CHARLES LANE
Charles Lane
Gender: Male
Known for: Acting
Birthday: January 26, 1905
Deathday: July 9, 2007
Place of Birth: San Francisco, California, USA
Biography
Charles Lane (born Charles Gerstle Levison; January 26, 1905 – July 9, 2007) was an American character actor and centenarian whose career spanned 77 years. Lane gave his last performance at the age of 101 as a narrator in 2006. Lane appeared in many Frank Capra films, including You Can't Take It With You (1938), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and Riding High (1950). He was a favored supporting actor of Lucille Ball, who often used him as a no-nonsense authority figure and comedic foe of her scatterbrained TV character on her TV series I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour and The Lucy Show. His first film of more than 250 was as a hotel clerk in Smart Money (1931) starring Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney.
Filmography
Starring
2006·
LegendsRoy (archive footage) (uncredited)
Self
Regent Yarborough
Jesse Mortimer
1993·
Acting on ImpulseBellhop
1990·
Shannon's Deal1986·
L.A. LawWalter Graf
Van der Graaf
1985·
The Comedy FactoryGeorge McCloskey
1985·
OtherworldVelcrows Widley
1985·
Murphy's RomanceAmos Abbott
1984·
HunterMotel Owner
1983·
The Winds of WarAdm. William Standley
1983·
Sunset LimousineReinhammer
1983·
Strange InvadersProf. Hollister
1982·
St. ElsewhereRichard Welte
Chief
1981·
Strange BehaviorDonovan
1980·
The Little DragonsJ.J.
1978·
Mork & Mindy1978·
Movie MovieJudge / Mr. Pennington
1977·
Lou GrantMort Farber
1977·
Weekend Special1977·
SoapJudge Petrillo
1976·
SybilDr. Quinoness
1975·
The Family Holvak1975·
Karen1975·
One Day at a Time1975·
Long Way Home1974·
Chico and the Man1974·
Rhoda1973·
Adam's RibMayor
1973·
HitchedRound Tree
1972·
Temperatures RisingFulton Briggs
1972·
Maude1972·
The RookiesPhilbrick
Mr. Beeman
1970·
The Odd CoupleSid
1970·
The AristocatsLawyer (voice)
1969·
My Dog, the ThiefMr. Pfeiffer
1968·
The Doris Day ShowJudge Carter
Dr. Shapiro
1967·
He & SheMr. Simpson
1967·
Judd for the Defense1967·
The Flying Nun1967·
The Gnome-MobileDr. Scoggins
Maxwell
1966·
Love on a RooftopWhitlow
1966·
The Ugly DachshundJudge
1965·
Green AcresMr. Wilson
Man
1965·
Honey WestAsh
1965·
Get SmartUncle Abner
1965·
The Wild Wild WestRoger Creed
1965·
F TroopEditor
1965·
BillieCoach Jones
Ralph Harrison
1964·
BewitchedHarold Jameson, Mr. Harmon, George Meiklejohn, Shotwell, Ed Hotchkiss, Mr. Roland, Jessie Mortimer, Mr. Cushman
1964·
The Bing Crosby Show1964·
Wendy and Me1964·
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.1964·
The Munsters1964·
The New InternsConnors
1964·
Rendezvous in SpaceInterviewee
1964·
The CarpetbaggersEugene Denby
1964·
Looking for LoveDirector
1964·
Good Neighbor SamJack Bailey
Charles Eckhardt
1963·
The Bill Dana Show1963·
Petticoat JunctionHomer Bedloe
1963·
Burke's LawDr. Lusk
Mr. Cosgrove
1963·
The Wheeler DealersJudge (uncredited)
Airport Manager
Homer Bedloe, Billy Hacker, Foster Phinney
1962·
The Lucy ShowMr. Barnsdahl
1962·
The Music ManConstable
1961·
Mister Ed1961·
Alcatraz Express1960·
Surfside 6Cyrus Radford
Mr. Frisby
1960·
The Comedy Spot1960·
Guestward, Ho!1960·
Pete and Gladys1960·
The Tab Hunter ShowChester L. Wayzack, Esq.
