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.
Movie | Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age | Self | 2021-08-14 |
Movie | LA DA Story | Himself (archive footage) | 2018-01-01 |
Movie | Bleeding Hearts | Santa Claus | 2015-02-03 |
Movie | Scavenger Killers | Dylan Frier | 2013-06-01 |
Movie | Top Priority: The Terror Within | Himself - Academy Award Nominated Actor (archive footage) | 2012-06-15 |
Movie | Rogue Assassin | 2012-01-01 | |
Movie | Naked Run | Congressman Davenport | 2011-05-05 |
Movie | The Life Zone | James Wise | 2011-06-10 |
Movie | The Great Fight | Judge Frier | 2011-06-05 |
Movie | The Waiter | Frank 'The Handler' Maro | 2010-03-14 |
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 | The Golden Boys | John Bartlett | 2008-12-11 |
Movie | A Bunch of Amateurs | Charlie Rosenberg | 2008-11-17 |
Movie | Good Dick | Charlie | 2008-10-03 |
Movie | Kinky Killers | Alexander Hathaway | 2007-06-01 |
Movie | Jesus, Mary and Joey | Teddy | 2006-01-01 |
Movie | Miracle Dogs Too | Captain Pete Weaver | 2006-04-01 |
Movie | Unbeatable Harold | Harold's Father | 2006-01-01 |
Movie | Local Color | Yammi | 2006-09-19 |
Movie | Desperation | Tom Billingsley | 2006-05-23 |
Movie | Forget About It | Eddie O'Brien | 2006-10-14 |
Movie | River's End | Murray Blythe | 2005-01-01 |
Movie | Dirty Deeds | Victor Rasdale | 2005-08-26 |
Movie | The L.A. Riot Spectacular | The Lawyer | 2005-04-25 |
Movie | The Drum Beats Twice | Satan | 2004-01-01 |
Series | Rescue Me | Unknown | 2004-07-21 |
Movie | Death and Texas | Marshall Ledger | 2004-03-12 |
Movie | A Boyfriend for Christmas | Santa Claus | 2004-11-27 |
Movie | A Very Married Christmas | Ozzy Larson | 2004-12-05 |
Movie | The Autopsy | Self | 2004-12-31 |
Movie | Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There | Self | 2003-01-01 |
Series | NCIS | Corporal Ernie Yost | 2003-09-23 |
Series | Monk | Unknown | 2002-07-12 |
Movie | Turn of Faith | Philly Russo | 2002-06-05 |
Series | First Monday | Justice Henry Hoskins | 2002-01-15 |
Movie | Mother Ghost | George | 2002-08-08 |
Series | Everwood | Unknown | 2002-09-16 |
Movie | Mr. St. Nick | Nicholas XX | 2002-11-16 |
Series | Dinner for Five | Unknown | 2001-07-06 |
Movie | The Judge | Judge Harlan Radovich | 2001-05-06 |
Series | Citizen Baines | Unknown | 2001-09-29 |
Movie | L.A.P.D.: To Protect And To Serve | Stuart Steele | 2001-10-09 |
Movie | Bleacher Bums | Scorekeeper | 2001-10-18 |
Movie | Never Look Back | Reverend Hale | 2000-03-31 |
Movie | Lakeboat | Skippy | 2000-04-13 |
Movie | A Constant Forge | Self | 2000-01-01 |
Movie | O Brother, Where Art Thou? | Pappy O'Daniel | 2000-08-30 |
Movie | Very Mean Men | Paddy Mulroney | 2000-06-10 |
Movie | State and Main | Mayor George Bailey | 2000-08-26 |
Movie | The Last Producer | Syd Wolf | 2000-08-22 |
Movie | Justice | Moe Ryan | 1999-01-14 |
Series | Family Guy | Unknown | 1999-01-31 |
Movie | Hard Time: The Premonition | Det. Charlie Duffy | 1999-02-27 |
Movie | Hard Time: Hostage Hotel | Det. Charlie Duffy | 1999-11-14 |
Movie | Shelter | Capt. Robert Landis | 1998-01-16 |
Movie | Hi-Life | Fatty | 1998-11-27 |
Movie | A Chance of Snow | Earl Pulmer | 1998-12-07 |
Movie | Jerry and Tom | Vic | 1998-12-04 |
Movie | Hard Time | Det. Charlie Duffy | 1998-12-12 |
Series | Orleans | Frank Vitelli | 1997-01-08 |
Series | The Practice | Unknown | 1997-03-04 |
Movie | The Secret Life of Algernon | Norbie Hess | 1997-11-15 |
Series | Early Edition | Unknown | 1996-09-28 |
Movie | The Land Before Time IV: Journey Through the Mists | Archie (voice) | 1996-11-01 |
Series | Everybody Loves Raymond | Unknown | 1996-09-13 |
Movie | Spy Hard | The Director | 1996-05-24 |
Movie | Mrs. Santa Claus | Santa Claus | 1996-12-08 |
Movie | Sesame Street: Elmo Saves Christmas | Santa Claus | 1996-12-24 |
Movie | One Fine Day | Lew, Jack's boss | 1996-12-20 |
Series | Cybill | Unknown | 1995-01-02 |
Movie | 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 |
Series | Touched by an Angel | Unknown | 1994-09-21 |
Movie | Charlie Sheen's Stunts Spectacular | Self (archive footage) | 1994-06-30 |
Movie | In Search of Dr. Seuss | (voice) (uncredited) | 1994-11-06 |
