Charles Edward Durning (February , â€" December , ) was an American
actor who appeared in over movies, television shows and plays.
Durning's best-known films include The Sting (), Dog Day Afternoon (),
True Confessions (), Tootsie (), Dick Tracy () and O Brother, Where
Art Thou? (). He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best
Supporting Actor for both The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas () and
To Be or Not to Be (). Prior to his acting career, Durning served in
World War II and was decorated for valor in combat.Durning was born in
Highland Falls, New York. He was the son of Louise (née Leonard;
â€"), a laundress at West Point, and James E. Durning ( â€" c. ). His
parents were of German, Irish and English descent Durning was raised
Catholic. Durning was the ninth of ten children. His three brothers -
James (known as Roger, â€"), Clifford (â€") and Gerald (â€") - and his
sister Frances (â€") survived to adulthood, but five sisters died from
scarlet fever and smallpox as children.Durning served in the U.S. Army
during World War II. He was drafted at age . On June , Durning was
assigned to the st Infantry Division and in the first wave of American
troops that landed on Omaha Beach during the invasion of Normandy. He
would be the only survivor of his unit that arrived in France on
D-Day. After being wounded by a German anti-personnel mine in the
Bocage, he spent six months recovering. Durning was reassigned to the
th Infantry Regiment with the th Infantry Division, and participated
in the Battle of the Bulge in December . He was discharged with the
rank of Private First Class on January , .
actor who appeared in over movies, television shows and plays.
Durning's best-known films include The Sting (), Dog Day Afternoon (),
True Confessions (), Tootsie (), Dick Tracy () and O Brother, Where
Art Thou? (). He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best
Supporting Actor for both The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas () and
To Be or Not to Be (). Prior to his acting career, Durning served in
World War II and was decorated for valor in combat.Durning was born in
Highland Falls, New York. He was the son of Louise (née Leonard;
â€"), a laundress at West Point, and James E. Durning ( â€" c. ). His
parents were of German, Irish and English descent Durning was raised
Catholic. Durning was the ninth of ten children. His three brothers -
James (known as Roger, â€"), Clifford (â€") and Gerald (â€") - and his
sister Frances (â€") survived to adulthood, but five sisters died from
scarlet fever and smallpox as children.Durning served in the U.S. Army
during World War II. He was drafted at age . On June , Durning was
assigned to the st Infantry Division and in the first wave of American
troops that landed on Omaha Beach during the invasion of Normandy. He
would be the only survivor of his unit that arrived in France on
D-Day. After being wounded by a German anti-personnel mine in the
Bocage, he spent six months recovering. Durning was reassigned to the
th Infantry Regiment with the th Infantry Division, and participated
in the Battle of the Bulge in December . He was discharged with the
rank of Private First Class on January , .
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