Charles Durning Joins 'A Bunch of Amateurs'
I was already taken with the idea that Burt Reynolds was going to star in an upcoming theater film called A Bunch of Amateurs, which I told you about earlier this month. The film focuses on aging action star from Hollywood (Burt) who joins a Shakespearian theater company thinking that its the Royal Shakespeare Company. Instead, he's surprised to discover that it's a group of amateurs in Stratford St. John. Due to marketing and charity, he has to stick with it and be King Lear on the amateur stage.Now the film has just gotten 100% irresistible. Variety reports that Charles Durning (who got a hugely-deserved lifetime achievement award from SAG recently) has joined the cast as "a sleazy Hollywood agent" who tricks Burt's character into the theatrical company. I wish he was going to be one of the players, so we'd get more screen time and Charles doing Shakespeare, but I'll take what I can get.
The character actor is a total scene stealer, as Jette Kernion blogged about back in 2006. He has been in a slew of great films, but to me, he'll always be the angelic Charlie from Two of a Kind. Yes, I realize I have weird tastes sometimes. So... What's your favorite Durning role?









Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-30-2008 @ 12:34PM
DAVID F said...
What a great actor....I always like him in "When a Stranger Calls"
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2-04-2008 @ 10:40PM
barb said...
impossible to pick a "favorite" charles durning role - he is wonderfully memorable in everything he has done! and i hope, despite his age, that he continues to bless the screen with his incredible talent! from The Sting to Dog Day Afternoon to Starting Over to Everybody Loves Raymond... they guy doesn't have a bad acting bone in his body! he's truly a master of the craft! So glad that SAG showed their appreciation at the recent award ceremony. A well deserved honor to Mr. Durning, indeed.
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