![]() The versatile Durning is equally adept at comedic roles andĭemonstrated his skills as "Doc Hopper" in 'Robert Redford' in the multi award winning mega-hitĮntertaining in the Billy Wilder productionįeatured as "Spermwhale Whalen" in the story of unorthodox policeīehavior in The Choirboys (1977). Minor roles over the next decade until he really got noticed by filmįans as the sneering, corrupt cop "Lt. His start in guest appearances in early 1960's TV shows. Irish immigrant and his mother was of Irish descent. (Leonard), a laundress, and James Gerald Durning. Durning was born in Highland Falls, New York, to Louise Marie Hollywood's most dependable and sought after supporting actors. The stockily built Charles Durning was one of ![]() You will be missed.Īudie Murphy, America's most highly decorated soldier.WWII veteran, dance instructor and diversely talented stage & screenĪctor were all inclusions on the resume of this perpetually busy USĪctor who didn't get in front of the cameras until around the time of Durning, and for bringing more awareness to the psychological wounds of war. He is also well-known for participating in various events to honor American veterans.įor a first-hand account of what it was like on Omaha Beach on D-Day, here is Charles Durning's moving remembrance during the National Memorial Day Concert in 2007: It's your mind that's hard to heal." Like many other soldiers, Durning continued to suffer from nightmares about his war experiences throughout his life.Īfter being invited by fellow soldier and fellow actor Ossie Davis to participate in the National Memorial Day Concert to commemorate the 60th anniversary of D-Day, Durning has made it an annual event. In a Parade magazine interview, Durning is quoted as saying, "The physical injuries heal first. In a People magazine interview in 1990, Durning said, "There's only so much you can witness." He spent four years in and out of Army hospitals, being treated for the physical and psychological scars of war. Several months later, a chest wound caused his return to the US, where he recovered from both physical and psychological wounds in Army hospitals until being discharged as a Private First Class in January 1946, a month shy of his 23rd birthday.įor his service during World War II, Charles Durning was awarded the Silver Star Medal and three Purple Hearts. Durning was obliged to return with American troops to identify the bodies of his fellow prisoners. ![]() He and two others escaped, and the rest were murdered. ![]() Durning recovered from those wounds and was released from the hospital just in time to fight in the Battle of the Bulge, where he was taken prisoner.Ĭharles Durning was one of only three men to survive the infamous massacre of American POWs at Malmedy, Belgium. That day, he survived by killing the German with a rock in hand-to-hand combat. Several months later, in Belgium, Durning was stabbed eight times by a bayonet-wielding teenage German soldier. Despite suffering serious machine gun and shrapnel wounds, Durning killed seven German gunners to survive D-Day. He was the only man to survive a machine-gun ambush. As a 21-year-old infantryman, Private Charles Durning was in the first wave of soldiers to land on Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Like Medal of Honor recipient Audie Murphy, Charles Durning was a highly-decorated soldier in World War II before he began an acting career. His family said he loved Christmas, and if he could have chosen a day as his last, this would be it. Charles Durning died on Christmas Eve, 2012, at age 89. He was honored at age 84 with a Life Achievement Award by the Screen Actors Guild. Then he showed his singing and dancing skills as the two-stepping Texas governor in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with Dolly Parton. In the 1970's he made a name for himself in The Sting with Paul Newman and Robert Redford. Most of today's generation know Charles Durning, if they know him at all, as an actor.
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