1959·
The UntouchablesAlcatraz Official (uncredited)
1959·
Fibber McGee & MollySalesman
1959·
Dennis the MenaceLawrence Finch
Dr. Shelley
1959·
The Twilight ZoneMr. Peckinpaugh
Standard Bates
1959·
But Not for MeAl Atwood
1959·
The Mating GameInspector General Bigelow
1958·
The Ann Sothern Show1958·
Lawman1958·
The Donna Reed Show1958·
77 Sunset Strip1958·
Teacher's PetRoy
1957·
The Real McCoysMr. Leland
1957·
MaverickProprietor
Customs Officer (uncredited), Claims Clerk (uncredited)
1957·
The Restless GunMayor Peter Mercer
1957·
WhirlybirdsLt. Kevin Anders (uncredited)
1957·
The Thin Man1957·
Bachelor Father1957·
Perry MasonDr. Williams
1957·
God Is My PartnerJudge Warner
1956·
The Gale Storm ShowPierce
1956·
On TrialCharlie Jenkins
1955·
Star Stage1955·
The People's Choice1955·
The MillionaireSimon Whipple
1954·
Studio 57Henry
Mr. Pfeiffer
1954·
Dear PhoebeMr. Fosdick
1954·
Willy1953·
TopperMr. Kittler
1953·
The JugglerRosenberg
1953·
Remains to Be SeenDelapp
Prof. Obispo
1952·
TodaySelf
1952·
The SniperLoud Drunk at Club
1951·
I Love LucyMr. Hickox, Casting Director, Passport Office Clerk, Mr. Stanley
1951·
Criminal LawyerFrederick Waterman
Herman Pulvermacher (uncredited)
1951·
Here Comes the GroomFBI Agent Ralph Burchard (uncredited)
1950·
Lux Video TheatreWalter Medford
1950·
The Second FaceMr. Westcott
1950·
The Yellow Cab ManL.A. Casualty Co. Executive (uncredited)
1950·
BackfireDr. Nolan (uncredited)
1950·
Riding HighErickson
Apartment Manager (uncredited)
1949·
You're My EverythingMr. Eddie Pflum
1949·
Mighty Joe YoungProducer (uncredited)
Mr. Woodruff (uncredited)
1948·
Smart WomanReporter
1948·
State of the UnionBlink Moran
1948·
Race StreetSwitchboard Operator Clerk (uncredited)
1948·
Apartment for PeggyProf. Collins (uncredited)
1948·
Call Northside 777Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)
1948·
MoonriseMr. Chandler
Fenmore
1948·
Out of the StormMr. Evans
1947·
Living in a Big WayHawkins (uncredited)
1947·
LouisianaMcCormack
1947·
Roses Are RedLipton
Landlord (uncredited)
1947·
IntrigueHotel Desk Clerk
1947·
Bury Me DeadBrighton
Nick Steele
1946·
Just Before DawnDr. Steiner (uncredited)
Hack Hagen (uncredited)
1946·
Mysterious IntruderDetective Burns
Real Estate Salesman
1944·
Arsenic and Old LaceReporter at Marriage License Office
1943·
Mission to MoscowMan in Kitchenin Montage (uncredited)
1942·
BroadwayHungry Harry (uncredited), Hungry Harry
Mr. White
1942·
The Lady Is WillingK.K. Miller
1942·
Pardon My SarongBus Company Superintendent (uncredited)
Spotter
1942·
Friendly EnemiesBraun
1942·
Born to SingJohnny
1942·
The Mad MartindalesVirgil Hickling
1942·
About FaceRental Car Manager
1942·
Home in Wyomin'Newspaper Editor
1942·
Thru Different EyesMott
1942·
Sunday PunchRingside spectator at Ole's first fight (uncredited)
1942·
A Gentleman at HeartHolloway
1942·
What's Cookin'?K.D. Reynolds
1942·
Lady in a JamGovernment Man (uncredited)
1942·
Flying TigersRepkin (uncredited)
1942·
Obliging Young LadyPrivate Detective Smith
Coroner
Sargent's Lawyer Gould Beaton
1942·
Sealed LipsAttorney Emanuel 'Manny' T. Dixon
1941·
You're the OneAnnouncer
1941·
Appointment for LoveSmith (uncredited)
1941·
New York TownCensus Taker (uncredited)
1941·
Buy Me That TownJ. Montague Gainsborough
1941·
Ball of FireLarsen
1941·
Repent at LeisureClarence Morgan
1941·
The Big StoreFinance Company Man (uncredited)
1941·
Ride 'Em CowboyMartin Manning (uncredited)
Mortician
1941·
Barnacle BillAuctioneer
1941·
Sis HopkinsMayor's aide
1941·
Back StreetReporter for Associated News
1941·
The Great Man's LadyPierce (uncredited)
1941·
Birth of the BluesWilbur - Bijou Theater Manager (uncredited)
Doc Prouty
Dr. Prouty (coroner)
1941·
I Wake Up ScreamingKeating- Florist
1940·
Queen of the MobHorace Grimley
Salesman
1940·
City for ConquestAl - Dance Team Manager (uncredited)
Reporter (uncredited)
Charlie Graham
Train Passenger (uncredited)
1940·
We Who Are YoungPerkins
1940·
The Leather PushersHenry 'Mitch' Mitchell
1940·
Johnny ApolloAssistant D.A.
