To Be or Not to Be and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, the last two of which earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He also won a Tony award for his portrayal of Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in 1990.

Early life

Durning was born in Highland Falls, New York, the fourth of ten children. His four brothers James (1915–2000), Clifford (1916–1994), Frances (born 1919) and Gerald Durning (born 1926) survived to adulthood, but his five sisters lost their lives to scarlet fever and smallpox as children.[1][3] His mother, Louise (née Leonard; 1894–1982), was an Irish immigrant and a laundress at West Point. His father, James Durning, was also an Irish immigrant who gained U.S. citizenship by joining the army.[4][5][6] Durning was raised Catholic, and was at one time considering becoming a priest.[7][8]

He received his first taste of acting as an usher at a burlesque theater in Buffalo, New York, where he took the place of one of the comedians who showed up too drunk to perform. He recalled years later that he was hooked as soon as he heard the audience laughing.[9]

Military service

Durning served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Drafted at age 21, he was first assigned as a rifleman with the 398th Infantry Regiment, and later served overseas with the 3rd Army Support troops and the 386th Anti-aircraft Artillery (AAA) Battalion.

Durning participated in the Normandy Invasion of France on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and was among the first troops to land at Omaha Beach. In Episode S03E09 of the program Dinner for Five, which also included Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise and Charles Nelson Reilly, Reynolds spoke about Durning's service career for him, as Durning did not like to talk about it much. Reynolds revealed that Durning was in a group of gliders who overshot their landing zone and that he had to fight alone all the way back to the beach. Reynolds also stated that his own father was there fighting about 15 yards away and that Durning was probably the most decorated veteran (then) still alive from World War II.[10] Some sources state that he was with the 1st Infantry Division at the time,[11] but it is unclear if he served as a rifleman or as a member of one of the division's artillery battalions.

Durning was wounded by a German “S” Mine on June 15, 1944 at La Mare des Mares, Normandy. He was transported to the 24th Evacuation Hospital and by June 17 he was in England at the 217th General Hospital. He was severely wounded by shrapnel in the left and right thighs, the right hand, the frontal head region, and the anterior left chest wall. Durning recovered quickly and was determined to be fit for duty on December 6, 1944. He arrived back at the front in time to take part in the Battle of the Bulge, the German counter-offensive through the Ardennes Forest of Belgium and Luxembourg in December 1944.[12][13] Subsequently, Durning was at one point captured by the Germans and reportedly narrowly escaped a massacre of prisoners.[14] (Whether this was the famed Malmedy massacre is a matter of dispute, since no official record of Durning's name associated with the massacre has been found, and Durning himself did not publicly claim to have been there.)

After being wounded again, this time in the chest, Durning was returned to the United States. He remained in Army hospitals until being discharged with the rank of Private First Class on January 30, 1946.

Durning was known for participating in various functions to honor American veterans. He was the chairman one year of the U.S. National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans.[15] He was an honored guest speaker at the National Memorial Day Concert for many years, televised by PBS every year on the Sunday evening of Memorial Day weekend.

For his valor and the wounds he received during the war, Durning was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and three Purple Heart medals.[16] Additional awards include the World War II Victory Medal.[17]

In April 2008 Durning received the National Order of the Legion of Honor from the French consul in Los Angeles, awarded to those who served with distinction in France. During the ceremony, Durning spoke about his wartime experiences.[18]

Acting career

Durning got his start on the New York stage and continued to return once or twice a decade. Among his most acclaimed performances were the role of Mayor George Sitkowski in the original production of Jason Miller's That Championship Season in 1973. His Tony Award winning performance as Big Daddy in the 1989 revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Matthew Harrison Brady to George C. Scott's Henry Drummond in the Tony Randall produced revival of Inherit the Wind in 1997, and Charley in the 1980 revival of Death of a Salesman also starring Dustin Hoffman and Kate Reid .

