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(trimming full birth and death dates, per our general policy on non-Muppeteer/Sesame Street cast folks and so on, and date is included at bottom; span coding not needed) |
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| − | + | [[Image:Charlesdurning.jpg|frame|Charles Durning with Miss Piggy in ''The Muppets Go Hollywood''.]] |
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| + | [[Image:Dochopper.jpg|thumb|300px|Durning as Doc Hopper in ''The Muppet Movie''.]] |
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| + | [[Image:Santa.durning.jpg|thumb|300px|Durning in ''Elmo Saves Christmas'' as Santa Claus.]] |
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| + | '''Charles Durning''' (1923-2012) was a veteran character actor who played the villainous [[Doc Hopper]] in ''[[The Muppet Movie]]''. Durning fought during World War II, and after the war, sang and danced in nightclubs, with the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, and taught at the [[Fred Astaire]] Dance Studio. His dance experience was evident in his turn as the Governor of [[Texas]] in the film ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'', dancing a two-step. |
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| + | He also made a brief appearance in the 1979 special ''[[The Muppets Go Hollywood]]'', aired as a promotion for ''The Muppet Movie''. In contrast to his Doc Hopper role, and referencing his experience as a hoofer, he dances with [[Miss Piggy]], who must discourage a persistent [[Christopher Reeve]] from cutting in. |
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| − | 1979: Played [[Doc Hopper]] in [[The Muppet Movie]] |
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| − | 1996 |
+ | In 1996, Durning played [[Santa Claus]] in the ''[[Sesame Street]]'' special ''[[Elmo Saves Christmas (special)|Elmo Saves Christmas]]''. It would be the second of five telefilms where Durning would assume the red suit and beard of Santa. |
| + | Charles Durning died at his home in New York City on Monday, December 24, 2012 of natural causes. |
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| + | ==Trivia== |
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| + | * Durning was on the short list of actors that [[Jim Henson]] considered for the role of [[Mike Tarkanian]] in ''[[The Great Muppet Caper]]''.<ref>[http://www.henson.com/jimsredbook/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/GMC_17790_CastingList.jpg Jim’s list of possible actors to cast in the Editor role.]</ref> |
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| + | ==Sources== |
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| + | <references/> |
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| + | ==External links== |
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| + | *[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001164/ IMDb] |
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| + | *[http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=38808 Internet Broadway Database] |
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| + | {{wikipedia}} |
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| + | {{DEFAULTSORT:Durning, Charles}} |
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| + | [[Category:Muppet Movies Actors]] |
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| + | [[Category:Sesame Street Specials Actors]] |
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Revision as of 15:42, 25 December 2012
Charles Durning with Miss Piggy in The Muppets Go Hollywood.
Durning as Doc Hopper in The Muppet Movie.
Durning in Elmo Saves Christmas as Santa Claus.
Charles Durning (1923-2012) was a veteran character actor who played the villainous Doc Hopper in The Muppet Movie. Durning fought during World War II, and after the war, sang and danced in nightclubs, with the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, and taught at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio. His dance experience was evident in his turn as the Governor of Texas in the film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, dancing a two-step.
He also made a brief appearance in the 1979 special The Muppets Go Hollywood, aired as a promotion for The Muppet Movie. In contrast to his Doc Hopper role, and referencing his experience as a hoofer, he dances with Miss Piggy, who must discourage a persistent Christopher Reeve from cutting in.
In 1996, Durning played Santa Claus in the Sesame Street special Elmo Saves Christmas. It would be the second of five telefilms where Durning would assume the red suit and beard of Santa.
Charles Durning died at his home in New York City on Monday, December 24, 2012 of natural causes.
Trivia
- Durning was on the short list of actors that Jim Henson considered for the role of Mike Tarkanian in The Great Muppet Caper.[1]