Sad news during the Christmas holidays for the acting world as veteran character actors Jack Klugman and two-time Oscar nominee Charles Durning have died aged 90 and 89 respectively.
Klugman was familiar for his roles in television before taking on a significant part in Sidney Lumet’s suspenseful classic 12 ANGRY MEN. He then returned to TV, finding even more fame in the small-screen transfer of Walter Matthau and Jack Lemon’s classic comedy THE ODD COUPLE. Starring opposite Tony Randall, the series ran from 1970-75. A year after the end of THE ODD COUPLE, Klugman then found his most iconic role as crime scene investigator QUINCY, M.E., which ran for eight seasons during 1976-84.
Charles Durning first found fame as the slimy Lieutenant Snyder in Oscar-winning crime-caper THE STING. Supporting roles in high-profile and iconic efforts DOG DAY AFTERNOON, THE MUPPET MOVIE and TOOTSIE followed, as did Oscar nominations for THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS and Mel Brooks’ TO BE OR NOT TO BE. Durning worked in television, film and on-stage (even winning a Tony Award in 1990) constantly, right up to his death yesterday. Recent work included Seth McFarlane’s FAMILY GUY and acclaimed firefighting drama RESCUE ME. The actor was also a former professional boxer and dance instructor.