Movie | I.Q. | Louis Bamberger | 1994-12-24 |
Movie | The World of Jim Henson | Doc Hopper (archive footage) | 1994-11-23 |
Series | Homicide: Life on the Street | Unknown | 1993-01-31 |
Movie | The Music of Chance | Bill Flower | 1993-06-23 |
Movie | When a Stranger Calls Back | John Clifford | 1993-04-04 |
Movie | The Water Engine | Tour Guide | 1992-08-24 |
Movie | Tales from Hollywood | Charles F. Money | 1992-10-18 |
Movie | The Story Lady | Judge (uncredited) | 1991-12-09 |
Movie | V.I. Warshawski | Det. Lt. Bobby Mallory | 1991-07-26 |
Movie | The Return of Eliot Ness | Roger Finn | 1991-11-10 |
Series | The Kennedys of Massachusetts | John F. Fitzgerald | 1990-02-18 |
Movie | Dick Tracy | Chief Brandon | 1990-04-05 |
Movie | Project Alien | 1990-12-21 | |
Series | Evening Shade | Harlan Elldridge | 1990-09-21 |
Movie | Brenda Starr | Editor Francis I. Livright | 1989-05-15 |
Movie | Etoile | Uncle Joshua | 1989-03-17 |
Movie | Cat Chaser | Jiggs Scully | 1989-09-13 |
Movie | Prime Target | Earl Mulcahaney | 1989-09-29 |
Movie | Dinner at Eight | Dan Packard | 1989-12-11 |
Movie | It Nearly Wasn't Christmas | Santa | 1989-12-01 |
Movie | The Butter Battle Book | Grandfather (voice) | 1989-11-13 |
Movie | A Tiger's Tale | Charlie Drumm | 1988-02-12 |
Movie | Case Closed | Les Kabowski | 1988-04-19 |
Movie | Cop | Dutch Peltz | 1988-02-05 |
Movie | Unholy Matrimony | Reverend Samuel Corey | 1988-10-03 |
Movie | Far North | Bertrum | 1988-11-09 |
Movie | Happy New Year | Charlie | 1987-08-07 |
Movie | The Rosary Murders | Father Ted Nabors | 1987-08-28 |
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 |
Series | Eye to Eye | 1985-03-21 | |
Movie | Night of 100 Stars II | Self | 1985-03-10 |
Movie | The Man with One Red Shoe | Ross | 1985-07-18 |
Movie | The Legend of Sleepy Hollow | Uncle Doffue | 1985-09-25 |
Movie | Death of a Salesman | Charley | 1985-08-16 |
Series | Tall Tales & Legends | Uncle Doffue | 1985-09-25 |
Series | Amazing Stories | Unknown | 1985-09-29 |
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 | Crisis at Central High | Jess Matthews | 1981-02-04 |
Movie | The Best Little Girl in the World | Frank Powell | 1981-05-11 |
Movie | Sharky's Machine | Lt. Friscoe | 1981-12-18 |
Movie | True Confessions | Jack Amsterdam | 1981-09-25 |
Movie | Dark Night of the Scarecrow | Otis P. Hazelrigg | 1981-10-24 |
Movie | The Final Countdown | Senator Samuel Chapman | 1980-01-31 |
Movie | Attica | Commissioner Russell Oswald | 1980-03-02 |
Movie | A Perfect Match | Bill Larson | 1980-10-05 |
Movie | Die Laughing | Arnold | 1980-04-01 |
Movie | Tilt | Harold 'The Whale' Remmens | 1979-04-01 |
Series | Studs Lonigan | Paddy Lonigan | 1979-03-07 |
Movie | The Muppets Go Hollywood | Self | 1979-05-16 |
Movie | The Muppet Movie | Doc Hopper | 1979-06-22 |
Movie | Starting Over | Michael "Mickey" Potter | 1979-10-05 |
Movie | When a Stranger Calls | John Clifford | 1979-09-28 |
Movie | North Dallas Forty | Coach Johnson | 1979-08-03 |
Movie | Special Olympics | Carl Gallitzin | 1978-02-22 |
Movie | The Fury | Dr. Jim McKeever | 1978-03-10 |
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 | Dog Day Afternoon | Det. Sgt. Eugene Moretti | 1975-09-21 |
Series | Baretta | Unknown | 1975-01-17 |
Movie | The Trial of Chaplain Jensen | Budd Rogers | 1975-02-11 |
Movie | The Hindenburg | Captain Pruss | 1975-12-25 |
Movie | Breakheart Pass | Frank O'Brien | 1975-12-09 |
Series | The Cop and the Kid | 1975-12-04 | |
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 | 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 | Sisters | Joseph Larch | 1972-11-18 |
Movie | Deadhead Miles | Truck Driver in Cafe | 1972-08-08 |
Series | All in the Family | Unknown | 1971-01-12 |
Series | Cannon | Unknown | 1971-09-14 |
Movie | The Pursuit of Happiness | 2nd Guard | 1971-02-23 |
Movie | Hi, Mom! | Superintendent | 1970-04-27 |
Movie | I Walk the Line | Wylie Hunnicutt | 1970-11-18 |
Movie | Stiletto | Cop (uncredited) | 1969-07-30 |
Series | Hawaii Five-O | Unknown | 1968-09-20 |
Series | The High Chaparral | Unknown | 1967-09-10 |
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 |
Series | Hallmark Hall of Fame | Unknown | 1951-12-24 |