SAG to honor Charles Durning

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The Screen Actors Guild has chosen Hollywood actor Charles Durning as the recipient of its annual lifetime achievement award.

Durning, most recently seen on the FX television series "Rescue Me," will be presented with the award at the "14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards," Jan. 27 on TNT and TBS.

"Charles Durning is the perfect choice for the Life Achievement Award as Screen Actors Guild celebrates its 75th anniversary," SAG President Alan Rosenberg said Monday in a statement. "Throughout his career, he has epitomized the art and grace of acting and brought something special to every role. He is, above all things, a great actor with the talent to which we all aspire: the power to create indelible characters."

Among Durning’s film credits are "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," "The Sting," "Dog Day Afternoon," "The Muppet Movie," "Tootsie," "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and "The Hudsucker Proxy."

The 84-year-old actor has also earned Tony and Drama Desk awards for his performance in the Broadway revival of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and has appeared in stage productions of "The Gin Game," "Inherit the Wind," "Third" and "The Best Man."