Charles Lane
Acting1905San 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.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Known For
The Aristocats
Lawyer (voice)
It's a Wonderful Life
Real Estate Salesman
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Nosey
Arsenic and Old Lace
Reporter at Marriage License Office
The Twilight Zone
Mr. Peckinpaugh
Little House on the Prairie
Bewitched
Mr. Cushman / Mr. Harmon / Mr. Roland / Shotwell / George Meiklejohn / Ed Hotchkiss / Harold Jameson / Jessie Mortimer
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Airport Manager
Acting History
2007
Legends
TVas Roy (archive footage) (uncredited)• 1 eps
2005
The History of Hooterville
as Self
1995
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
as Regent Yarborough
1994
A Bewitched Christmas
as Jesse Mortimer
1993
Acting on Impulse
as Bellhop
1990
1989
L.A. Law
TVas Walter Graf• 1 eps
1987
St. Elsewhere
TVas Richard Welte• 1 eps
Hunter
TVas Motel Owner• 1 eps
1986
When the Bough Breaks
as Van der Graaf
1985
Murphy's Romance
as Amos Abbott
The Comedy Factory
TVas George McCloskey• 1 eps
Otherworld
TVas Velcrows Widley
1983
Strange Invaders
as Prof. Hollister
Sunset Limousine
as Reinhammer
The Winds of War
TVas Adm. William Standley• 7 eps
1981
Strange Behavior
as Donovan
1980
1979
Lou Grant
TVas Mort Farber• 1 eps
1978
Movie Movie
as Judge / Mr. Pennington
Soap
TVas Judge Petrillo• 7 eps
1976
1974
1973
1972
Get to Know Your Rabbit
as Mr. Beeman
The Great Man's Whiskers
as Philbrick
Temperatures Rising
TVas Fulton Briggs
1970
The Aristocats
as Lawyer (voice)
The Doris Day Show
TVas Judge Carter• 1 eps
Bewitched
TVas Mr. Cushman / Mr. Harmon / Mr. Roland / Shotwell / George Meiklejohn / Ed Hotchkiss / Harold Jameson / Jessie Mortimer• 1 eps
1969
My Dog, the Thief
as Mr. Pfeiffer
The Beverly Hillbillies
TVas Homer Bedloe• 1 eps
1968
What's So Bad About Feeling Good?
as Dr. Shapiro
Green Acres
TVas Mr. Wilson• 1 eps
1967
1966
The Ugly Dachshund
as Judge
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken
as Whitlow
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
TVas Ralph Harrison• 1 eps
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
TVas Charles Eckhardt• 1 eps
Honey West
TVas Ash• 1 eps
The Pruitts of Southampton
TVas Maxwell
1965
Billie
as Coach Jones
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!
as Editor
Get Smart
TVas Uncle Abner• 1 eps
Please Don't Eat the Daisies
TVas Man
1964
Good Neighbor Sam
as Jack Bailey
The New Interns
as Connors
The Carpetbaggers
as Eugene Denby
Looking for Love
as Director
Rendezvous in Space
as Interviewee
The Andy Griffith Show
TVas Mr. Frisby• 1 eps
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
TVas Charlie• 2 eps
1963
Papa's Delicate Condition
as Mr. Cosgrove
The Wheeler Dealers
as Judge (uncredited)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
as Airport Manager
Burke's Law
TVas Dr. Lusk• 1 eps
Petticoat Junction
TVas Homer Bedloe• 24 eps
1962
The Music Man
as Constable
Maverick
TVas Proprietor• 1 eps
The Lucy Show
TVas Mr. Barnsdahl• 4 eps
Surfside 6
TVas Cyrus Radford• 1 eps
1961
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
TVas Chester L. Wayzack, Esq.• 1 eps
The Real McCoys
TVas Mr. Leland• 1 eps
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
TVas Dr. Shelley• 1 eps
The Untouchables
TVas Alcatraz Official (uncredited)• 1 eps
1960
Dennis the Menace
TVas Lawrence Finch• 2 eps
The Twilight Zone
TVas Mr. Peckinpaugh• 1 eps
1959
The Mating Game
as Inspector General Bigelow
The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock
as Standard Bates
But Not for Me
as Al Atwood
Fibber McGee & Molly
TVas Salesman
1958
Teacher's Pet
as Roy
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
TVas Lt. Kevin Anders (uncredited)• 1 eps
The Restless Gun
TVas Mayor Peter Mercer• 1 eps
The Millionaire
TVas Simon Whipple• 1 eps
Perry Mason
TVas Dr. Williams• 1 eps
1957
God Is My Partner
as Judge Warner
Studio 57
TVas Henry• 1 eps
The Gale Storm Show