Durning's breakthrough film performance was in The Sting. In the film, Durning plays a corrupt policeman, Lieutenant Snyder, who polices and hustles professional con artists. He doggedly pursues the young grifter Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford), only to become the griftee in the end. By the end of his life, Durning had more than 100 film and television credits, including Queen of the Stardust Ballroom, When A Stranger Calls, Dog Day Afternoon (with Al Pacino), The Final Countdown, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and The Hindenburg. In 1976, he received both an Emmy and a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in the television mini-series Captains and the Kings. In 1979, he played Doc Hopper, a man who owns a frog leg restaurant and the main antagonist in 1979's The Muppet Movie. In Tootsie he plays a suitor to a cross-dressing Dustin Hoffman. The two actors worked together again in a 1985 TV production of Death of a Salesman. In 1993, Durning guest starred in the Sean Penn-directed music video for "Dance with the One That Brought You" by Shania Twain.

Other film roles include portrayals of the characters of Henry Larson, the benevolent father of Holly Hunter's character in Home for the Holidays (1995); "Pappy" O'Daniel, a cynical governor of Mississippi (a character loosely based on the Texas politician and showman W. Lee O'Daniel) in O Brother, Where Art Thou; and Victor Rasdale in Dirty Deeds. In 1996 he played Lew in the romantic comedy One Fine Day and Santa Claus in the Sesame Street home video "Elmo Saves Christmas".

On TV he played town doctor Harlan Eldridge on the Burt Reynolds sitcom Evening Shade (1990–1994). From 1998-2002, he had a recurring role on Everybody Loves Raymond as the Barone family's long-suffering parish priest, Father Hubley. He also played the voice of recurring character Francis Griffin in the animated series Family Guy until the episode Peter's Two Dads where the character died (although he later returned in the episode Family Goy to voice the ghost of Francis).

He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his portrayal of a Marine veteran in "Call of Silence," an episode of the television series NCIS, first broadcast November 23, 2004. Drawing on his first-hand knowledge of the lingering effects of battle-induced stress, Durning's character turns himself in to authorities, insisting that he must be prosecuted for having murdered his buddy during ferocious combat on Iwo Jima six decades earlier.[19] The real truth of the incident only becomes known for certain when the guilt-stricken veteran goes through a cathartic reliving of the battlefield events.

For his numerous roles on television, Durning earned nine Emmy Award nominations. He also received Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nominations for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1982 and for To Be or Not to Be in 1983. He won a Golden Globe in 1990 for his supporting role in the television miniseries The Kennedys of Massachusetts. He appeared on the FX television series Rescue Me, playing Mike Gavin, the retired firefighter father of Denis Leary's character.

Durning was honored with the Life Achievement Award at the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Award Ceremony on January 27, 2008. On July 31, 2008 he was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next to that of one of his idols, James Cagney.

His daughter, Jeanine Durning, is a New York-based modern dance performer and choreographer.

