This Christmas we heard of the tragic death of two great American actors, Jack Klugman and Charles Durning who died of natural causes at his home in Manhattan, NY. He was 89. He is survived by his children son Douglas and daughter Jeanine and Michele. Once not too long ago he was married to his childhood sweetheart Mary Ann Amelio and his second and last wife Carol Durning.
89-year-old Charles Durning was born in New York to Irish descent parents James and Louise Durning. After his father died when he was just a little boy his mother supported him and his 4 siblings.
Like many men in the 40’s and 50’s Durning served in the Army, he was honorably discharged in 1946 (with the rank of Private First Class) after he was wounded in the chest for the second time.
As an actor Charles Durning became famous for his ability to portrayed any character, it didn’t matter is he was a soldier, a priest or a bartender. That was what make him the “King Of Characters”.
He met his first wife Carol Doughty when both were working at the Dance Studio, they got married in 1959. Carol then became Carol Durning mother of the famous actor’s three children, daughters Jeanine, Michele and son Douglas. Carol and Charrles got dirvorced in 1972.
He then reconnected with Mary Ann Amelio his childhood sweetheart, Durning and Amelio dated while they were in the 20’s and really loved each other, however her family didn’t approved their relationship and after they went different ways Mary Ann married someone else.
88-year- old Mary Ann Amelio born on December 10, 1824 had two children from her first marriage, it was her daughter who approached Durning at one of his Broadway show “That Championship Season” in 1973 and introduced herself as Mary Ann Amelio’s daughter.
By that time she was already divorced, a year after that meeting in 1974 they got married. It has been said Mary Ann and Charles separated in 2010.
Join the Conversation