Charles Durning

Charles Durning
Charles Durning at the 2008 National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, D.C..
Born	Charles Edward Durning (1923-02-28)February 28, 1923 Highland Falls, New York, U.S.
Died	December 24, 2012(2012-12-24) (aged 89) New York City, New York, U.S.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery Arlington County, Virginia Section 66, Grave 127 38°52′25″N 77°03′51″W / 38.8737°N 77.0641°W / 38.8737; -77.0641
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1945–2012
Spouse(s)	Carole Doughty (1959–1972; div.) Mary Ann (Amelio) Durning (1974–2010; Declaration of Separation, Los Angeles, CA)
Children	Michele Durning Douglas Edward Durning Jeanine Durning
Parent(s)	Louise Durning (née Leonard; 1894–1982) James E. Durning (1883 – c. 1939)
Relatives	James G. Durning (brother) Clifford John Durning (brother) Frances Durning (sister) Gerald J. Durning (brother) 5 more sisters
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	Army of the United States
Years of service	1943–1946
Rank	Private First Class
Awards	9 awards, 2 badges, 1 button

Charles Edward Durning (February 28, 1923 – December 24, 2012) was an American actor, with appearances in over 200 movies, television shows and plays. Durning's best-known roles included The Sting (1973) and Dog Day Afternoon (1975), along with the comedies The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), Tootsie (1982), and To Be or Not to Be (1983).

Durning was born in Highland Falls, New York, the ninth of ten children. His three brothers and sister, James (Roger) (1915–2000), Clifford (1916–1994), Frances (born 1919) and Gerald (1926–2000), survived to adulthood but five sisters lost their lives to scarlet fever and smallpox as children. He was the son of Louise (née Leonard; 1894–1982), a laundress at West Point, and James E. Durning (1883 – c. 1939). His father was an Irish immigrant. and his mother was also of Irish descent. Durning was raised Catholic.

In 1959, Durning married his first wife, Carole Doughty. They divorced in 1972. A Declaration of Separation was filed in 2010 from his second wife, Mary Ann (Amelio) Durning. He is survived by his three children from his first marriage.

Charles Durning served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was drafted at age 20 and discharged with the rank of Private First Class on January 30, 1946.

Durning was known for participating 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.