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.
Series | Attica | Unknown | 2025 |
Series | Normandy: The Great Crusade | Unknown | 2025 |
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 | Rogue Assassin | 2012-01-01 | |
Movie | Top Priority: The Terror Within | Himself - Academy Award Nominated Actor (archive footage) | 2012-06-15 |
Movie | The Life Zone | James Wise | 2011-06-10 |
Movie | Naked Run | Congressman Davenport | 2011-05-05 |
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 | The Golden Boys | John Bartlett | 2008-12-11 |
Movie | Deal | Charlie Adler | 2008-01-29 |
Movie | A Bunch of Amateurs | Charlie Rosenberg | 2008-11-17 |
Movie | iMurders | Dr. Seamus St. Martin | 2008-08-09 |
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 | The Making of 'Dog Day Afternoon' | Self | 2006-02-28 |
Movie | Unbeatable Harold | Harold's Father | 2006-01-01 |
Movie | Desperation | Tom Billingsley | 2006-05-23 |
Movie | Miracle Dogs Too | Captain Pete Weaver | 2006-04-01 |
Movie | Local Color | Yammi | 2006-09-19 |
Movie | Forget About It | Eddie O'Brien | 2006-10-14 |
Movie | River's End | Murray Blythe | 2005-01-01 |
Movie | The L.A. Riot Spectacular | The Lawyer | 2005-04-25 |
Movie | The Art of 'The Sting' | Self | 2005-09-06 |
Movie | Dirty Deeds | Victor Rasdale | 2005-08-26 |
Movie | The Drum Beats Twice | Satan | 2004-01-01 |
Movie | The Autopsy | Self | 2004-12-31 |
Movie | A Very Married Christmas | Ozzy Larson | 2004-12-05 |
Movie | A Boyfriend for Christmas | Santa Claus | 2004-11-27 |
Series | Rescue Me | Unknown | 2004-07-21 |
Movie | Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There | Self | 2003-01-01 |
Series | NCIS | Unknown | 2003-09-23 |
Series | Everwood | Unknown | 2002-09-16 |
Series | First Monday | Justice Henry Hoskins | 2002-01-15 |
Movie | Turn of Faith | Philly Russo | 2002-06-05 |
Movie | Mother Ghost | George | 2002-08-08 |
Series | Monk | Unknown | 2002-07-12 |
Movie | Mr. St. Nick | Nicholas XX | 2002-11-16 |
Series | Citizen Baines | Unknown | 2001-09-29 |
Movie | The Judge | Judge Harlan Radovich | 2001-05-06 |
Series | Dinner for Five | Unknown | 2001-07-06 |
Movie | A Constant Forge | Self | 2000-01-01 |
Movie | Never Look Back | 2000-03-31 | |
Movie | O Brother, Where Art Thou? | Pappy O'Daniel | 2000-08-30 |
Movie | State and Main | Mayor George Bailey | 2000-08-26 |
Movie | The Last Producer | Syd Wolf | 2000-08-22 |
Movie | Lakeboat | Skippy | 2000-04-13 |
Movie | Justice | Moe Ryan | 1999-01-14 |
Movie | Hard Time: Hostage Hotel | Det. Charlie Duffy | 1999-11-14 |
Movie | Hard Time: The Premonition | Det. Charlie Duffy | 1999-02-27 |
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 |
Movie | Jerry and Tom | Vic | 1998-12-04 |
Movie | Hi-Life | Fatty | 1998-11-27 |
Series | The Practice | Unknown | 1997-03-04 |
Series | Orleans | Frank Vitelli | 1997-01-08 |
Movie | The Secret Life of Algernon | Norbie Hess | 1997-11-15 |
Movie | Spy Hard | The Director | 1996-05-24 |
Series | Everybody Loves Raymond | Unknown | 1996-09-13 |
Series | Early Edition | Unknown | 1996-09-28 |
Movie | One Fine Day | Lew, Jack's boss | 1996-12-20 |
Movie | Sesame Street: Elmo Saves Christmas | Santa Claus | 1996-12-24 |
Movie | Mrs. Santa Claus | Santa Claus | 1996-12-08 |
Movie | The Land Before Time IV: Journey Through the Mists | Archie (voice) | 1996-11-01 |
Series | Cybill | Unknown | 1995-01-02 |
Movie | The Grass Harp | Reverend Buster | 1995-09-10 |
Movie | The Last Supper | Reverend Gerald Hutchens | 1995-09-08 |
Movie | Home for the Holidays | Henry Larson | 1995-11-02 |
Movie | A Woman of Independent Means | Andrew Alcott | 1995-02-19 |
Movie | The Hudsucker Proxy | Waring Hudsucker | 1994-03-11 |
Movie | Roommates | Barney | 1994-05-30 |
Series | Touched by an Angel | Unknown | 1994-09-21 |
Movie | I.Q. | Louis Bamberger | 1994-12-24 |
Movie | The World of Jim Henson | Doc Hopper (archive footage) | 1994-11-23 |
Movie | In Search of Dr. Seuss | (voice) (uncredited) | 1994-11-06 |
Movie | Charlie Sheen's Stunts Spectacular | Self (archive footage) | 1994-06-30 |
