Charles Durning

Date of Death: December 24, 2012 (89)

Birth Place: Highland Falls, NY, USA

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Charles Durning BIO

Charles Durning was an American actor with a long and distinguished career in film, television, and theater. Born in Highland Falls, New York in 1923, Durning grew up in poverty and struggled with his weight throughout his life. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, participating in the D-Day invasion and earning a Silver Star for his bravery.
After the war, Durning studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, and began his career in regional theater. He made his Broadway debut in 1964 in the play "The Devils," and went on to appear in a number of other Broadway productions, including "Inherit the Wind," "That Championship Season," and "The Best Man."
Durning was known for his versatility as an actor, and was equally at home in comedic and dramatic roles. He appeared in over 200 films and television shows, including "The Sting," "Tootsie," "Dog Day Afternoon," and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" He received two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor, for his roles in "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and "To Be or Not to Be."
In addition to his work in film and television, Durning continued to perform on stage throughout his career. He received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in the 1990 revival of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," and appeared in numerous other Broadway and off-Broadway productions.
Durning was also a talented singer, and released several albums of popular standards throughout his career. He performed with a number of big bands, including Benny Goodman's orchestra, and was a regular guest on "The Merv Griffin Show."
Durning was widely respected in the entertainment industry for his talent and his professionalism. He was known for his generosity and his sense of humor, and was beloved by his colleagues and fans alike.
Durning continued to work in film and television well into his eighties, and his last on-screen appearance was in the 2012 film "Scavenger Killers." He passed away on December 24, 2012, at the age of 89, leaving behind a legacy of outstanding performances and a reputation as one of the most talented and versatile actors of his generation.

Charles Durning STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2000
Ex-President Arthur Hockstader

[Broadway]
1997
Weller Martin

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 1996
Matthew Harrison Brady

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 1990
Big Daddy

[Broadway]
1976
Cohn [Replacement]

[Broadway]
1973
Eugene Hartigan

[Broadway]
1973
Harold

[Broadway]
1972
George Sikowski

[Broadway]
1969
Ned Buntline

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1968
Louis Bonnard

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1966
Dean Stewart

Performer

Maurice

Artie (Understudy)

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1965
Pincer

[Broadway]
1964
Charles (Understudy)

Brassac (Tallien) (Understudy)

Julien (Danton) (Understudy)

Phillippe (Jesuit Father) (Understudy)

Vulturne (Mirabeau) (Understudy)


