Posted on 12/25/2012 7:46:53 AM PST by Perdogg
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
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Loved him in Tootsie...
ping
Rest in Peace, Ranger Durning.
Rangers Lead the Way.
Three Purple Hearts.
Then came World War II, and he enlisted in the Army. His combat experiences were harrowing. He was in the first wave of troops to land on Omaha Beach on D-Day and his unit’s lone survivor of a machine-gun ambush. In Belgium he was stabbed in hand-to-hand combat with a German soldier, whom he bludgeoned to death with a rock. Fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, he and the rest of his company were captured and forced to march through a pine forest at Malmedy, the scene of an infamous massacre in which the Germans opened fire on almost 90 prisoners. Mr. Durning was among the few to escape.
By the war’s end he had been awarded a Silver Star for valor and three Purple Hearts, having suffered gunshot and shrapnel wounds as well. He spent months in hospitals and was treated for psychological trauma.
I always thought Strother Martin was the king of character actors... but Dunning was an original!!
Wow—what a hero. RIP sir. My grandfather’s brother was killed at the Battle of the Bulge. Merry Christmas all.
An authentic American hero. I always enjoyed his participation in the Memorial Day event on the Mall.
As an actor, I don’t remember anything about him, but we all benefit from his service. RIP and thanks.
Another great actor and WWII hero lost to the ages. Thank you for your service Mr. Durning, on the battlefield, and on screen. Rest in peace.
Merry Christmas to all.
R.I.P. to this gentleman.
RIP “Pappy O’Daniel”.
He really was an excellent character actor in everything he did. God bless his family.
I always enjoyed Durning, whatever he was in. Two of my favorites were Tough Guys (great little movie, btw) and his guest appearance on NCIS as a WW 2 Marine haunted by his past. The former was a hoot, and the latter was one of the most moving performances I’ve seen on tv in a long time.
RIP, Mr. Durning. And Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah to all my fellow Freepers!
He was good in ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ as the Detective Sgt..
Prayers for his family. Great actor.
Merry Christmas
He was the cop in the most suspenseful movie ever “Have you,checked the Children”? “We traced the call, it’s coming from inside the house”! When a Stranger Calls.
Prayers for Mr. Durning and his family. We salute this great American and hero.
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