Movie | When a Stranger Calls Back | John Clifford | 1993-04-04 |
Movie | The Music of Chance | Bill Flower | 1993-06-23 |
Series | Homicide: Life on the Street | Unknown | 1993-01-31 |
Movie | Tales from Hollywood | Charles F. Money | 1992-10-18 |
Movie | The Water Engine | Tour Guide | 1992-08-24 |
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 |
Series | Evening Shade | Harlan Elldridge | 1990-09-21 |
Movie | Dick Tracy | Chief Brandon | 1990-04-05 |
Movie | Project Alien | 1990-12-21 | |
Movie | Dinner at Eight | Dan Packard | 1989-12-11 |
Movie | Etoile | Uncle Joshua | 1989-03-17 |
Movie | Brenda Starr | Editor Francis I. Livright | 1989-05-15 |
Movie | It Nearly Wasn't Christmas | Santa | 1989-12-01 |
Movie | The Butter Battle Book | Grandfather (voice) | 1989-11-13 |
Movie | Cat Chaser | Jiggs Scully | 1989-09-13 |
Movie | Cop | Dutch Peltz | 1988-02-05 |
Movie | Far North | Bertrum | 1988-11-09 |
Movie | Unholy Matrimony | Reverend Samuel Corey | 1988-10-03 |
Movie | Case Closed | Les Kabowski | 1988-04-19 |
Movie | A Tiger's Tale | Charlie Drumm | 1988-02-12 |
Movie | Happy New Year | Charlie | 1987-08-07 |
Movie | The Gambler, Part III: The Legend Continues | Senator Henry Colton | 1987-11-22 |
Movie | The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains | Warden Hardy | 1987-10-31 |
Movie | The Rosary Murders | Father Ted Nabors | 1987-08-28 |
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 | Big Trouble | O'Mara | 1986-05-30 |
Series | Eye to Eye | 1985-03-21 | |
Movie | Stick | Chucky | 1985-04-26 |
Movie | Night of 100 Stars II | Self | 1985-03-10 |
Movie | Death of a Salesman | Charley | 1985-08-16 |
Movie | The Man with One Red Shoe | Ross | 1985-07-18 |
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 | Hadley's Rebellion | Sam Crawford | 1983-09-30 |
Movie | To Be or Not to Be | Col. Erhardt | 1983-12-16 |
Movie | Two of a Kind | Charlie | 1983-12-13 |
Movie | Scarface | Immigration Officer (voice) (uncredited) | 1983-12-09 |
Movie | The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas | Governor of Texas | 1982-07-23 |
Movie | Working | Retired Man | 1982-04-13 |
Movie | Tootsie | Les Nichols | 1982-12-17 |
Movie | Crisis at Central High | Jess Matthews | 1981-02-04 |
Movie | Sharky's Machine | Lt. Friscoe | 1981-12-18 |
Movie | The Best Little Girl in the World | Frank Powell | 1981-05-11 |
Movie | Dark Night of the Scarecrow | Otis P. Hazelrigg | 1981-10-24 |
Movie | True Confessions | Jack Amsterdam | 1981-09-25 |
Movie | The Girls in Their Summer Dresses and Other Stories | McMahon | 1981-06-01 |
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 |
Series | Studs Lonigan | Paddy Lonigan | 1979-03-07 |
Movie | Starting Over | Michael "Mickey" Potter | 1979-10-05 |
Movie | Tilt | Harold 'The Whale' Remmens | 1979-04-01 |
Movie | The Muppets Go Hollywood | Self | 1979-05-16 |
Movie | When a Stranger Calls | John Clifford | 1979-09-28 |
Movie | The Muppet Movie | Doc Hopper | 1979-06-22 |
Movie | North Dallas Forty | Coach Johnson | 1979-08-03 |
Movie | An Enemy of the People | Peter Stockmann | 1978-03-17 |
Movie | The Greek Tycoon | Michael Russell | 1978-05-12 |
Movie | The Fury | Dr. Jim McKeever | 1978-03-10 |
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 | The Trial of Chaplain Jensen | Budd Rogers | 1975-02-11 |
Series | Baretta | Unknown | 1975-01-17 |
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 | Queen of the Stardust Ballroom | Al Green | 1975-02-13 |
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 | Sisters | Joseph Larch | 1972-11-18 |
Movie | Look Homeward, Angel | Will Pentland | 1972-01-01 |
Movie | Doomsday Voyage | Jason's First Mate | 1972-02-01 |
Movie | Deadhead Miles | Truck Driver in Cafe | 1972-08-08 |
Movie | Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues | Murphy | 1972-02-25 |
Movie | The Pursuit of Happiness | 2nd Guard | 1971-02-23 |
Series | Cannon | Unknown | 1971-09-14 |
Series | All in the Family | Unknown | 1971-01-12 |
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 |