I just found out, only a couple of weeks after having a discussion about him and seeing a few of his films, that Tony award winning actor Charles Durning died on December 24. As with Jack Klugman, who died the same day, Durning was an established actor with over 200 roles under his belt during his 60 year career. His films include The Sting, Dog Day Afternoon, Tootsie, The Muppet Movie, Dick Tracy, The Hudsucker Proxy, Spy Hard and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which earned him an Oscar nomination. His role in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof won him a Tony. He has also been in many television shows, including recurring parts in Evening Shade, First Monday, Everybody Loves Raymond, Family Guy and Rescue Me. His characters were versatile - from a Nazi Colonel to The Pope. However, perhaps his best role was as Santa Claus - a part he was given not once, but five times! It is, therefore, quite a coincidence that he died on Christmas Eve! http://www.latimes.com/news/la-mew-charles-durning-dies-20121225,0,7403321.story RIP Charles - thanks for the hundreds of characters you've left us to enjoy.
