In honor of D-Day: 5 actors who were there 80 years ago
Several top stars put their careers on hold and their lives on the line to serve during World War II including Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable, Henry Fonda, Robert Taylor, Alan Ladd, William Holden, Robert Ryan and Robert Montgomery. And numerous young men who weren’t yet actors during the global conflict including Lee Marvin and Charles Durning saw action and suffered severe injuries.
With the 80th anniversary of D-Day, which was the largest amphibious invasion in military history with five naval assault divisions invading the beaches of Normandy, France, on June 6, let’s look at some actors who participated in the massive operation.
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Charles Durning
The versatile character actor, who earned supporting actor Oscar nominations for 1982’s “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and 1983’s “To Be or Not to Be” and nine Emmy nominations, was just 21 when he was one of the first group of soldiers to land and the only member of his unit to survive. “I was the second man off my barge,” he would say. “The first and third man got killed.” Within days of landing in Normandy, he was injured by a German land mine and spent six months in the hospital. He also earned his first of three Purple Hearts and returned to active duty. Durning would also receive a Silver Star for his service. Durning was very involved in events honoring veterans serving as Chairman of the U.S. National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans and was a speaker for 17 years for PBS’ “National Memorial Day Concert” But Durning had such painful memories, he wouldn’t talk about his experiences. “You know, everybody who was there is I some state of denial. There are things I’ll take to my grave.”
James Doohan
The Canadian-born actor, who played the beloved Enterprise chief engineer Scotty on the original “Star Trek” and subsequent movies, joined the Royal Canadian Artillery at the outset of the war. He was part of the invasion force on Juno Beach. He not only shot two snipers, but he also led his men through anti-tank mines to higher ground where they settled in for the night. Doohan was shot six times that evening, not by a German soldier, but a nervous Canadian sentry. One of the bullets hit his right middle finger which had to be amputated. He often wore a special flesh-colored glove with a faux finger to hide the amputation.
David Niven
The popular British actor and author, who won his only best Oscar foe 1958’s “Separate Tables,” participated in the Allied invasion, though, it was days after D-day. A member of secret reconnaissance and signals unit, Niven, just as Durning was reluctant to discuss his experiences in France. When asked he would tell this story: “I was asked by some American friends to search out the grave of their son in Bastogne. I found it where they told me I would, but it was among 27,000 others, and I told myself that here, Niven, were 27,000 reasons why you should keep your mouth shut.”
Richard Todd
The Irish-British actor, who earned a best actor Oscar nomination for 1949’s “The Hasty Heart,” was a lieutenant in the 7th Parachute Battalion of the British 6th Airborne Division. He was first out of his plane on D-Day. According to the BBC website “one of the main strategic landmarks in the invasion was Pegasus Bridge. The bridge was captured in the first few moments of D-Day by the 6th Airborne division in what’s been described as “the finest piece of airmanship of the war.” Todd served in Major John Howard’s unit. One could say he kept fighting in D-Day. He starred with Robert Taylor in MGM’s 1956” “D-Day the Sixth of June” playing a fictional character and six years later would portray Major Howard in the epic “The Longest Day.” In 2003, he returned to Normandy. “I think it’s important that the new generations are reminded of what war was really like…. Going back brings the memories for me and it’s always poignant looking around the cemeteries and seeing the names of those who didn’t come back.”
Jack Warden
The versatile character actor, who received supporting actor Oscar nominations for 1975’s “Shampoo” and 1978’s “Heaven Can Wait” and won the supporting actor Emmy for 1971’s “Brian’s Song,” was supposed to have participated in D-Day. The then-23-year-old staff sergeant was a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division. On the eve of D-Day, he landed in a tree during an evening practice jump in England shattering his leg. He had an eight-month recuperation. The upside is he read a Clifford Odets play while in the hospital and decided to become an actor.
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