Charles Durning
WWII veteran, dance instructor and diversely talented stage & screen actor are all inclusions on the resume of this perpetually busy US actor who didn't get in front of the cameras until around the time of his fortieth birthday. The stockily built Charles Durning is one of Hollywood's most dependable and sought after supporting actors who first got his start in guest appearances in early 1960's TV shows. He scored minor roles over the next decade until he really got noticed by film fans as the sneering, corrupt cop "Lt. Snyder" hassling street grifter 'Robert Redford' in the multi award winning mega-hit The Sting (1973). Durning was equally entertaining in the Billy Wilder production of The Front Page (1974), he supported screen tough guy Charles Bronson in the suspenseful western Breakheart Pass (1975) and featured as "Spermwhale Whalen" in the story of unorthodox police behavior in The Choirboys (1977). The versatile Durning is equally adept at comedic roles and demonstrated his skills as "Doc Hopper" in The Muppet Movie (1979), a feisty football coach in North Dallas Forty (1979), a highly strung police officer berating maverick cop Burt Reynolds in Sharky's Machine (1981), and a light footed, dancing Governor (alongside Burt Reynolds once more) in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982). Durning continued a regular on screen association with Burt Reynolds appearing in several more feature films together and as "Dr. Harlan Elldridge" in the highly popular TV series Evening Shade (1990). On par with his multitude of feature film roles, Durning has always been in high demand on television and has guest starred in Everybody Loves Raymond (1996), Monk (2002) and Rescue Me (2004). Plus, he has appeared in the role of "Santa Claus" in five different television movies.
Read bio at tmdb | Read bio at Wikipedia
- Born:
- Feb 28, 1923 In Highland Falls, New York, USA
- Movie/TV Credits:
- 167
- First Appeared:
- In the movie The Password Is Courage 1962-06-01
- Latest Project:
- Movie Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age 2021-08-14
Known For
Filmography
| Movie | Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age | Self | 2021-08-14 |
| Movie | LA DA Story | Self (archive footage) | 2018-01-01 |
| Movie | Bleeding Hearts | Santa Claus | 2015-02-03 |
| Movie | Scavenger Killers | Dylan Frier | 2013-06-01 |
| Movie | Rogue Assassin | 2012-01-01 | |
| Movie | Top Priority: The Terror Within | Himself - Academy Award Nominated Actor (archive footage) | 2012-06-15 |
| Movie | Naked Run | Congressman Davenport | 2011-05-05 |
| Movie | The Great Fight | Judge Frier | 2011-06-05 |
| Movie | The Life Zone | James Wise | 2011-06-10 |
| Movie | The Waiter | Frank 'The Handler' Maro | 2010-03-14 |
| Movie | Three Chris's | Kris Kringle | 2010-02-02 |
| Movie | An Affirmative Act | Man in the White Suit | 2010-06-04 |
| Movie | Break | The Wise Man | 2009-05-01 |
| Movie | Deal | Charlie Adler | 2008-01-29 |
| Movie | iMurders | Dr. Seamus St. Martin | 2008-08-09 |
| Movie | Good Dick | Charlie | 2008-10-03 |
| Movie | A Bunch of Amateurs | Charlie Rosenberg | 2008-11-17 |
| Movie | Local Color | Yammi | 2008-11-14 |
| Movie | The Golden Boys | John Bartlett | 2008-12-11 |
| Movie | Kinky Killers | Alexander Hathaway | 2007-06-01 |
| Movie | Unbeatable Harold | Harold's Father | 2006-01-01 |
| Movie | Jesus, Mary and Joey | Teddy | 2006-01-01 |
| Movie | The Making of 'Dog Day Afternoon' | Self | 2006-02-28 |
| Movie | Forget About It | Eddie O'Brien | 2006-10-14 |
| Movie | Miracle Dogs Too | Captain Pete Weaver | 2006-04-01 |
| Movie | Desperation | Tom Billingsley | 2006-05-23 |
| Movie | The L.A. Riot Spectacular | The Lawyer | 2005-04-25 |
| Movie | River's End | Murray Blythe | 2005-01-01 |
| Movie | Dirty Deeds | Victor Rasdale | 2005-08-26 |
| Movie | The Art of 'The Sting' | Self | 2005-09-06 |
| Movie | Death and Texas | Marshall Ledger | 2004-03-12 |
| Movie | The Drum Beats Twice | Satan | 2004-01-01 |
| Movie | A Boyfriend for Christmas | Santa Claus | 2004-11-27 |
