Charles Lane
Known for
Acting
Life
1905 – 2007 (aged 102)
Born in
San Francisco, California, USA
Credits
View on IMDb319 acting credits
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.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Known For
The Aristocats
24 Dec 1970
It's a Wonderful Life
20 Dec 1946
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
19 Oct 1939
Arsenic and Old Lace
01 Sep 1944
The Twilight Zone
02 Oct 1959
Little House on the Prairie
11 Sep 1974
Bewitched
17 Sep 1964
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
07 Nov 1963
Filmography
2006
- Legendsas Roy (archive footage) (uncredited)1 episode
2003
1995
- The Computer Wore Tennis Shoesas Regent Yarborough
1994
- A Bewitched Christmasas Jesse Mortimer
1993
- Acting on Impulseas Bellhop
1991
- Dark Shadowsas Antique Dealer1 episode
1990
- Shannon's Deal1 episode
1987
- Date with an Angelas Father O'Shea
1986
- When the Bough Breaksas Van der Graaf
- L.A. Lawas Walter Graf1 episode
1985
- Murphy's Romanceas Amos Abbott
- The Comedy Factoryas George McCloskey1 episode
- Otherworldas Velcrows Widley1 episode
1984
- Hunteras Motel Owner1 episode
1983
- Sunset Limousineas Reinhammer
- Strange Invadersas Prof. Hollister
- The Winds of Waras William Standley1 episode
1982
- St. Elsewhereas Richard Welte1 episode
- The Devlin Connection1 episode
1981
- Strange Behavioras Donovan
- The Return of the Beverly Hillbilliesas Chief
1980
- The Little Dragonsas J.J.
1978
- Movie Movieas Judge
- Mork & Mindy1 episode
1977
- Lou Grantas Mort Farber1 episode
- Soapas Judge Petrillo7 episodes
- Weekend Specials1 episode
1976
- Sybilas Dr. Quinoness2 episodes
1975
- One Day at a Time1 episode
- Long Way Home
- The Family Holvak1 episode
- Karen13 episodes
1974
- Chico and the Man1 episode
- Little House on the Prairie1 episode
- Rhoda1 episode
1973
- Adam's Ribas Mayor1 episode
- Hitchedas Round Tree
1972
- The Sandy Duncan Show1 episode
- Maude1 episode
- Temperatures Risingas Fulton Briggs1 episode
- The Rookies1 episode
- Get to Know Your Rabbitas Mr. Beeman
- The Great Man's Whiskersas Philbrick
1970
- The Aristocatsas Lawyer (voice)
- The Odd Coupleas Sid1 episode
- Nanny and the Professor2 episodes
1969
- Medical Centeras Dr. Kelford1 episode
- My Dog, the Thiefas Mr. Pfeiffer
- The Debbie Reynolds Show1 episode
1968
- The Doris Day Showas Judge Carter1 episode
- What's So Bad About Feeling Good?as Dr. Shapiro
1967
- Judd, for the Defense1 episode
- The Flying Nun1 episode
- He & Sheas Mr. Simpson1 episode
- The Gnome-Mobileas Dr. Scoggins
1966
- Love on a Rooftop2 episodes
- The Pruitts of Southamptonas Maxwell3 episodes
- The Ugly Dachshundas Judge
- The Ghost and Mr. Chickenas Whitlow
1965
- Billieas Coach Jones
- Get Smartas Uncle Abner1 episode
- The Wild Wild Westas Roger Creed1 episode
- Honey Westas Ash1 episode
- Green Acresas Mr. Wilson1 episode
- F Troop1 episode
- Please Don't Eat the Daisiesas Man1 episode
- John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!as Editor
1964
- Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.as Charlie2 episodes
- The Munsters1 episode
- The Cara Williams Show1 episode
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E.as Ralph Harrison1 episode
- Bewitchedas George Meiklejohn1 episode
- Wendy and Me1 episode
- The Bing Crosby Show1 episode
