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Charles Durning (born February 28, 1923) is an American actor of stage and screen.
Early life
Born in Highland Falls, New York, to an impoverished Irish American Catholic family, which he left as soon as possible to ease the financial pressure on his mother.
Military service
Durning served as a soldier in World War II, during which he was awarded a Silver Star, three Purple Heart medals, and a Good Conduct Medal. He was drafted into the U.S. Army at the age of 21, and landed on D-Day in the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944. Some sources state he was in the 1st Infantry Division at the time, but it is unclear if he was a rifleman or in an artillery unit by 1944.
On Omaha Beach itself, Pvt. Charles Durning was among the first troops to land. Drafted early in the war, he was first assigned as a rifleman with the 398th Infantry Regiment, but later served overseas with the 3rd Army Support troops and the 386th Anti-aircraft Artillery (AAA) Battalion.
Durning was wounded by an “S” Mine on June 15, 1944, at Les Mare des Mares. He was transported by the 499th Medical Collection Company to the 24th Evacuation Hospital. By June 17, he was back in England at the 217th General Hospital. Although severely wounded by shrapnel in the left and right thigh, right hand, the frontal region of the head and the interior left chest wall, Durning recovered quickly and was determined to be “fit for duty” on December 6, 1944. Durning was present for the Battle of the Bulge, the German counter-offensive in December 1944.
He was taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge, and was one of the few survivors of the infamous Malmedy massacre of American POWs, perpetrated by a battlegroup under Joachim Peiper of the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. "He escaped with two others, and returned to find the remainder murdered.
After being wounded in the chest, Durning was repatriated to the United States where he remained in army hospitals, receiving treatment for both physical and psychological wounds, until discharged with the rank of Private First Class on January 30, 1946.
Durning has said that he still suffers from nightmares about his war experiences (which is common among veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder, although Durning himself is not confirmed to have suffered PTSD). He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his extraordinary portrayal of a Marine veteran in "Call of Silence", an unusual episode of the television series NCIS, first broadcast November 23, 2004. Clearly 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. 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.
Durning is well-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.
Post-war career
After the war, Durning worked various jobs. While working as a ballroom dance instructor (he had some training in classical dance) he was noticed and cast in the New York Shakespeare Festival. He has since performed in some 32 plays, and in 1990 he won the Tony Award for "Featured Actor in a Play" for his role in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
One of Durning's best-known roles is the corrupt policeman Lieutenant Snyder who doggedly pursues the young con artist Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) in the 1973 classic The Sting. Since then he has amassed over 100 film and TV credits, including Queen of the Stardust Ballroom, Dog Day Afternoon (with Al Pacino), the sci-fi classic The Final Countdown, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. In 1979, he played Doc Hopper, the main villain in 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.
More recently he has played a benevolent father to Holly Hunter in Home for the Holidays (1995), a savvy southern state governor ("Pappy" O'Daniel) in O Brother, Where Art Thou, and as Victor Rasdale in Dirty Deeds. In 1996 he played Lew in the romantic comedy One Fine Day. He also had a recurring role on Everybody Loves Raymond (1996–2005) 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 2007.
For his roles on television, Durning has earned four Emmy Awards. He has 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 can currently be seen on the television show Rescue Me, playing the father of Denis Leary's character. His daughter Jeanine Durning is a well known New York based modern dance performer and choreographer.
| Latest news about Charles Durning |
Charles Durning Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:02:47 PSTCharles Durning (born February 28 1923) is a Golden Globe Awardwinning American actor of stage and screen. Durning was born in Highland Falls New York to Louise and James Durning. He was raised in an ... More at Perfect People - Wed, ... Continue reading
Review Death & Texas — Get It Today!Seizing the opportunity to help his client, lawyer Marshall Ledger (Charles Durning - O Brother, Where Art Thou?) offers the Governor a controversial political deal for Bobby to play with the Steers and win the chance to bypass the ... Continue reading
"Bubba didn't do it....Bubba didn't do it!"Charles Durning has wandered away from the main group in frustration to light a cigarette. He hears some whimpering and looks up at the scarecrow and sees two very human eyes peering out of the mask at him. He can hear Bubba's terrified ... Continue reading
Starting OverRelocating to Boston, Phil starts to settle in with the help of his psychiatrist brother Mickey (Charles Durning), joining a divorced men's therapy group. Phil really begins to feel better when Mickey and his wife Marva (Frances ... Continue reading
Charles Durning gets star on Hollywood Walk of FameLOS ANGELES - From World War II hero to dancer and award-winning actor, Charles Durning has lived a storied life. The 85-year-old added to that resume Thursday with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next to one for his idol, ... Continue reading
Review Cop — Get It Online Instantly!And, the great cast includes James Woods, Lesley Ann Warren, Charles Durning, Charles Haid, Raymond J. Barry. If you love watching James Woods or Lesley Ann Warren, you are definitely want to watch Cop ... Continue reading
Catch George Clooney The Collection — Get It Online Today!The great cast includes Michelle Pfeiffer, George Clooney, Mae Whitman, Alex D. Linz, Charles Durning. If you love watching Michelle Pfeiffer or George Clooney, you are definitely want to watch George Clooney The Collection ... Continue reading
The Legendary Charles Durning, 85, Gets His Star in the Walk of ...Beloved charactor actor and D-Day, World War II hero Charles Durning, 85, was honored Thrusday morning with his star on the Walk of Fame attended by many classic stars of old Hollywood and new. Among the stars attending were actors Gary ... Continue reading
AHN - Actor Charles Durning Receives Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame(AHN) - Actor Charles Durning, who has more than 100 movie credits to his name, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Thursday. - Fri, 1 Aug 2008 17:19:54 GMT (AHN) Continue reading
The StingThat objective is complicated by the dirty cop, Lt. Snyder (Charles Durning) looking for Hooker, as well as the FBI agents who want to turn Hooker against Gondorff, and an assassin who is out gunning for Hooker as well. ... Continue reading
Hollywood Actors Jessica alba Charles Durning pictures and Charles Durning biography
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