Death

Charles Durning died of unknown causes at his home in Manhattan, New York on December 24, 2012, aged 89.[20] In his obituary, the Los Angeles Times called Durning "the king of character actors".[21] The New York Times, which commented on Durning's more than 200 credited roles, referred to him and actor Jack Klugman, who died the same day, as "extraordinary actors ennobling the ordinary".[22] The Huffington Post compared the two men, calling them "character actor titans".[23]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1962 The Password Is Courage American GI (uncredited)
1965 Harvey Middleman, Fireman Dooley
1969 Stiletto Bit Part (uncredited)
1970 I Walk the Line Hunnicutt
1970 Hi, Mom! Superintendent as Charles Durnham
1971 The Pursuit of Happiness 2nd Guard
1972 Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues Murphy
1972 Deadhead Miles Red Ball Rider (Truck Driver in Cafe)
1972 Doomsday Voyage Jason's First Mate
1972-? Another World Gil McGowan (#1)
1973 Sisters Joseph Larch
1973 All in the Family Detective (Episode: "Gloria the Victim")
1973 The Sting Lt. Wm. Snyder
1974 The Front Page Murphy
1975 Dog Day Afternoon Det. Sgt. Eugene Moretti NBR Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
1975 The Hindenburg Capt. Pruss
1975 Breakheart Pass O'Brien
1975 Queen of the Stardust Ballroom Alvin "Al" Green Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
1976 Harry and Walter Go to New York Rufus T. Crisp
1976 Captains and the Kings Ed Healey Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
1977 The Choirboys Spermwhale Whalen
1977 Twilight's Last Gleaming President David Stevens
1978 An Enemy of the People Peter Stockmann
1978 The Fury Dr. Jim McKeever
1978 The Greek Tycoon Michael Russell
1979 Starting Over Michael (Mickey) Potter
1979 North Dallas Forty Coach Johnson
1979 When a Stranger Calls John Clifford
1979 The Muppet Movie Doc Hopper
1979 Tilt Harold 'The Whale' Remmens
1980 Die Laughing Arnold
1980 The Final Countdown Senator Samuel Chapman
1980 Attica Commissioner Russell Oswald Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
1981 Dark Night of the Scarecrow Otis P. Hazelrigg
1981 True Confessions Jack Amsterdam
1981 Sharky's Machine Friscoe
1982 Tootsie Leslie 'Les' Nichols
1982 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Governor Nominated – Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
1983 Two of a Kind Charlie
1983 Scarface Immigration Officer - voice (uncredited)
1983 To Be or Not to Be Col. Erhardt Nominated – Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
1984 Mass Appeal Monsignor Thomas Burke
1984 Hadley's Rebellion Sam Crawford
1984 Mister Roberts The Captain
1985 Stick Chucky
1985 The Man with One Red Shoe Ross
1985 Stand Alone Louis Thibadeau
1985 Death of a Salesman Charley Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
1986 Where the River Runs Black Father O'Reilly
1986 Meatballs III: Summer Job Pete, Heaven Doorman (uncredited)
1986 Solarbabies The Warden
1986 Big Trouble O'Mara
1986 Tough Guys Deke Yablonski
1987 Happy New Year Charl
1987 The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains Warden Hardy
1987 The Rosary Murders Father Ted Nabors
1988 Far North Bertrum
1988 A Tiger's Tale Charlie Drumm
1988 Étoile Uncle Joshua
1988 Case Closed Detective Les
1988 Cop Dutch Peltz
1989 Brenda Starr Editor Francis I. Livright
1989 Cat Chaser Jiggs Scully
1990 Fatal Sky Colonel Clancy
1990 Dick Tracy Chief Brandon
1990 The Kennedys of Massachusetts John "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
1990–1994 Evening Shade Dr. Harlan Elldridge Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (1991–1992)
1991 V.I. Warshawski Det. Lt. Bobby Mallory
1993 The Music of Chance Bill Flower
1994 The Hudsucker Proxy Waring Hudsucker
1994 I.Q. Louis Bamberger
1995 The Last Supper Reverend Gerald Hutchens
1995 The Grass Harp Reverend Buster
1995 Home for the Holidays Henry Larson
1996 Spy Hard The Director
1996 Recon
1996 Mrs. Santa Claus Santa Claus
1996 One Fine Day Lew
1997 The Secret Life of Algernon Norbie Hess
1998 Jerry and Tom Vic
1998 Shelter Capt. Robert Landis
1998 Hi-Life Fatty
1998 Homicide: Life on the Street Thomas Finnegan (Episode: "Finnegan's Wake") Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
1998–2002 Everybody Loves Raymond Father Hubley 6 episodes
2000 Never Look Back
2000 Lakeboat Skippy
2000 O Brother, Where Art Thou? Pappy O'Daniel
2000 The Last Producer Syd Wolf
2000 Very Mean Men Paddy Mulroney
2000 State and Main Mayor George Bailey
2001 Turn of Faith Philly Russo
2001 L.A.P.D.: To Protect and to Serve Stuart Steele
2002 The Last Man Club John 'Eagle Eye' Pennell
2002 Pride & Loyalty Dylan Frier
2002 First Monday Justice Henry Hoskins
2002 Mother Ghost George
2002 Mr. St. Nick King Nicholas XX (Santa Claus)
2003 Dead Canaries Jimmy Kerrigan
2003 One Last Ride Mr. Orlick
2004 Death and Texas Marshall Ledger
2004 NCIS Corporal Ernie Yost, "Medal of Honor Recipient" Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
2004 A Boyfriend for Christmas Santa Claus
2005 Resurrection: The J.R. Richard Story Frank McNally
2005 River's End Murray Blythe
2005 Dirty Deeds Victor Rasdale
2005 The L.A. Riot Spectacular The Lawyer
2005 Miracle Dogs Too Captain Pete
2006 Forget About It Eddie O'Brien
2006 Everwood Eugene Brown
2006 Local Color Yammi
2006 Jesus, Mary and Joey Teddy the Bartender
2006 Unbeatable Harold Harold's Father
2006 Descansos Innkeeper #2
2006 The Naked Run Congressman Davenport
2007 Chronicle of Purgatory: The Waiter Frank 'The Handler' Maro
2007 Polycarp (aka Kinky Killers) Alexander Hathaway
2008 Deal Charlie Adler
2008 Good Dick Charlie
2008 The Golden Boys John Bartlett
2008 The Drum Beats Twice Satan
2008 Break The Wise Man
2008 iMurders Dr. Seamus St. Martin
2009 A Bunch of Amateurs Charlie Rosenberg
2009 Shannon's Rainbow Floyd
2004–2011 Rescue Me Michael Gavin Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Narrations