Charles Durning Movies

Harvey Middleman, Fireman
[ 1965 ] Dooley
I Walk the Line
[ 1970 ] Hunnicutt
The Pursuit of Happiness
[ 1971 ] 2nd Guard
Sisters
[ 1972 ] Joseph Larch
Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues
[ 1972 ] Murphy
Deadhead Miles
[ 1972 ] Truck Driver in Cafe
The Sting
[ 1973 ] Lt. Wm. Snyder
The Front Page
[ 1974 ] Murphy
The Hindenburg
[ 1975 ] Captain Max Pruss
Dog Day Afternoon
[ 1975 ] Moretti
Breakheart Pass
[ 1975 ] O Brien
Harry and Walter Go to New York
[ 1976 ] Rufus T. Crisp
Twilight's Last Gleaming
[ 1977 ] President David T. Stevens
The Choirboys
[ 1977 ] Spermwhale Whalen
The Fury
[ 1978 ] Dr. Jim McKeever
The Greek Tycoon
[ 1978 ] Michael Russell
An Enemy of the People
[ 1978 ] Peter Stockmann
North Dallas Forty
[ 1979 ] Coach Johnson
The Muppet Movie
[ 1979 ] Doc Hopper
Tilt
[ 1979 ] HaroldThe WhaleRemmens
When a Stranger Calls
[ 1979 ] John Clifford
Starting Over
[ 1979 ] Michael Mickey Potter
Die Laughing
[ 1980 ] Arnold
The Final Countdown
[ 1980 ] Sen. Samuel Chapman
Sharky's Machine
[ 1981 ] Friscoe
True Confessions
[ 1981 ] Jack Amsterdam
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
[ 1982 ] Governor
Tootsie
[ 1982 ] Les Nichols
Two of a Kind
[ 1983 ] Charlie
To Be or Not to Be
[ 1983 ] Col. Erhardt
Hadley's Rebellion
[ 1983 ] Sam Crawford
Mass Appeal
[ 1984 ] Monsignor Thom Burke
Stick
[ 1985 ] Chucky
Stand Alone
[ 1985 ] Louis Thibadeau
The Man with One Red Shoe
[ 1985 ] Ross
Tough Guys
[ 1986 ] Deke Yablonski
Where the River Runs Black
[ 1986 ] Father O Reilly
Big Trouble
[ 1986 ] O Mara
Solarbabies
[ 1986 ] The Warden
Happy New Year
[ 1987 ] Charlie
A Tiger's Tale
[ 1987 ] Charlie
The Rosary Murders
[ 1987 ] Father Ted Nabors
Far North
[ 1988 ] Bertrum
Cop
[ 1988 ] Dutch Peltz
Brenda Starr
[ 1989 ] Editor Francis I. Livright
Cat Chaser
[ 1989 ] Jiggs Scully
Ballet
[ 1989 ] Zio Joshua
Dick Tracy
[ 1990 ] Chief Brandon
Fatal Sky
[ 1990 ] Colonel Clancy
V.I. Warshawski
[ 1991 ] Lt. Mallory
The Music of Chance
[ 1993 ] Bill Flower
I.Q.
[ 1994 ] Louis Bamberger
The Hudsucker Proxy
[ 1994 ] Waring Hudsucker
Home for the Holidays
[ 1995 ] Henry Larson
The Grass Harp
[ 1995 ] Rev. Buster
The Last Supper
[ 1995 ] Rev. Gerald Hutchens
One Fine Day
[ 1996 ] Lew
Spy Hard
[ 1996 ] The Director
Shelter
[ 1998 ] Captain Robert Landis
Hi-Life
[ 1998 ] Fatty
The Secret Life of Algernon
[ 1998 ] Norbie Hess
Jerry and Tom
[ 1998 ] Vic
State and Main
[ 2000 ] Mayor George Bailey
Very Mean Men
[ 2000 ] Paddy Mulroney
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
[ 2000 ] Pappy O Daniel
Never Look Back
[ 2000 ] Rev. Hale
Lakeboat
[ 2000 ] Skippy
The Last Producer
[ 2000 ] Syd Wolf
L.A.P.D.: To Protect and to Serve
[ 2001 ] Stuart Steele
Pride & Loyalty
[ 2002 ] Dylan Frier
Mother Ghost
[ 2002 ] George
Turn of Faith
[ 2002 ] Philly Russo
Dead Canaries
[ 2003 ] Jimmy Kerrigan
Death and Texas
[ 2004 ] Marshall Ledger
One Last Ride
[ 2004 ] Mr. Orlick
Resurrection: The J.R. Richard Story
[ 2005 ] Frank McNally
River's End
[ 2005 ] Murray Blythe
Jesus, Mary and Joey
[ 2005 ] Teddy the Bartender
The L.A. Riot Spectacular
[ 2005 ] The Lawyer
Dirty Deeds
[ 2005 ] Victor Rdale
Forget About It
[ 2006 ] Eddie O Brien
Unbeatable Harold
[ 2006 ] Harold's Father
Descansos
[ 2006 ] Inkeeper #2
Local Color
[ 2006 ] Yammi
Polycarp
[ 2007 ] Alexander Hathaway
Good Dick
[ 2008 ] Charlie
Deal
[ 2008 ] Charlie Adler
A Bunch of Amateurs
[ 2008 ] Charlie Rosenberg
iMurders
[ 2008 ] Dr. Seamus St. Martin
The Golden Boys
[ 2008 ] John Bartlett
The Drum Beats Twice
[ 2008 ] Satan
Break
[ 2008 ] The Wise Man
Shannon's Rainbow
[ 2009 ] Floyd
The Waiter
[ 2010 ] FrankThe HandlerMaro
Three Chris's
[ 2010 ] Kris Kringle
An Affirmative Act
[ 2010 ] Man in the White Suit
Naked Run
[ 2011 ] Congressman Davenport
The Life Zone
[ 2011 ] James Wise
The Great Fight
[ 2011 ] Judge Frier
Rogue Assassin
[ 2012 ] Frank Maro
Scavenger Killers
[ 2014 ] Dylan Frier
Bleeding Hearts
[ 2015 ] Santa Claus

Charles Durning TV Shows

Amazing Stories
Earl, Assistant to the Boss
Early Edition
Judge Steven Romick, Psychiatrist
Evening Shade
Dr. Harlan Elldridge
Everybody Loves Raymond
Father Hubley
Family Guy
Francis Griffin
Now and Again
Narrator
Rescue Me
Michael Gavin, Tommy's Dad
The Cop and the Kid
Officer Frank Murphy
The Practice
Stephen Donnell