- Rendezvous in Spaceas Interviewee
- Looking for Loveas Director
- Good Neighbor Samas Jack Bailey
- The New Internsas Connors
- The Carpetbaggersas Eugene Denby
1963
- The Wheeler Dealersas Judge (uncredited)
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Worldas Airport Manager
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatreas Charles Eckhardt1 episode
- Petticoat Junctionas Homer Bedloe24 episodes
- The Bill Dana Show1 episode
- Burke's Lawas Dr. Lusk1 episode
- The Farmer's Daughter1 episode
- Papa's Delicate Conditionas Mr. Cosgrove
1962
- The Lucy Showas Mr. Barnsdahl4 episodes
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1 episode
- The Beverly Hillbilliesas Homer Bedloe1 episode
- The Music Manas Constable
1961
- The New Bob Cummings Show1 episode
- The Wonderful World of Disney2 episodes
- Alcatraz Express
- Mister Ed1 episode
1960
- Surfside 6as Cyrus Radford1 episode
- The Andy Griffith Showas Mr. Frisby1 episode
- Guestward, Ho!1 episode
- Pete and Gladys2 episodes
- The Tab Hunter Show1 episode
- The Comedy Spot1 episode
1959
- The Untouchablesas Alcatraz Official (uncredited)1 episode
- Dennis the Menaceas Lawrence Finch2 episodes
- The Twilight Zoneas Mr. Peckinpaugh1 episode
- The Many Loves of Dobie Gillisas Chester L. Wayzack, Esq.1 episode
- The DuPont Show with June Allysonas Dr. Shelley1 episode
- Fibber McGee & Mollyas Salesman1 episode
- But Not for Meas Al Atwood
- The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rockas Standard Bates
- The Mating Gameas Bigelow
1958
- 77 Sunset Strip1 episode
- Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse1 episode
- The Ann Sothern Show1 episode
- Lawman1 episode
- The Donna Reed Show1 episode
- Teacher's Petas Roy
1957
- The Lucy–Desi Comedy Houras Customs Officer (uncredited)1 episode
- The Real McCoysas Mr. Leland1 episode
- The Restless Gunas Mayor Peter Mercer1 episode
- Maverickas Proprietor1 episode
- Perry Masonas Dr. Williams1 episode
- The Thin Man1 episode
- Bachelor Father1 episode
- God Is My Partneras Judge Warner
- Richard Diamond, Private Detectiveas Lt. Kevin Anders (uncredited)1 episode
- Whirlybirds1 episode
1956
- The Gale Storm Showas Pierce1 episode
- On Trial1 episode
- The Birds and the Beesas Charlie Jenkins
1955
- The People's Choice1 episode
- Screen Director's Playhouse1 episode
- Star Stage1 episode
- The Millionaireas Simon Whipple1 episode
1954
- The Wonderful World of Disneyas Mr. Pfeiffer1 episode
- Studio 57as Henry1 episode
- Willy1 episode
- Dear Phoebeas Mr. Fosdick31 episodes
1953
- Topperas Mr. Kittler1 episode
- The Affairs of Dobie Gillisas Prof. Obispo
- Remains to Be Seenas Delapp
- The Juggleras Rosenberg
1952
- The Sniperas Loud Drunk at Club
1951
- I Love Lucyas Mr. Hickox1 episode
- Here Comes the Groomas FBI Agent Ralph Burchard (uncredited)
- Criminal Lawyeras Frederick Waterman
- I Can Get It for You Wholesaleas Herman Pulvermacher (uncredited)
1950
- For Heaven's Sakeas Arthur Crane
- The Second Faceas Mr. Westcott
- Lux Video Theatreas Walter Medford1 episode
- Riding Highas Erickson
- The Yellow Cab Manas L.A. Casualty Co. Executive (uncredited)
- Backfireas Dr. Nolan (uncredited)
1949
- Miss Grant Takes Richmondas Mr. Woodruff (uncredited)
- The House Across the Streetas Apartment Manager (uncredited)
- You're My Everythingas Mr. Eddie Pflum
