![]() ![]() He was the son of Louise (née Leonard 1894–1982), a laundress at West Point, and James E. Prior to his acting career, Durning served in World War II and was decorated for valor in combat.ĭurning was born in Highland Falls, New York. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for both The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) and To Be or Not to Be (1983). Durning's best-known films include The Sting (1973), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), The Muppet Movie (1979), True Confessions (1981), Tootsie (1982), Dick Tracy (1990), and O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000). WWII campaign, good conduct and service medalsĬharles Edward Durning (February 28, 1923 – December 24, 2012) was an American actor who appeared in over 200 movies, television shows and plays.He got a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 14th Screen Actors Guild Award ceremony in the same year. Durning also was bestowed upon with a Tony Award for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.ĭurning was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame on Broadway in 1999 and got his Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2008 at 6504 Hollywood Boulevard. He earned a whopping nine Emmy nominations. Durning won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for his role in David Rabe's Streamers. Erhardt in the war comedy To Be or Not to Be. ![]() He was nominated for both the Oscar and Golden Globe for playing the hilarious Col. He earned four Golden Globe nominations and won one for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television for the TV movie The Kennedys of Massachusetts. He retired from the army with the rank of a Private First Class and got three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star for valor.ĭurning was nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. He gave the voice of Francis Griffin in Seth McFarlane’s popular animated series Family Guy. He played the recurring role of a priest in the super hit CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. He worked with him in five of Reynolds’ films before starring in his TV series Evening Shade. Durning was a regular collaborator of actor-director Burt Reynolds. He collaborated with Pacino again in 2002 while performing the Brechtian play ‘ The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui’.ĭurning performed in many Broadway productions like Drat! The Cat! (1965), Knock Knock (1976), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1990), etc. In the former two films, he worked alongside the greatest of actors like Al Pacino and Burt Lancaster. He followed it up with diverse roles in Dog Day Afternoon, Twilight's Last Gleaming, Tootsie, When a Stranger Calls, etc. Snyder which earned him universal acclaim. Durning played the role of the badass cop Lt. ![]() Durning’s breakthrough role came in George Roy Hills’ Academy Award-winning film The Sting, which saw the director teaming up with Paul Newman and Robert Redford, after the success of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. In the early 70s, he worked with acclaimed makers like John Frankenheimer and Brian de Palma, sharing screen space with legendary actors like Gregory Peck and a then relatively young Robert de Niro. In 1965, Durning made his film debut in Harvey Middleman, Fireman. Durning revealed later that it was the best time of his life, as he was kept busy appearing in 35 plays for the Shakespeare festival. He eventually got noticed by the founder of the New York Shakespeare Festival, Joseph Papp. In the initial years, Durning struggled to get a breakthrough and took up odd jobs to make his ends meet. He had a brief spell at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City but he was criticized and mocked by his mentors for his short, stout and burly frame. While working as an usher in a burlesque theatre, Durning used to fill in for inebriated comedians at times. Five years after the war was over, Durning decided to start a new chapter in his life. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |