Charles Durning honored during SAG Awards

During its annual awards show on Sunday night, the Screen Actors Guild of America honored legendary actor Charles During, who spent several years early in his career working as an instructor in a Fred Astaire Dance Studio in New York City.

"When someone asked the great character actor Sir Ralph Richardson how he did what he did at age 83, he replied, 'I don't know, I'm just getting the hang of it.' And that's how I feel. I'm just getting the hang of it." — Charles Durning, accepting the Screen Actors Guild's lifetime achievement award.

"It's been a dream come true. A dream that began when I watched the movies of the great character actors of my time. Actors like Claude Raines, Lee J. Cobb, Frank Morgan and King Kong,” he said while reflecting on his long acting career.

According to an article on http://www.reuters.com/, Durning, 84, has spent the past 50 years portraying numerous roles on stage, television and in movies, from his turn as a corrupt cop in "The Sting" to the owner of a restaurant specializing in frogs’ legs in "The Muppet Movie."

The actor was nominated for two supporting actor Oscars for 1983's "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and one year later for "To Be or Not To Be." He also earned eight Emmy nominations, U.S. television's top honors.

"He is, above all things, a great actor with the talent to which we all aspire: the power to create indelible characters," said SAG President Alan Rosenberg.

Durning was born and raised in upstate New York. He got his start in show business as a teenager, singing and dancing in burlesque stage shows. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, suffered serious wounds and was captured and held as a prisoner-of-war.

Durning returned to the U.S. and by the 1960s had become a prolific star on Broadway and in touring companies. He made his film debut in 1965 in "Harvey Middleman, Fireman."

This year, Durning was named a "Legend" of acting by the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

And while Mr. Durning’s accomplishments took center stage, one other award recipient on Sunday night mentioned the venerable Fred Astaire and his legacy:

"If you've seen me on the show with Alec Baldwin, then you know it's sort of like watching Fred Astaire dance with a hat rack and after a while you're like, 'Oh, that hat rack is pretty good too.' And you've given an award to the hat rack and I thank you." — Tina Fey, accepting the award for female actor in a comedy series at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday night.