Charles Durning - Soldier and Actor

Charles Edward Durning (February 28, 1923 – December 24, 2012) was an American actor who appeared in over 200 movies, television shows and plays. Durning's best-known films included 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 an 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

Durning was born in Highland Falls, New York. His father was an Irish immigrant and his mother was also of Irish descent. He was raised Catholic and was the ninth of ten children. His three brothers and his sister survived to adulthood but five of his sisters died from scarlet fever and smallpox as children.

Military Service

Durning served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was drafted at age 20. Durning landed in France as part of an artillery unit after the D-Day invasion of Normandy. After being wounded by a German anti-personnel mine, he spent six months recovering. Durning was reassigned to the 398th Infantry Regiment with the 100th Infantry Division and participated in the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. He was discharged with the rank of private first class on January 30, 1946.

For his valor and the wounds he received during the war, Durning was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts. Additional awards included the Army Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, two Bronze Stars, and the World War II Victory Medal. His badges included the Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Badge with Rifle Bar, and Honorable Service Lapel Pin.

Durning received the French National Order of the Legion of Honor from the French Consul in Los Angeles in April 2008. He participated in various functions to honor American veterans, including serving as Chairman of the U.S. National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans. He was an honored guest speaker for 17 years at the National Memorial Day Concert televised by PBS every year on the Sunday evening of Memorial Day weekend. Durning was paid a special tribute at the May 26, 2013, National Memorial Day Concert when "Taps" was sounded in his honor. 

Acting Career

With Maureen Stapleton

Durning began his career in 1951. While working as an usher in a burlesque theatre, he was hired to replace a drunken actor on stage. Subsequently, he performed in roughly 50 stock company productions and in various off-Broadway plays, eventually attracting the attention of Joseph Papp, founder of the Public Theater and the New York Shakespeare Festival. Beginning in 1961, he appeared in 35 plays. "That time in my life was my best time," Durning said. "I had no money at all, and the job didn't pay much.” During this period, he then segued into television and movies, making his film debut in 1965. In 2005, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his portrayal of a Marine veteran in "Call of Silence" an episode in the television series NCIS. Durning's character turns himself in to authorities insisting that he must be prosecuted for having murdered his buddy during ferocious combat on Iwo Jima six decades earlier. The truth of the incident only becomes known when the guilt-stricken veteran goes through a cathartic reliving of the battlefield events. Charles Durning died of natural causes at his home in Manhattan on Dec 24, 2012. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

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