- Mighty Joe Youngas Producer (uncredited)
1948
- The Boy with Green Hair
- Moonriseas Mr. Chandler
- Apartment for Peggyas Prof. Collins (uncredited)
- Out of the Stormas Mr. Evans
- Race Streetas Switchboard Operator Clerk (uncredited)
- The Gentleman from Nowhereas Fenmore
- State of the Unionas Blink Moran
- Smart Womanas Reporter
- Call Northside 777as Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)
1947
- Intrigueas Hotel Desk Clerk
- Louisianaas McCormack
- Roses Are Redas Lipton
- Bury Me Deadas Brighton
- Living in a Big Wayas Hawkins (uncredited)
- It Happened on Fifth Avenueas Landlord (uncredited)
1946
- It's a Wonderful Lifeas Real Estate Salesman
- The Invisible Informeras Nick Steele
- Mysterious Intruderas Detective Burns
- Just Before Dawnas Dr. Steiner (uncredited)
- A Close Call for Boston Blackieas Hack Hagen (uncredited)
1944
- Arsenic and Old Laceas Reporter at Marriage License Office
1943
- Mission to Moscowas Man in Kitchenin Montage (uncredited)
1942
- Flying Tigersas Repkin (uncredited)
- Pardon My Sarongas Bus Company Superintendent (uncredited)
- Friendly Enemiesas Braun
- Lady in a Jamas Government Man (uncredited)
- Thru Different Eyesas Mott
- They All Kissed the Brideas Spotter
- The Mad Martindalesas Virgil Hickling
- Broadwayas Hungry Harry (uncredited)
- Sunday Punchas Ringside spectator at Ole's first fight (uncredited)
- Tarzan's New York Adventureas Sargent's Lawyer Gould Beaton
- Home in Wyomin'as Newspaper Editor
- About Faceas Rental Car Manager
- Obliging Young Ladyas Private Detective Smith
- The Adventures of Martin Edenas Mr. White
- What's Cookin'?as K.D. Reynolds
- Born to Singas Johnny
- The Lady Is Willingas K.K. Miller
- A Close Call for Ellery Queenas Coroner
- A Gentleman at Heartas Holloway
- Sealed Lipsas Attorney Emanuel 'Manny' T. Dixon
1941
- Ball of Fireas Larsen
- Ride 'Em Cowboyas Martin Manning (uncredited)
- Birth of the Bluesas Wilbur - Bijou Theater Manager (uncredited)
- I Wake Up Screamingas Keating- Florist
- The Great Man's Ladyas Pierce (uncredited)
- New York Townas Census Taker (uncredited)
- Appointment for Loveas Smith (uncredited)
- Three Girls About Townas Mortician
- Buy Me That Townas J. Montague Gainsborough
- Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crimeas Dr. Prouty (coroner)
- The Big Storeas Finance Company Man (uncredited)
- Sis Hopkinsas Mayor's aide
- Barnacle Billas Auctioneer
- Repent at Leisureas Clarence Morgan
- Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mysteryas Doc Prouty
- You're the Oneas Announcer
- Back Streetas Reporter for Associated News
1940
- The Invisible Womanas Growley
- The Texas Rangers Ride Againas Train Passenger (uncredited)
- Ellery Queen, Master Detectiveas Dr. Prouty
- Dancing on a Dimeas Freeman Taylor
- Blondie Plays Cupidas Train Conductor (uncredited)
- City for Conquestas Al - Dance Team Manager (uncredited)
- The Leather Pushersas Henry 'Mitch' Mitchell
- The Great Profileas Director
- Rhythm on the Riveras Bernard Schwartz
- We Who Are Youngas Perkins
- Queen of the Mobas Horace Grimley
- Buck Benny Rides Againas Charlie Graham
- You Can't Fool Your Wifeas Salesman
- On Their Ownas Johnson
- The Crooked Roadas Phil Wesner, Defense Attorney
- Edison, the Manas Second Lecturer
- The Doctor Takes a Wifeas Reporter (uncredited)
- Johnny Apolloas Assistant D.A.