Charles Durning Awards and Nominations


winner
The Lortels - 2006 - Outstanding Featured Actor

Charles Durning, Third

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2001 - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

Charles Durning , The Best Man


winner
Drama League Awards - 1997 - Distinguished Performance Award

Charles Durning, The Gin Game


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1990 - Outstanding Featured Actor - Play

Charles Durning, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1990 - Best Actor - Play

Charles Durning , Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1990 - Best Actor - Play

Charles DurningCat on a Hot Tin Roof

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1990 - Best Actor - Play

Charles During, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof


winner
Tony Awards - 1990 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Charles Durning , Cat on a Hot Tin Roof


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1972 - Outstanding Performance

Charles Durning, That Championship Season

Charles Durning News


Brave New World Hosts AN EVENING WITH AUSTIN PENDELETON Next Week

Brooklyn’s Brave New World Repertory Theatre will host a special program, An Evening with Austin Pendleton, featuring an intimate Q & A with Pendleton, the legendary actor, director, playwright, and esteemed acting teacher (50 years at HB Studio).

Playwrights' Theatre Of East Hampton to Present Concert Staging Of A MILONGA FOR GABRIEL ISSACS

Join in for a concert staging of the new comedy with music 'A Milonga for Gabriel Issacs' on October 21 at 7:30 p.m. Written by John McCaffrey and Mark Singer, directed by Paul Lincoln, and featuring music by The Oscar Feldman Trio and live tango by Sandra Antognazzi. Tickets available online.

White Heron Theatre Company Opens BLITHE SPIRIT July 10

White Heron Theatre Company of Nantucket will open it's first production of the 2023 summer season, Blithe Spirit, by Noël Coward (Present Laughter, Private Lives) and directed by Skip Greer. Greer returns to Nantucket after directing 2017's Outside Mullingar for White Heron.

Steven Ditmyer Will Direct BETTINGER'S LUGGAGE at AMT

Producer Laura Elrick is thrilled to announce that acclaimed Meisner Teacher and Director Steven Ditmyer will be directing Al Tapper's Bettinger's Luggage, scheduled to open September 19th, 2023 at AMT Theater.

Interview: Lou Diamond Phillps of MISS SAIGON at Casa Manana , Ft. Worth TX

Who is this diversely interesting, talented actor? You may/may not be as familiar with his name, but I guarantee you've seen him on TV so often that you'd know him anywhere.

Theater For The New City To Present Dadaist Musical Comedy WHO MURDERED LOVE?

'Who Murdered Love?' by Lissa Moira and Richard West is a Dadaist musical comedy set in 1924 New York City and in a Paris dreamscape. Its story follows WWI veteran and private eye 'Sleepy' Sam Speed, his girl, Gail Friday and his junior detective, Everett Greene, as they attempt to unravel the disappearance and possible murder of DaDa Love at the behest of their client, a stunning heiress named Honey Potts.

WHO MURDERED LOVE? to be Presented at Theater for the New City in February

Who Murdered Love? will be presented by Theater for the New City February 2 to 19, 2023. See how to purchase tickets, who is starring in the cast and more!

AMT Theater To Present LIES By Jerry Slaff To Kick Off New Play Reading Series

AMT Theater, New York's newest Off Broadway house, announces the first in a series of New Play Readings.

Previews: WONDERFUL LIFE (ONE-MAN SHOW) at American Stage Pop Up

While it is not a regular occurrence to add a show mid-season, new producing artistic director Helen Murray wanted to do something fresh for the holidays. She and Jason Lott co-adapted the familiar story. Helen is directing what has been described as 'a stripped-down, raw, and emotional look at George Bailey's life.'

Feature: Passport to Broadway Returns with VIRTUAL BROADWAY GLOBAL AUDITION

New York-based Passport to Broadway returns with another program for Indonesian performers aspiring to be the next Broadway star. Passport to Broadway has previously worked with Indonesian students by providing various training programs, workshops, and information sessions in performing arts.

RISE To Present THE GIN GAME, A Special One-Weekend Engagement, November 11-13

Rhode Island Stage Ensemble has announced THE GIN GAME, a one-weekend engagement co-starring Maureen Noel and Steve Taschereau.

