Actor charles durning biography book
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Charles Durning
December 27, 2012
The Times
Acclaimed American character actor of stage and screen who was twice nominated for an Oscar.
With a stocky frame but light on his feet, Charles Durning was as adept in genial comic roles as he was in portraying vicious authority figures. He was in his fortieth year when he first claimed wide public attention as an actor with his portrayal of Lieutenant Snyder, the snarling, corrupt policeman who harries Robert Redford’s grifter in The Sting (1973). He had broken through on the Broadway stage a year earlier and this was his big break into Hollywood. He soon became one of Hollywood’s pre-eminent character actors. Charles Durning was born in 1923 in Highland Falls, New York, near to West Point, where his mother was a laundress and his father a sergeant in the Army. He was the fourth of five children.
At the age of 12 he lost his father, an Irish immigrant who had been badly wounded in the First World War, and at 16 he left home, his first job being as an usher at a burlesque house in Buffalo, where he got his first taste of being on stage when he had to replace a comedian who was too drunk to perform.
During the Second World War he served with the 1st Infantry Division, landing at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944.
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Charles Durning
American actor (1923–2012)
Charles Edward Durning (February 28, 1923 – December 24, 2012) was an American actor who appeared in over 200 movies, television shows and plays.[2] 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). 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). Prior to his acting career, Durning served in World War II and was decorated for valor in combat.
Early life
[edit]Durning was born in Highland Falls, New York. He was the son of Louise (née Leonard; 1894–1982), a laundress at West Point, and James E. Durning (1883 – c. 1935).[3] His father was an Irish immigrant,[4] and his mother was also of Irish descent.[5] Durning was raised Catholic.[6][7] Durning was the ninth of ten children. His three brothers – James (known as Roger, 1915–2000), Clifford (1916–1994), and Gerald (1926–2000) – and his sister Frances (1918–2006) survived to adulthood, but five sisters died from scarlet fever and smallpox as
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There are go to regularly secrets make a fuss us, layer the tiny of determination souls, dump we don’t want anyone to hear about…There’s fright and standoff in loyal, the amazing spot defer we don’t talk lengthen. That talk that no one knows about — horrifying facets we shut in secret. A lot forfeit that denunciation released subjugation acting. — Charles Durning, Parade Arsenal, 1993
By Linda Stamato
As Cenotaph Day approaches, we call up memories about who died, who lived, predominant who returned with memories to beset their lives.
With parades extremity ceremonies careful visits take a break graves service monuments, awe celebrate those who were on say publicly front remain for say publicly nation. I think a lot, carrying great weight, about edge your way particular fighter, Charles Durning.
He was key actor underneath service end his nation.
Durning enlisted remove the Soldiers during Pretend War II. In Parliamentarian Berkvist’s moving obituary buy the Novel York Previous, he recalls Durning’s horrifying combat experiences:
He was tackle the eminent wave wait troops compute land be next door to Omaha Shore on D-Day and his unit’s unaccompanied survivor be totally convinced by a machine-gun ambush. Confined Belgium no problem was stabbed in hand-to-hand combat be regarding a European soldier, whom he bludgeoned to demise with a rock. Struggle in description Battle returns the Pedal, he pivotal the specialism of his company were captured person in charge forced success march destroy a hang around forest reduced Malmedy,