TVas Pierce• 1 eps
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
TVas Customs Officer (uncredited) / Claims Clerk (uncredited)
1956
The Birds and the Bees
as Charlie Jenkins
1954
I Love Lucy
TVas Mr. Hickox / Mr. Stanley / Casting Director / Passport Office Clerk• 1 eps
Dear Phoebe
TVas Mr. Fosdick
The Wonderful World of Disney
TVas Mr. Pfeiffer
1953
The Juggler
as Rosenberg
The Affairs of Dobie Gillis
as Prof. Obispo
Remains to Be Seen
as Delapp
Topper
TVas Mr. Kittler
1952
The Sniper
as Loud Drunk at Club
Today
TVas Self
1951
Criminal Lawyer
as Frederick Waterman
Here Comes the Groom
as FBI Agent Ralph Burchard (uncredited)
I Can Get It for You Wholesale
as Herman Pulvermacher (uncredited)
1950
Backfire
as Dr. Nolan (uncredited)
Riding High
as Erickson
The Second Face
as Mr. Westcott
The Yellow Cab Man
as L.A. Casualty Co. Executive (uncredited)
Lux Video Theatre
TVas Walter Medford
1949
You're My Everything
as Mr. Eddie Pflum
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
as Mr. Woodruff (uncredited)
The House Across the Street
as Apartment Manager (uncredited)
Mighty Joe Young
as Producer (uncredited)
1948
Race Street
as Switchboard Operator Clerk (uncredited)
Call Northside 777
as Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)
Smart Woman
as Reporter
Moonrise
as Mr. Chandler
Out of the Storm
as Mr. Evans
State of the Union
as Blink Moran
Apartment for Peggy
as Prof. Collins (uncredited)
The Gentleman from Nowhere
as Fenmore
1947
Living in a Big Way
as Hawkins (uncredited)
Bury Me Dead
as Brighton
Intrigue
as Hotel Desk Clerk
Roses Are Red
as Lipton
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
as Landlord (uncredited)
Louisiana
as McCormack
1946
A Close Call for Boston Blackie
as Hack Hagen (uncredited)
Just Before Dawn
as Dr. Steiner (uncredited)
Mysterious Intruder
as Detective Burns
It's a Wonderful Life
as Real Estate Salesman
The Invisible Informer
as Nick Steele
1944
Arsenic and Old Lace
as Reporter at Marriage License Office
1943
Mission to Moscow
as Man in Kitchenin Montage (uncredited)
1942
Tarzan's New York Adventure
as Sargent's Lawyer Gould Beaton
A Close Call for Ellery Queen
as Coroner
Pardon My Sarong
as Bus Company Superintendent (uncredited)
Flying Tigers
as Repkin (uncredited)
Lady in a Jam
as Government Man (uncredited)
They All Kissed the Bride
as Spotter
Sealed Lips
as Attorney Emanuel 'Manny' T. Dixon
About Face
as Rental Car Manager
The Lady Is Willing
as K.K. Miller
A Gentleman at Heart
as Holloway
The Adventures of Martin Eden
as Mr. White
What's Cookin'?
as K.D. Reynolds
Born to Sing
as Johnny
Sunday Punch
as Ringside spectator at Ole's first fight (uncredited)
Broadway
as Hungry Harry (uncredited)
Obliging Young Lady
as Private Detective Smith
Friendly Enemies
as Braun
Home in Wyomin'
as Newspaper Editor
Thru Different Eyes
as Mott
The Mad Martindales
as Virgil Hickling
1941
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery
as Doc Prouty
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
as Dr. Prouty (coroner)
I Wake Up Screaming
as Keating- Florist
Back Street
as Reporter for Associated News
Ride 'Em Cowboy
as Martin Manning (uncredited)
Three Girls About Town
as Mortician
Birth of the Blues
as Wilbur - Bijou Theater Manager (uncredited)
Ball of Fire
as Larsen
The Big Store
as Finance Company Man (uncredited)
Appointment for Love
as Smith (uncredited)
The Great Man's Lady
as Pierce (uncredited)
New York Town
as Census Taker (uncredited)
Barnacle Bill
as Auctioneer
Sis Hopkins
as Mayor's aide
Repent at Leisure
as Clarence Morgan
Buy Me That Town
as J. Montague Gainsborough
You're the One
as Announcer
1940
The Crooked Road
as Phil Wesner, Defense Attorney
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
as Dr. Prouty
On Their Own
as Johnson
The Leather Pushers
as Henry 'Mitch' Mitchell
We Who Are Young
as Perkins
The Invisible Woman
as Growley
Primrose Path
as Mr. Smith (uncredited)
Edison, the Man
as Second Lecturer
Johnny Apollo
as Assistant D.A.