The Actors Studio to Present Conversation With Al Pacino & DOG DAY AFTERNOON Screening for 75th Anniversary

The Actors Studio will host a 75th Anniversary benefit screening of the Academy Award-winning film Dog Day Afternoon, followed by a live interview with the film’s star and The Actors Studio co-president Al Pacino. The Gala event will take place Thursday, October 27 at 7PM, the United Palace.

PBS AMERICAN MASTERS to Celebrate The Public Theatre's Joe Papp with Documentary

Ahead of the 60th Anniversary Season of Free Shakespeare in The Park at New York City’s Delacorte Theater in Central Park, American Masters: Joe Papp in Five Acts tells the story of this indomitable, street-wise champion of the arts.

BWW Review: TOOTSIE at Dolby Theatre

Read our critic's review. TOOTSIE is a contemporary take on an old trope: a man unconvincingly passes himself off as a woman, everyone in his world buys it, and hilarity tries to ensue. It's been done countless times, going back past Shakespeare to the ancient Greeks. That doesn't mean it always works, however, and TOOTSIE is a mixed bag.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC Comes to La Mirada in April

La Mirada will present The Sound of Music beginning in April! The show stars Diane Phelan (Broadway: The King and I & South Pacific at Lincoln Center) as “Maria,” Christopher Carl (Broadway: South Pacific at Lincoln Center, Mamma Mia!) as “Captain von Trapp,” and Grammy nominee Suzanna Guzmán (The King and Iwith Yul Brynner, Bizet’s Carmen) as “Mother Abbess.'

Sacred Heart University Community Theatre Announces November Film Schedule

The SHU Community Theatre will present a month of film programming in November. Thursday, Nov. 4 & Friday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.: The Auschwitz Report. The harrowing true story of Freddy and Walter, two young Slovak Jews deported to Auschwitz in 1942.

Jenna Elser Wins The American Prize In ​Directing - The Charles Nelson Reilly Prize

Jenna Elser, artistic director of Glow Lyric Theatre in Greenville SC, is the winner of The American Prize in DIRECTING—The Charles Nelson Reilly Prize (theater/musical theater division), 2021, for 'West Side Story'. Jenna was selected from applications reviewed recently from across the United States.

Chris Noth To Reprise Role Of Mr. Big In Max Original AND JUST LIKE THAT…

Chris Noth will reprise the role of 'Mr. Big' in the Max Original series AND JUST LIKE THAT... This new chapter of the groundbreaking HBO series 'Sex and the City' follows 'Carrie' (Sarah Jessica Parker), 'Miranda' (Cynthia Nixon) and 'Charlotte' (Kristin Davis) as they navigate the journey from the complicated reality of life and friendship in their 30s to the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s. The ten-episode, half-hour series is scheduled to begin production in New York this summer.

Theater Stories: SUNDAY IN THE PARK, NEXT TO NORMAL, FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME & More About The Booth Theatre

Today's Theater Stories features the Booth Theatre! Learn about some of the theatre's best-known shows including Sunday in the Park with George, Next to Normal, Freestyle Love Supreme, and many more!

L.A. Theatre Works Announces Additional Audio Theater Offerings

The world's leading producer of audio theater, L.A. Theatre Works offers audiences around the globe free access to state-of-the-art recordings of both contemporary and classic plays, each performed by leading actors of stage and screen.

Charles Durning FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Charles Durning been in?

Charles Durning has appeared on Broadway in 13 shows.

How many West End shows has Charles Durning been in?

Charles Durning has not appeared in the West End

What awards has Charles Durning been nominated for?

Charles Durning has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. He was nominated for Outstanding Featured Actor in The Lortels for the play "Third". He also received a nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for his performance in "The Best Man". Durning was recognized with the Distinguished Performance Award from the Drama League Awards for his role in "The Gin Game". Additionally, he received a nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor - Play from the Drama Desk Awards for his performance in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". Durning was nominated for Best Actor - Play by the Outer Critics Circle Awards for his role in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" as well. He also received a nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for his performance in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". Lastly, Durning was recognized with the Outstanding Performance award from the Drama Desk Awards for his role in "That Championship Season".

What awards has Charles Durning won?

Charles Durning has won several awards throughout his career. He received the Outstanding Featured Actor award at The Lortels for his performance in "Third." He also received the Distinguished Performance Award at the Drama League Awards for his role in "The Gin Game." In addition, Durning won the Outstanding Featured Actor - Play award at the Drama Desk Awards for his performance in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." He was also honored with the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for his role in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." Lastly, Durning received the Outstanding Performance award at the Drama Desk Awards for his performance in "That Championship Season."

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