Theater News

Broadway’s Lights will Dim Tonight in Honor of Actor Charles Durning

The Broadway community will take a moment to remember Charles Durning on December 27 at 8 pm.

Charles Durning
Charles Durning

In honor of acclaimed actor Charles Durning, who passed away on Monday at age 89, the Broadway community will take one minute tonight at 8 pm to collectively mourn his loss by dimming the marquees of Broadway theaters.

In 1990, Durning won a Tony Award for his role as Big Daddy in the Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. His early stage work included a 1972 breakout performance as George Sikowski in Jason Miller’s That Championship Season, David Rabe’s Boom Boom Room, Hugh Leonard’s Au Pair Man, and Jules Feiffer’s Knock Knock. Later, Durning played opposite George C. Scott in a 1996 Broadway revival of Inherit the Wind, starred with Julie Harris in a 1997 Broadway revival of The Gin Game, and in 2000, played an ailing former president in a retitled revival called Gore Vidal’s The Best Man.

Durning’s memorable film work includes roles in The Sting, Dog Day Afternoon, and Tootsie as well as To Be or Not To Be and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, both of which earned him Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He also appeared on television favorites such as Everybody Loves Raymond, Rescue Me, and Family Guy.

Executive Director of The Broadway League Charlotte St. Martin said, “Charles Durning was a memorable figure on Broadway who delighted audiences in thousands of performances. He will be greatly missed.”