| Movie | The Autopsy | Self | 2004-12-31 |
| Movie | A Very Married Christmas | Ozzy Larson | 2004-12-05 |
| Movie | Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There | Self | 2003-04-03 |
| Series | First Monday | Justice Henry Hoskins | 2002-01-15 |
| Movie | Turn of Faith | Philly Russo | 2002-06-05 |
| Movie | Mr. St. Nick | Nicholas XX | 2002-10-17 |
| Movie | Mother Ghost | George | 2002-08-08 |
| Movie | The Judge | Judge Harlan Radovich | 2001-05-06 |
| Movie | Bleacher Bums | Scorekeeper | 2001-10-18 |
| Movie | L.A.P.D.: To Protect And To Serve | Stuart Steele | 2001-10-09 |
| Movie | Never Look Back | Reverend Hale | 2000-03-31 |
| Movie | A Constant Forge | Self | 2000-01-01 |
| Movie | Lakeboat | Skippy | 2000-04-13 |
| Movie | Very Mean Men | Paddy Mulroney | 2000-06-10 |
| Movie | O Brother, Where Art Thou? | Pappy O'Daniel | 2000-08-30 |
| Movie | State and Main | Mayor George Bailey | 2000-08-26 |
| Movie | The Last Producer | Syd Wolf | 2000-08-22 |
| Movie | Hard Time: The Premonition | Det. Charlie Duffy | 1999-02-27 |
| Movie | Justice | Moe Ryan | 1999-01-14 |
| Movie | Hard Time: Hostage Hotel | Det. Charlie Duffy | 1999-11-14 |
| Movie | Hi-Life | Fatty | 1998-11-27 |
| Movie | Jerry and Tom | Vic | 1998-12-04 |
| Movie | Shelter | Capt. Robert Landis | 1998-01-16 |
| Movie | Hard Time | Det. Charlie Duffy | 1998-12-12 |
| Movie | A Chance of Snow | Earl Pulmer | 1998-12-07 |
| Series | Orleans | Frank Vitelli | 1997-01-08 |
| Movie | The Secret Life of Algernon | Norbie Hess | 1997-11-15 |
| Movie | The Land Before Time IV: Journey Through the Mists | Archie (voice) | 1996-11-01 |
| Movie | Spy Hard | The Director | 1996-05-24 |
| Movie | Jack Lemmon: America's Everyman | Self | 1996-11-25 |
| Movie | One Fine Day | Lew, Jack's boss | 1996-12-20 |
| Movie | Mrs. Santa Claus | Santa Claus | 1996-12-08 |
| Movie | Sesame Street: Elmo Saves Christmas | Santa Claus | 1996-12-24 |
| Series | A Woman of Independent Means | Andrew Alcott | 1995-02-19 |
| Movie | The Last Supper | Reverend Gerald Hutchens | 1995-09-08 |
| Movie | Home for the Holidays | Henry Larson | 1995-11-02 |
| Movie | The Grass Harp | Reverend Buster | 1995-09-10 |
| Movie | Roommates | Barney | 1994-05-30 |
| Movie | The Hudsucker Proxy | Waring Hudsucker | 1994-03-11 |
| Movie | Charlie Sheen's Stunts Spectacular | Self (archive footage) | 1994-06-30 |
| Movie | The World of Jim Henson | Doc Hopper (archive footage) | 1994-11-23 |
| Movie | In Search of Dr. Seuss | (voice) (uncredited) | 1994-11-06 |
| Movie | I.Q. | Louis Bamberger | 1994-12-24 |
| Series | The American Revolution | Benjamin Franklin | 1994-11-27 |
| Movie | When a Stranger Calls Back | John Clifford | 1993-04-04 |
| Movie | The Music of Chance | Bill Flower | 1993-06-23 |
| Movie | Tales from Hollywood | Charles F. Money | 1992-10-18 |
| Movie | The Water Engine | Tour Guide | 1992-08-24 |
| Movie | The Return of Eliot Ness | Roger Finn | 1991-11-10 |
| Movie | V.I. Warshawski | Det. Lt. Bobby Mallory | 1991-07-26 |
| Movie | The Story Lady | Judge (uncredited) | 1991-12-09 |
| Series | The Kennedys of Massachusetts | John F. Fitzgerald | 1990-02-18 |
| Movie | Dick Tracy | Chief Brandon | 1990-04-05 |
| Movie | Project Alien | Colonel Clancy | 1990-12-21 |
| Series | Evening Shade | Harlan Elldridge | 1990-09-21 |
| Movie | Brenda Starr | Editor Francis I. Livright | 1989-05-15 |
| Movie | Cat Chaser | Jiggs Scully | 1989-09-13 |
| Movie | Etoile | Uncle Joshua | 1989-03-17 |
| Movie | Prime Target | Earl Mulcahaney | 1989-09-29 |
| Movie | Dinner at Eight | Dan Packard | 1989-12-11 |
| Movie | The Butter Battle Book | Grandfather (voice) | 1989-11-13 |
| Movie | A Tiger's Tale | Charlie Drumm | 1988-02-12 |
| Movie | Cop | Dutch Peltz | 1988-02-05 |
| Movie | Unholy Matrimony | Reverend Samuel Corey | 1988-10-03 |
| Movie | Far North | Bertrum | 1988-11-09 |
| Movie | The Rosary Murders | Father Ted Nabors | 1987-08-28 |
| Movie | Happy New Year | Charlie | 1987-08-07 |