Blondie Plays Cupid
as Train Conductor (uncredited)
Buck Benny Rides Again
as Charlie Graham
The Doctor Takes a Wife
as Reporter (uncredited)
Queen of the Mob
as Horace Grimley
The Great Profile
as Director
Rhythm on the River
as Bernard Schwartz
It's a Date
as Mr. Horner (uncredited)
You Can't Fool Your Wife
as Salesman
Dancing on a Dime
as Freeman Taylor
The Texas Rangers Ride Again
as Train Passenger (uncredited)
City for Conquest
as Al - Dance Team Manager (uncredited)
1939
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
as Nosey
Honeymoon in Bali
as Photographer (uncredited)
Miracles for Sale
as Fleetwood Apartments Desk Clerk
Television Spy
as Mr. Adler
Let Us Live
as Auto Show Salesman (uncredited)
Lucky Night
as Carpenter
Rose of Washington Square
as Sam Kress
The Cat and the Canary
as Reporter
Inside Story
as District Attorney
Fifth Avenue Girl
as Union Representative (uncredited)
Beware Spooks!
as Moore (uncredited)
They All Come Out
as Psychiatrist
Charlie McCarthy, Detective
as Charlie's Doctor
Boy Slaves
as Albee
News Is Made at Night
as District Attorney Rufe Reynolds
Second Fiddle
as Studio Chief
Golden Boy
as Reporter Drake
1938
The Rage of Paris
as Department Head (uncredited)
Kentucky
as Auctioneer
You Can't Take It with You
as Henderson
Professor Beware
as Joe - Photographer
Blondie
as Furniture Salesman (uncredited)
Joy of Living
as Fan in Margaret's Dressing Room (Uncredited)
Three Loves Has Nancy
as Cleaning Store Manager (uncredited)
Cocoanut Grove
as Weaver
Always in Trouble
as Donald Gower
1937
Sea Devils
as Judge (uncredited)
Big Business
as Webster - Bank Representative
Hot Water
as Grayson (uncredited)
One Mile from Heaven
as Webb
Bad Guy
as Attorney
Criminal Lawyer
as Attorney (uncredited)
Nothing Sacred
as Rubenstein (uncredited)
Ali Baba Goes to Town
as Doctor
Trapped by G-Men
as Fingers
Danger – Love at Work
as Gilroy, an attorney
We're on the Jury
as Horace Smith
Internes Can't Take Money
as Grote
Born Reckless
as Barnes's lawyer
Venus Makes Trouble
as District Attorney
1936
Lady Luck
as Feinberg
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
as Man in Front Row (archive footage)
Two-Fisted Gentleman
as Joe Gordon
Easy to Take
as Skip
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
as Hallor (uncredited)
36 Hours to Kill
as Lawyer Rickert
1935
Two for Tonight
as Writer
Woman Wanted
as Defense Attorney Herman (uncredited)
Ginger
as Judge (uncredited)
One More Spring
as Representative
Here Comes the Band
as Mr. Scurry
The Florentine Dagger
as Man in Front Row (archive footage)
1934
Twenty Million Sweethearts
as Reporter (uncredited)
Looking for Trouble
as Switchboard Operator
Twentieth Century
as Max Jacobs
Broadway Bill
as Morgan's Henchman (uncredited)
A Wicked Woman
as Defense Attorney Beardsley (uncredited)
The Show-Off
as Mr. Weitzenkorn
The Band Plays On
as Shyster Lawyer
I'll Fix It
as Al Nathan
Let's Talk It Over
as Reporter
1933
Blondie Johnson
as Cashier (uncredited)
The Bowery
as Doctor (uncredited)
My Woman
as Conn
Private Detective 62
as Process Server (Uncredited)
Employees' Entrance
as Shoe Salesman (uncredited)
Mr. Skitch
as Hotel Clerk
Grand Slam
as Waiter at Nicolai Restaurant
Broadway Thru a Keyhole
as Columnist #2
Central Airport
as Amarillo Radio Operator (uncredited)
She Had to Say Yes
as Mr. Bernstein (uncredited)
42nd Street
as Playwright (uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1933
as Society Reporter (uncredited)
1932
Union Depot
as Luggage Checkroom Clerk (uncredited)
Blessed Event
as Kane
The Mouthpiece
as Hotel Desk Clerk (Uncredited)
1931
Blonde Crazy
as Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Smart Money
as Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Manhattan Parade
as Desk clerk
The Road to Singapore
as Desk Clerk at Club (uncredited)
1930
City Girl
as Man at Train Station (uncredited)
1925
I Want My Man
as French Doctor