Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Charles Burning RIP




Charles Durning

Your actions have earned you an impressive number of decorations: the World War Two Victory Medal, three Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star, and the very prestigious Silver Star for the brave act of destroying a battery of enemy machine guns. Speech by Consul General of France Philippe Larrieu, honoring actor Charles Durning,  Beverly Hills, April 22, 2008 [Full Story]
 
Loved him in "Evening Shade."  Your next mission soldier, is to make sure Ted Kennedy has not been secreted into heaven by some renegade Irish Cardinal. Find and destroy. Amen.

 

15 comments:

Juice said...

Always. Liked when Charles Durning showed up in a film or on television. A very nice tribute post, especially since I was unaware of his military service. Outstanding!

I wondered why Durning had second billing at Drudge beneath Clugman? Just a personal preference I guess.

pdwalker said...

Holy Crap!

What a hero!

I never knew.

Anonymous said...

Big Hollywood does recurring posts under the heading "Actors Who Served".

It will be hard to top Durning but I remember being amazed to realized that mild mannered Eddie Albert of Green Acres fame spent his days at Tarawa driving a landing craft across the lagoon, bringing in supplies and ferrying out the wounded, all the while continuously under fire. A lot of troops never survived their first trip.

Freddie Sykes

Anonymous said...

He was on a NCIS episode and played a WWII medal of honor recipitant that thought he had committed murder. Great show!

TimO said...

They said on the news he's gong to be buried at Arlington. Would be glad to add him to my list of celebrity headstones I visit the next time I go there....

ROger.45 said...

"Pappy O'Daniel", in, 'Oh Brother Where Art Thou'.

Godspeed old soldier.

Anonymous said...

Something about Durning made me like everything I saw him in, much like films with Gene Hackman, perhaps because they are not metrosexual model pretty, but feel and look like real, ordinary people. I've observed that seemingly ordinary people often have something extraordinary in their capabilities or experiences that they would never mention, unless you encourage them to reveal it. Durning surely had that, and unlike JoKerry, Durning earned his three purple hearts.
Disinter Ted Kennedy and give that prime spot in Arlington to Durning. He more than earned it.
Kennedy soils Arlington. Throw his remains in the Potomac.
Lt. Col. Gen. Tailgunner dick

David said...

First role of Mr. Durning's I think of every time I hear his name...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJG75FJkjr8

Anonymous said...

Ano 1:53, thanks! I couldn't place the face but enjoyed the episode and the story. gsebes

Merrily said...

Best Little Whorehouse in TX

Anonymous said...

I didn't know any of this about him and was still sad to hear of his passing. Now I wish he were around to be on my list of people whose hand I'd like to shake. He's typical of that generation of heroes. Quiet, humble men. Just doing their duty.
GrinfilledCelt

rickn8or said...

Tailgunner Dick, the fact The Swimmer is buried in Arlington is the only thing stopping me from making a special trip Back East just to piss on his grave.

Anonymous said...

Sharkeys Machine, with Burt Reynolds in a supporting role.

Sir H the Comet

Anonymous said...

rikn8or, the swimmer chose Arlington for that very reason... I'll bet Jimmah will do the same. There's a 24 hour guard that will deter micturation on those graves that need it.
tomw

Anonymous said...

rickn8or, Anon12:06 - I have the same wish and the same restraint. Seems to me one could rig a catheter bag attached to a calf to dump from its tube by pulling a lanyard in a pocket to release a clip on the tube.
TRKOF&S has a whole vat reserved for Swimmer stored and awaiting delivery in his National Pissatorium.
I mean that in a nice way, of course.
Lt. Col. Gen. Tailgunner dick

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