| Movie | The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains | Warden Hardy | 1987-10-31 |
| Movie | The Gambler, Part III: The Legend Continues | Senator Henry Colton | 1987-11-22 |
| Movie | Big Trouble | O'Mara | 1986-05-30 |
| Movie | Where the River Runs Black | Father O'Reilly | 1986-09-19 |
| Movie | Solarbabies | The Warden | 1986-11-26 |
| Movie | Tough Guys | Deke Yablonski | 1986-10-03 |
| Movie | Stick | Chucky | 1985-04-26 |
| Movie | Night of 100 Stars II | Self | 1985-03-10 |
| Movie | The Man with One Red Shoe | Ross | 1985-07-18 |
| Movie | Death of a Salesman | Charley | 1985-08-16 |
| Series | Tall Tales & Legends | Uncle Doffue | 1985-09-25 |
| Movie | Stand Alone | Louis Thibadeau | 1985-09-01 |
| Movie | Mister Roberts | The Captain | 1984-03-18 |
| Movie | Mass Appeal | Monsignor Thomas Burke | 1984-12-14 |
| Movie | Scarface | Immigration Officer (voice) (uncredited) | 1983-12-09 |
| Movie | Hadley's Rebellion | Sam Crawford | 1983-09-30 |
| Movie | Two of a Kind | Charlie | 1983-12-13 |
| Movie | To Be or Not to Be | Col. Erhardt | 1983-12-16 |
| Movie | Working | Retired Man | 1982-04-13 |
| Movie | The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas | Governor of Texas | 1982-07-23 |
| Movie | Tootsie | Les Nichols | 1982-12-17 |
| Movie | True Confessions | Jack Amsterdam | 1981-09-25 |
| Movie | Crisis at Central High | Jess Matthews | 1981-02-04 |
| Movie | The Best Little Girl in the World | Frank Powell | 1981-05-11 |
| Movie | Dark Night of the Scarecrow | Otis P. Hazelrigg | 1981-10-24 |
| Movie | Sharky's Machine | Lt. Friscoe | 1981-12-18 |
| Movie | The Final Countdown | Senator Samuel Chapman | 1980-01-31 |
| Movie | Attica | Commissioner Russell Oswald | 1980-03-02 |
| Movie | Die Laughing | Arnold | 1980-04-01 |
| Movie | A Perfect Match | Bill Larson | 1980-10-05 |
| Movie | The Muppets Go Hollywood | Self | 1979-05-16 |
| Series | Studs Lonigan | Paddy Lonigan | 1979-03-07 |
| Movie | The Muppet Movie | Doc Hopper | 1979-06-22 |
| Movie | Tilt | Harold 'The Whale' Remmens | 1979-04-01 |
| Movie | North Dallas Forty | Coach Johnson | 1979-08-03 |
| Movie | When a Stranger Calls | John Clifford | 1979-09-28 |
| Movie | Starting Over | Michael "Mickey" Potter | 1979-10-05 |
| Movie | The Fury | Dr. Jim McKeever | 1978-03-10 |
| Movie | Special Olympics | Carl Gallitzin | 1978-02-22 |
| Movie | An Enemy of the People | Peter Stockmann | 1978-03-17 |
| Movie | The Greek Tycoon | Michael Russell | 1978-05-12 |
| Movie | Twilight's Last Gleaming | President David T. Stevens | 1977-02-09 |
| Movie | The Choirboys | Spermwhale Whalen | 1977-12-23 |
| Movie | Harry and Walter Go to New York | Rufus T. Crisp | 1976-06-17 |
| Series | Captains and the Kings | Ed Healey | 1976-09-30 |
| Movie | Queen of the Stardust Ballroom | Al Green | 1975-02-13 |
| Movie | The Trial of Chaplain Jensen | Budd Rogers | 1975-02-11 |
| Movie | Dog Day Afternoon | Moretti | 1975-09-21 |
| Movie | The Hindenburg | Captain Pruss | 1975-12-25 |
| Series | The Cop and the Kid | 1975-12-04 | |
| Movie | Breakheart Pass | Frank O'Brien | 1975-12-09 |
| Movie | The Front Page | Murphy | 1974-11-01 |
| Movie | The Connection | Frank Devlin | 1973-02-27 |
| Movie | The Sting | Lt. Wm. Snyder | 1973-12-25 |
| Movie | Sisters | Joseph Larch | 1973-04-18 |
| Movie | Look Homeward, Angel | Will Pentland | 1972-01-01 |
| Movie | Doomsday Voyage | Jason's First Mate | 1972-02-01 |
| Movie | Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues | Murphy | 1972-02-25 |
| Movie | Deadhead Miles | Truck Driver in Cafe | 1972-08-08 |
| Movie | The Pursuit of Happiness | 2nd Guard | 1971-02-23 |
| Movie | Sticky My Fingers ... Fleet My Feet | Football Player | 1970-01-01 |
| Movie | Hi, Mom! | Superintendent | 1970-04-27 |
| Movie | I Walk the Line | Wylie Hunnicutt | 1970-11-18 |
| Movie | Stiletto | Cop (uncredited) | 1969-07-30 |
| Movie | Harvey Middleman, Fireman | Dooley | 1965-07-12 |
| Series | Another World | 1964-05-04 | |
| Movie | The Password Is Courage | American Solider (uncredited) | 1962-06-01 |