1940·
Edison, the ManSecond Lecturer
1940·
Primrose PathMr. Smith (uncredited)
1940·
Blondie Plays CupidTrain Conductor (uncredited)
1940·
On Their OwnJohnson
1940·
The Crooked RoadPhil Wesner, Defense Attorney
1940·
It's a DateMr. Horner (uncredited)
1940·
The Great ProfileDirector
1940·
Dancing on a DimeFreeman Taylor
1940·
Rhythm on the RiverBernard Schwartz
Dr. Prouty
1940·
The Invisible WomanGrowley
Charlie's Doctor
1939·
Miracles for SaleFleetwood Apartments Desk Clerk
District Attorney Rufe Reynolds
1939·
Golden BoyReporter Drake
1939·
Second FiddleStudio Chief
1939·
Fifth Avenue GirlUnion Representative (uncredited)
1939·
Let Us LiveAuto Show Salesman (uncredited)
Sam Kress
1939·
Inside StoryDistrict Attorney
1939·
Television SpyMr. Adler
1939·
Boy SlavesAlbee
1939·
They All Come OutPsychiatrist
1939·
Beware Spooks!Moore (uncredited)
1939·
Lucky NightCarpenter
1939·
Honeymoon in BaliPhotographer (uncredited)
Reporter
Nosey
1938·
Joy of LivingFan in Margaret's Dressing Room (Uncredited)
1938·
Professor BewareJoe - Photographer
1938·
BlondieFurniture Salesman (uncredited)
1938·
KentuckyAuctioneer
1938·
Always in TroubleDonald Gower
Henderson
1938·
Cocoanut GroveWeaver
1938·
The Rage of ParisDepartment Head (uncredited)
Cleaning Store Manager (uncredited)
1937·
Bad GuyAttorney
1937·
Hot WaterGrayson (uncredited)
1937·
Venus Makes TroubleDistrict Attorney
1937·
Born RecklessBarnes's lawyer
1937·
Big BusinessWebster - Bank Representative
1937·
Nothing SacredRubenstein (uncredited)
1937·
One Mile from HeavenWebb
Grote
1937·
We're on the JuryHorace Smith
1937·
Trapped by G-MenFingers
Gilroy, an attorney
1937·
Sea DevilsJudge (uncredited)
Doctor
1937·
Criminal LawyerAttorney (uncredited)
1936·
Easy to TakeSkip
Man in Front Row (archive footage)
1936·
The Milky WayWillard
1936·
Lady LuckFeinberg
1936·
Two-Fisted GentlemanJoe Gordon
1936·
36 Hours to KillLawyer Rickert
Hallor (uncredited)
1935·
GingerJudge (uncredited)
Man in Front Row (archive footage)
1935·
Here Comes the BandMr. Scurry
1935·
Woman WantedDefense Attorney Herman (uncredited)
1935·
One More SpringRepresentative
1935·
Two for TonightWriter
1934·
I'll Fix ItAl Nathan
1934·
Let's Talk It OverReporter
1934·
A Wicked WomanDefense Attorney Beardsley (uncredited)
Reporter (uncredited)
1934·
The Band Plays OnShyster Lawyer
1934·
The Show-OffMr. Weitzenkorn
1934·
Looking for TroubleSwitchboard Operator
1934·
Broadway BillMorgan's Henchman (uncredited)
1934·
Twentieth CenturyMax Jacobs
1933·
Grand SlamWaiter at Nicolai Restaurant
1933·
Private Detective 62Process Server (Uncredited)
1933·
She Had to Say YesMr. Bernstein (uncredited)
1933·
The BoweryDoctor (uncredited)
1933·
Central AirportAmarillo Radio Operator (uncredited)
1933·
Gold Diggers of 1933Society Reporter (uncredited)
Columnist #2
1933·
Employees' EntranceShoe Salesman (uncredited)
1933·
My WomanConn
1933·
Mr. SkitchHotel Clerk
1933·
Blondie JohnsonCashier (uncredited)
1933·
42nd StreetPlaywright (uncredited)
1932·
Union DepotLuggage Checkroom Clerk (uncredited)
1932·
The MouthpieceHotel Desk Clerk (Uncredited)
1932·
Blessed EventKane
1931·
Blonde CrazyHotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
1931·
Smart MoneyHotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Desk Clerk at Club (uncredited)
1931·
Manhattan ParadeDesk clerk
1930·
City GirlMan at Train Station (uncredited)
1925·
I Want My ManFrench Doctor