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Charles Durning, who overcame poverty, battlefield trauma and nagging self-doubt to become an acclaimed character actor, whether on stage as Big Daddy in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” or in film as the lonely widower smitten with a cross-dressing Dustin Hoffman in “Tootsie,” died Monday in New York. He was 89. He died of natural causes, The Associated Press reported, citing Judith Moss, his agent and friend

'Two-time Oscar nominee Charles Durning - dubbed the king of the character actors - has died aged 89. He died on Christmas Eve of natural causes at his New York City home. Durning portrayed everyone from blustery public officials to put-upon everymen to Big Daddy in a Broadway revival of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. It won him a Tony award in 1990. He was nominated for an Oscar for his over-the-top performance as a corrupt governor in 1982's The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. Just a year later, he got another nomination for Mel Brooks's To Be Or...

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Charles Durning, the two-time Oscar nominee who was dubbed the king of the character actors for his skill in playing everything from a Nazi colonel to the pope, died Monday at his home in New York City. He was 89. Durning's longtime agent and friend, Judith Moss, told The Associated Press that he died Monday of natural causes in his home in the borough of Manhattan. Although he portrayed everyone from blustery public officials to comic foils to put-upon everymen, Durning may be best remembered by movie audiences for his Oscar-nominated, over-the-top role as a comically...

By Mark Maurer/The Jersey JournalMay 14, 2010, 9:00PMStar-Ledger file photoFilmmaker, founder of Hoboken International Film Festival and North Arlington Municipal Judge Kenneth Del Vecchio resigned his judgeship so he could promote his controversial satire about President Barack Obama.Filmmaker, founder of Hoboken International Film Festival and North Arlington Municipal Court Judge Kenneth Del Vecchio has decided to resign his judgeship in order to promote his controversial movie, the Washington Times reports. The decision arose shortly after the N.J. Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on Extrajudicial Affairs recently advised that he “not be interviewed, promote and participate in the press and publicity” of...

With Ol' BigEars-Obama and his America-hating wife constanting speaking in platitudes while saying nothing of substance, it reminds me of the Charles Durning character Texas Governor singing "Sidestep" in the The Best Little Wh---house in Texas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mNDHTfdn1A The only difference is the Durning character is so likable while I find BigEars dangerous and detestable.