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.
