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Charles Durning
Age: 86
Height: 5' 8"
Birth Place: Highland Falls, New York, USA
Born: Feb. 28th, 1923
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Charles Durning's Main TV Roles
NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at
IMDB
BIOGRAPHY: Ex-pro boxer, WWII veteran, dance instructor and diversely talented stage & screen actor are all inclusions on the resume of this perpetually busy US actor who didn't get in front of the cameras until around the time of his fortieth birthday ! The stockily built Charles Durning is one of Hollywood's most dependable and sought after supporting actors who first got his start in guest appearances in early 1960's TV shows. He scored minor roles over the next decade until he really got noticed by film fans as the sneering, corrupt cop "Lt. Snyder" hassling street grifter 'Robert Redford' in the multi award winning mega-hit The Sting (1973). Durning was equally entertaining in the Billy Wilder production of The Front Page (1974), he supported screen tough guy Charles Bronson in the suspenseful western Breakheart Pass (1975) and featured as "Spermwhale Whalen" in the story of unorthodox police behavior in The Choirboys (1977).
The versatile Durning is equally adept at comedic roles and demonstrated his skills as "Doc Hopper" in The Muppet Movie (1979), a feisty football coach in North Dallas Forty (1979), a highly strung police officer berating maverick cop Burt Reynolds (I) in Sharky's Machine (1981), and a light footed, dancing Governor (alongside Burt Reynolds once more) in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982). Durning continued a regular on screen association with Burt Reynolds (I) appearing in several more feature films together and as "Dr. Harlan Elldridge" in the highly popular TV series "Evening Shade" (1990). On par with his multitude of feature film roles, Durning has always been in high demand on television and has guest starred in "Everybody Loves Raymond" (1996), "Monk" (2002) and "Rescue Me" (2004). Plus, he has appeared in the role of "Santa Claus" in five different telemovies!
TRIVIA:
- His idol is 'James Cagney' (qv), who also proved he could be tough and dance, too.
- Survived the bloody D-Day assault on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. Took him 50 years to talk about his experiences of that day.
- Won Broadway's 1990 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role - Play) for portraying Big Daddy in a revival of 'Tennessee Williams' (qv)' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."
- During his days as a professional boxer he once fought on the same card as 'Jack Warden' (qv) in Madison Square Garden.
- His first job in the entertainment field was as an usher at a burlesque house. His career officially started as a singer with a band at the age of 16, before going into acting. His first professional play was in Buffalo before he went off to war.
- Was trained in classical dance and was for a time in his early career, a dance instructor.
- Served with the 1st Infantry Division in World War II. He landed at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944 during the Normandy invasion. He was awarded several decorations, including the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and three Purple Hearts.
- Has played Santa Claus five times to date, in _It Nearly Wasn't Christmas (1989) (TV)_ (qv), _Mrs. Santa Claus (1996) (TV)_ (qv), _Elmo Saves Christmas (1996) (V)_ (qv), _Mr. St. Nick (2002) (TV)_ (qv), and _A Boyfriend for Christmas (2004) (TV)_ (qv).
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