Charles Durning was a WWII veteran, dance instructor, and diversely talented stage and screen actor who made a name for himself in Hollywood despite not starting his acting career until his 40th birthday. Born in Highland Falls, New York, to Louise Marie (Leonard),a laundress, and James Gerald Durning, an Irish immigrant, Charles Durning's family had a strong Irish heritage.
Durning's early career consisted of guest appearances in television shows in the early 1960s, followed by minor roles over the next decade. However, it was his portrayal of the sneering, corrupt cop "Lt. Snyder" in the 1973 film The Sting that truly gained him recognition from film fans.
Throughout his career, Durning demonstrated his versatility as an actor by taking on a wide range of roles, including comedic parts. Some of his notable roles include "Doc Hopper" in The Muppet Movie (1979),a feisty football coach in North Dallas Forty (1979),a high-strung police officer in Sharky's Machine (1981),and a dancing Governor in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982).
Durning also had a long-standing on-screen association with Burt Reynolds, appearing in several feature films together and starring alongside him in the popular TV series Evening Shade (1990). In addition to his numerous film roles, Durning was in high demand on television, guest-starring in shows such as Everybody Loves Raymond (1996),Monk (2002),and Rescue Me (2004).
