Jack Klugman and Charles Durning.
When I was younger and fascinated by movie magazines I thought being called a character actor meant you weren't good enough to be a movie star. How foolish.
Reality shows and the news have taught us that any idiot can become famous.
Bringing a character to life and making that character memorable and touching takes an actor.
Jack Klugman as Oscar in The Odd Couple is an example of incredible acting. Jack made the sloppy, gruff, thoughtless Oscar lovable.
For me Charles Durning was one of those actors where you always remember the character he played more than you remember him in the role. I didn't know until his death that he was a war hero. I didn't know much about him at all.
What I do know is that his performance as Denis Leary's father in Rescue Me made me laugh and cringe and weep. He touched so very close to the nerve that weaves through all adult children of drunks.
Peaceful Journey Jack
Peaceful Journey Charles
I am imaging the actor's studio on the other side is having one hell of a grand showcase.
18 comments:
Aww I remember them too. And so true about reality shows...I don't care for them at all.
A fine tribute to two wonderful actors, Di.
I thoroughly enjoyed both actors. What a fine tribute post Dianne.
Both Superb consumatte actors! The BEST OF THE BEST!
I met Jack & Brett (Somers), many many years ago---1963--In New York....I saw them a lot over the years---Brett more than Jack, especially once they were separated.... He was a good guy and a truly spectacular actor!!
Durning was very very special, too! I never knew him personally, but I admired him as an actor, more than I can say....! I LOVED him in "Ballroom" with Maureen Stapleton---another Brilliant Amazing actress---He could do it all---Sing, Dance, and become the character he was playing with such ease...it was remarkable!
I LOVED what you said about both of these men! You always get it just "right" on the money, my dear Diane.
RIP Dear Jack, and Dear Mr. Durning.
I just heard about Jack Klugman, today, and Charles Durning was news to me. Two of the greats. You did them proud. :)
As I watched the NBC national news last night, where they did a montage of notables we lost this year, I was struck by how many icons of various arts and sciences it included. Quite startling, really. So many greats, these two included.
Oh so true about any idiot becoming a "star" lately. What we in America hold up as 'celebrity' is pretty damned pathetic and only getting worse I'm afraid.
I always loved Charles Durning's roles and Jack Klugman was the best Oscar ever in my own humble - and occasionally curmudgeonly! - opinion!
What a wonderful commemoration to two wonderful men, who I will always remember as two of my favorite actors. Thanks for the post, Dianne. Blue skies, Jack and Charles!
Beautiful tribute to both of these awesome men and actors, Dianne!
"Jack Klugman as Oscar in The Odd Couple is an example of incredible acting. Jack made the sloppy, gruff, thoughtless Oscar lovable."
Ain't that the truth? I LOVED watching The Odd Couple because both Klugman and Randall made the best contrasting odd couple. They were brilliant together!
The wonderful thing about Durning was that he could morph himself into any kind of character, both serious and comedic. Outstanding actor!
Peaceful journey, Jack and Charles.
X
Both of them were great talents!
Thank you for putting Charles Durning in the limelight with Jack Klugman. It seems Klulgman was upstaging Durning and I loved them both finding their roles quite memorable in everything.
I loved The Odd Couple!
Loved both of these guys. Klugman was so great in The Odd Couple and Durning was good at everything he did but strangely, I remember him as the wise old priest in Everybody Loves Raymond. He handled some great lines in that show.
I loved Dunning in Tootsie. Such losses.
It was sad to hear of the passing of Jack Klugman. But when the local news broke the news that he was dead, they showed a 30 second clip of Jack Lemmon, which really confused the heck out of me...
What you said about Charles Durning is really the mark of a good actor don't you think? He was truly an actor, not a personality. We remember the charactershe played because he was so good. And Jack Klugman was so brave! And also such a good actor.
Thank you for your kind note to Lois Anne! Much appreciated. And we would wish for you a new year filled with family and friends and love and peace and more wonderful blog posts!
two great character actors ... a true loss
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