  • Normandy: The Great Crusade Discovery Channel Director-Christopher Koch - English (1994)

References

  1. ^ a b c Thomas, Bob (December 24, 2012). "Charles Durning Obituary". Los Angeles: AP via Legacy.com. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  2. ^ Schudel, Matt (December 26, 2012) "In real life and on the screen, he played countless roles" The Washington Post, page B4
  3. ^ Biography for Charles Durning at IMDb
  4. ^ CHARLES DURNING; Healing the Wounds of Normandy
  5. ^ "Sullivan County Democrat: Obituaries for November 7, 2000". Sc-democrat.com. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  6. ^ "The mother book: a compendium of trivia & grandeur concerning mothers ... - Liz Smith - Google Books". Books.google.ca. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  7. ^ "Los Angeles Times: Archives - NO BLEEPS FOR DURNING'S ROLE". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. March 2, 1981. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  8. ^ "Durning Takes On The 'Peasant Pope' For Pbs - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. September 15, 1987. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  9. ^ Charles Durning, king of character actors, dies in NYC
  10. ^ epguides.com
  11. ^ "Top Ten Celebrity Veterans : Charles Durning". {{cite web}}: Text "http://military.discovery.com" ignored (help)
  12. ^ Baron, Scott (2007). "They Also Served: June 6, 1944: The Longest Day". G.I. Jobs website. G.I. Jobs Online. Retrieved January 8, 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  13. ^ War Hero on Walk of Fame by Solvej Schou (Associated Press)
  14. ^ Berkvist, Robert (December 26, 2012). "Charles Durning, Character Actor in 'Tootsie,' Dies at 89". The New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  15. ^ VA Voluntary Service – National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans
  16. ^ Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp, MND-B PAO, "Military urban legends versus true tales: real life stories prove more interesting", www.Army.mil, retrieved 16-Sep-2011
  17. ^ "Speech by Consul General of France Philippe Larrieu". Los Angeles: French Diplomatic Mission to the United States. April 22, 2008. Archived from the original on May 6, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  18. ^ VFrance honors wartime service of Charles Durning
  19. ^ O'Hare, Kate. 'NCIS' Has Durning Hearing Echoes of War. tv.zap2it.com.
  20. ^ "Charles Durning, Oscar-nominated king of the character actors, dies at 89 in NYC". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 25, 2012.
  21. ^ "Charles Durning, king of character actors, dies at 89 - latimes.com". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  22. ^ Genzlinger, Neil (December 26, 2012). "AN APPRAISAL; Remembering Jack Klugman and Charles Durning". The New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  23. ^ "Charles Durning, Jack Klugman Deaths Bring New Appreciation For Character Actor Titans". The Huffington Post. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
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