- It's a Dateas Mr. Horner (uncredited)
- Primrose Pathas Mr. Smith (uncredited)
1939
- Charlie McCarthy, Detectiveas Charlie's Doctor
- The Cat and the Canaryas Reporter
- Beware Spooks!as Moore (uncredited)
- Television Spyas Mr. Adler
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washingtonas Nosey
- Honeymoon in Balias Photographer (uncredited)
- Fifth Avenue Girlas Union Representative (uncredited)
- Golden Boyas Reporter Drake
- Miracles for Saleas Fleetwood Apartments Desk Clerk
- They All Come Outas Psychiatrist
- News Is Made at Nightas District Attorney Rufe Reynolds
- Second Fiddleas Studio Chief
- Lucky Nightas Carpenter
- Rose of Washington Squareas Sam Kress
- Let Us Liveas Auto Show Salesman (uncredited)
- Inside Storyas District Attorney
- Boy Slavesas Albee
1938
- Kentuckyas Auctioneer
- Blondieas Furniture Salesman (uncredited)
- Always in Troubleas Donald Gower
- Three Loves Has Nancyas Cleaning Store Manager (uncredited)
- You Can't Take It with Youas Henderson
- Professor Bewareas Joe - Photographer
- The Rage of Parisas Department Head (uncredited)
- Cocoanut Groveas Weaver
- Joy of Livingas Fan in Margaret's Dressing Room (Uncredited)
1937
- Nothing Sacredas Rubenstein (uncredited)
- Ali Baba Goes to Townas Doctor
- Danger – Love at Workas Gilroy, an attorney
- Hot Wateras Grayson (uncredited)
- Trapped by G-Menas Fingers
- Bad Guyas Attorney
- One Mile from Heavenas Webb
- Born Recklessas Barnes's lawyer
- Big Businessas Webster - Bank Representative
- Venus Makes Troubleas District Attorney
- Internes Can't Take Moneyas Grote
- Sea Devilsas Judge (uncredited)
- We're on the Juryas Horace Smith
- Criminal Lawyeras Attorney (uncredited)
1936
- Easy to Takeas Skip
- Lady Luckas Feinberg
- Two-Fisted Gentlemanas Joe Gordon
- 36 Hours to Killas Lawyer Rickert
- Mr. Deeds Goes to Townas Hallor (uncredited)
- The Milky Way
- The Adventures of Frank Merriwellas Man in Front Row (archive footage)
1935
- Two for Tonightas Writer
- Here Comes the Bandas Mr. Scurry
- Woman Wantedas Defense Attorney Herman (uncredited)
- Gingeras Judge (uncredited)
- The Florentine Daggeras Man in Front Row (archive footage)
- One More Springas Representative
1934
- The Band Plays Onas Shyster Lawyer
- A Wicked Womanas Defense Attorney Beardsley (uncredited)
- Broadway Billas Morgan's Henchman (uncredited)
- I'll Fix Itas Al Nathan
- Let's Talk It Overas Reporter
- Twenty Million Sweetheartsas Reporter (uncredited)
- Twentieth Centuryas Max Jacobs
- Looking for Troubleas Switchboard Operator
- The Show-Offas Mr. Weitzenkorn
1933
- Mr. Skitchas Hotel Clerk
- Advice to the Lovelorn
- Broadway Thru a Keyholeas Columnist #2
- The Boweryas Doctor (uncredited)
- My Womanas Conn
- She Had to Say Yesas Mr. Bernstein (uncredited)
- Private Detective 62as Process Server (Uncredited)
- Gold Diggers of 1933as Society Reporter (uncredited)
- Central Airportas Amarillo Radio Operator (uncredited)
- 42nd Streetas Author of 'Pretty Lady' (uncredited)
- Blondie Johnsonas Cashier (uncredited)
- Grand Slamas Waiter at Nicolai Restaurant
- Employees' Entranceas Shoe Salesman (uncredited)
1932
- Blessed Eventas Kane
- The Mouthpieceas Hotel Desk Clerk (Uncredited)
- Union Depotas Luggage Checkroom Clerk (uncredited)
1931
- Manhattan Paradeas Desk clerk
- Blonde Crazyas Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
- The Road to Singaporeas Desk Clerk at Club (uncredited)
- Smart Moneyas Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
1930
- City Girlas Man at Train Station (uncredited)
1925
- I Want My Manas French Doctor