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 | 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 | 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 | Good Dick | Charlie | 2008-10-03 |
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 | 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 | Miracle Dogs Too | Captain Pete Weaver | 2006-04-01 |
Movie | Forget About It | Eddie O'Brien | 2006-10-14 |
Movie | Local Color | Yammi | 2006-09-19 |
Movie | Desperation | Tom Billingsley | 2006-05-23 |
Movie | River's End | Murray Blythe | 2005-01-01 |
Movie | The L.A. Riot Spectacular | The Lawyer | 2005-04-25 |
Movie | Dirty Deeds | Victor Rasdale | 2005-08-26 |
Movie | The Art of 'The Sting' | Self | 2005-09-06 |
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 |
Movie | Turn of Faith | Philly Russo | 2002-06-05 |
Series | Monk | Unknown | 2002-07-12 |
Series | First Monday | Justice Henry Hoskins | 2002-01-15 |
Series | Everwood | Unknown | 2002-09-16 |
Movie | Mother Ghost | George | 2002-08-08 |
Movie | Mr. St. Nick | Nicholas XX | 2002-10-17 |
Movie | The Judge | Judge Harlan Radovich | 2001-05-06 |
Series | Citizen Baines | Unknown | 2001-09-29 |
Series | Dinner for Five | Unknown | 2001-07-06 |
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 | A Constant Forge | Self | 2000-01-01 |
Movie | Lakeboat | Skippy | 2000-04-13 |
Movie | The Last Producer | Syd Wolf | 2000-08-22 |
Movie | State and Main | Mayor George Bailey | 2000-08-26 |
Movie | Very Mean Men | Paddy Mulroney | 2000-06-10 |
Movie | O Brother, Where Art Thou? | Pappy O'Daniel | 2000-08-30 |
Movie | Justice | Moe Ryan | 1999-01-14 |
Series | Family Guy | Unknown | 1999-01-31 |
Movie | Hard Time: Hostage Hotel | Det. Charlie Duffy | 1999-11-14 |
Movie | Hard Time: The Premonition | Det. Charlie Duffy | 1999-02-27 |
Movie | Hi-Life | Fatty | 1998-11-27 |
Movie | Jerry and Tom | Vic | 1998-12-04 |
Movie | Shelter | Capt. Robert Landis | 1998-01-16 |
Movie | A Chance of Snow | Earl Pulmer | 1998-12-07 |
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 | Everybody Loves Raymond | Unknown | 1996-09-13 |
Series | Early Edition | 1996-09-28 | |
Movie | Spy Hard | The Director | 1996-05-24 |
Movie | One Fine Day | Lew, Jack's boss | 1996-12-20 |
Movie | The Land Before Time IV: Journey Through the Mists | Archie (voice) | 1996-11-01 |
Movie | Sesame Street: Elmo Saves Christmas | Santa Claus | 1996-12-24 |
Movie | Mrs. Santa Claus | Santa Claus | 1996-12-08 |
Series | Cybill | Unknown | 1995-01-02 |
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 | Charlie Sheen's Stunts Spectacular | Self (archive footage) | 1994-06-30 |
Movie | The Hudsucker Proxy | Waring Hudsucker | 1994-03-11 |
Series | Touched by an Angel | Unknown | 1994-09-21 |
Movie | Roommates | Barney | 1994-05-30 |
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 | The World of Jim Henson | Doc Hopper (archive footage) | 1994-11-23 |
Series | Homicide: Life on the Street | Unknown | 1993-01-31 |
Movie | When a Stranger Calls Back | John Clifford | 1993-04-04 |
Movie | The Music of Chance | Bill Flower | 1993-06-23 |
Movie | The Water Engine | Tour Guide | 1992-08-24 |
Movie | Tales from Hollywood | Charles F. Money | 1992-10-18 |
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 | 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 | It Nearly Wasn't Christmas | Santa | 1989-12-01 |
Movie | The Butter Battle Book | Grandfather (voice) | 1989-11-13 |
Movie | Cop | Dutch Peltz | 1988-02-05 |
Movie | Case Closed | Les Kabowski | 1988-04-19 |
Movie | A Tiger's Tale | Charlie Drumm | 1988-02-12 |
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 | Tough Guys | Deke Yablonski | 1986-10-03 |
Movie | Solarbabies | The Warden | 1986-11-26 |
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 | Death of a Salesman | Charley | 1985-08-16 |
Series | Amazing Stories | Unknown | 1985-09-29 |
Movie | The Legend of Sleepy Hollow | Uncle Doffue | 1985-09-25 |
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 | To Be or Not to Be | Col. Erhardt | 1983-12-16 |
Movie | Hadley's Rebellion | Sam Crawford | 1983-09-30 |
Movie | Scarface | Immigration Officer (voice) (uncredited) | 1983-12-09 |
Movie | Two of a Kind | Charlie | 1983-12-13 |
Movie | Working | Retired Man | 1982-04-13 |
Movie | Tootsie | Les Nichols | 1982-12-17 |
Movie | The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas | Governor of Texas | 1982-07-23 |
Movie | The Best Little Girl in the World | Frank Powell | 1981-05-11 |
Movie | True Confessions | Jack Amsterdam | 1981-09-25 |
Movie | Crisis at Central High | Jess Matthews | 1981-02-04 |
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 |
Movie | Tilt | Harold 'The Whale' Remmens | 1979-04-01 |
Movie | The Muppet Movie | Doc Hopper | 1979-06-22 |
Series | Studs Lonigan | Paddy Lonigan | 1979-03-07 |
Movie | North Dallas Forty | Coach Johnson | 1979-08-03 |
Movie | Starting Over | Michael "Mickey" Potter | 1979-10-05 |
Movie | When a Stranger Calls | John Clifford | 1979-09-28 |
Movie | Special Olympics | Carl Gallitzin | 1978-02-22 |
Movie | The Fury | Dr. Jim McKeever | 1978-03-10 |
Movie | The Greek Tycoon | Michael Russell | 1978-05-12 |
Movie | An Enemy of the People | Peter Stockmann | 1978-03-17 |
Movie | Twilight's Last Gleaming | President David T. Stevens | 1977-02-09 |
Movie | The Choirboys | Spermwhale Whalen | 1977-12-23 |
Series | Captains and the Kings | Ed Healey | 1976-09-30 |
Movie | Harry and Walter Go to New York | Rufus T. Crisp | 1976-06-17 |
Movie | Switch [Pilot] | Lt. Phil Beckman | 1975-03-21 |
Movie | Queen of the Stardust Ballroom | Al Green | 1975-02-13 |
Series | Baretta | Unknown | 1975-01-17 |
Movie | The Trial of Chaplain Jensen | Budd Rogers | 1975-02-11 |
Movie | Dog Day Afternoon | Det. Sgt. Eugene Moretti | 1975-09-21 |
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 |