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Charles Lane

Actor

Charles Lane

Born January 26, 1905 in San Francisco, California, USADied July 9, 2007216 films

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.

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It's a Wonderful Life posterFirst watchIt's a Wonderful Life19468.3as Real Estate SalesmanGeorge Bailey has spent his entire life giving to the people of Bedford Falls. All that prevents rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town is George's modest building and…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Aristocats poster7.3The Aristocats1970Mr. Smith Goes to Washington poster7.8Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939Arsenic and Old Lace poster7.6Arsenic and Old Lace1944You Can't Take It with You poster7.5You Can't Take It with You1938It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World poster7.0It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World1963Mr. Deeds Goes to Town poster7.5Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936Ball of Fire poster7.4Ball of Fire1941The Music Man poster7.1The Music Man1962

Filmography

216 films as actor
  1. 1995The Computer Wore Tennis ShoesRegent Yarborough
  2. 1994A Bewitched ChristmasJesse Mortimer
  3. 1993Acting on ImpulseBellhop
  4. 1987Date with an AngelFather O'Shea
  5. 1986When the Bough BreaksVan der Graaf
  6. 1985Murphy's RomanceAmos Abbott
  7. 1983Sunset LimousineReinhammer
  8. 1983Strange InvadersProf. Hollister
  9. 1981Strange BehaviorDonovan
  10. 1981The Return of the Beverly HillbilliesChief
  11. 1980The Little DragonsJ.J.
  12. 1978Movie MovieJudge / Mr. Pennington
  13. 1975Long Way Home
  14. 1973HitchedRound Tree
  15. 1972Get to Know Your RabbitMr. Beeman
  16. 1972The Great Man's WhiskersPhilbrick
  17. 1970The AristocatsLawyer (voice)
  18. 1969My Dog, the ThiefMr. Pfeiffer
  19. 1968What's So Bad About Feeling Good?Dr. Shapiro
  20. 1967The Gnome-MobileDr. Scoggins
  21. 1966The Ugly DachshundJudge
  22. 1966The Ghost and Mr. ChickenWhitlow
  23. 1965BillieCoach Jones
  24. 1965John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!Editor
  25. 1964Looking for LoveDirector
  26. 1964Good Neighbor SamJack Bailey
  27. 1964The New InternsConnors
  28. 1964The CarpetbaggersEugene Denby
  29. 1963The Wheeler DealersJudge (uncredited)
  30. 1963It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldAirport Manager
  31. 1963Papa's Delicate ConditionMr. Cosgrove
  32. 1962The Music ManConstable
  33. 1961Alcatraz Express
  34. 1959But Not for MeAl Atwood
  35. 1959The 30 Foot Bride of Candy RockStandard Bates
  36. 1959The Mating GameBigelow
  37. 1958Teacher's PetRoy
  38. 1957God Is My PartnerJudge Warner
  39. 1956The Birds and the BeesCharlie Jenkins
  40. 1953The Affairs of Dobie GillisProf. Obispo
  41. 1953Remains to Be SeenDelapp
  42. 1953The JugglerRosenberg
  43. 1952The SniperLoud Drunk at Club
  44. 1951Here Comes the GroomFBI Agent Ralph Burchard (uncredited)
  45. 1951Criminal LawyerFrederick Waterman
  46. 1951I Can Get It for You WholesaleHerman Pulvermacher (uncredited)
  47. 1950For Heaven's SakeArthur Crane
  48. 1950The Second FaceMr. Westcott
  49. 1950Riding HighErickson
  50. 1950The Yellow Cab ManL.A. Casualty Co. Executive (uncredited)
  51. 1950BackfireDr. Nolan (uncredited)
  52. 1949Miss Grant Takes RichmondMr. Woodruff (uncredited)
  53. 1949The House Across the StreetApartment Manager (uncredited)
  54. 1949You're My EverythingMr. Eddie Pflum
  55. 1949Mighty Joe YoungProducer (uncredited)
  56. 1948The Boy with Green Hair
  57. 1948MoonriseMr. Chandler
  58. 1948Apartment for PeggyProf. Collins (uncredited)
  59. 1948Out of the StormMr. Evans
  60. 1948Race StreetSwitchboard Operator Clerk (uncredited)
  61. 1948The Gentleman from NowhereFenmore
  62. 1948State of the UnionBlink Moran
  63. 1948Smart WomanReporter
  64. 1948Call Northside 777Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)
  65. 1947IntrigueHotel Desk Clerk
  66. 1947LouisianaMcCormack
  67. 1947Roses Are RedLipton
  68. 1947Bury Me DeadBrighton
  69. 1947Living in a Big WayHawkins (uncredited)
  70. 1947It Happened on Fifth AvenueLandlord (uncredited)
  71. 1946It's a Wonderful LifeReal Estate Salesman
  72. 1946The Invisible InformerNick Steele
  73. 1946Mysterious IntruderDetective Burns
  74. 1946Just Before DawnDr. Steiner (uncredited)
  75. 1946A Close Call for Boston BlackieHack Hagen (uncredited)
  76. 1944Arsenic and Old LaceReporter at Marriage License Office
  77. 1943Mission to MoscowMan in Kitchenin Montage (uncredited)
  78. 1942Flying TigersRepkin (uncredited)
  79. 1942Pardon My SarongBus Company Superintendent (uncredited)
  80. 1942Friendly EnemiesBraun
  81. 1942Lady in a JamGovernment Man (uncredited)
  82. 1942Thru Different EyesMott
  83. 1942They All Kissed the BrideSpotter
  84. 1942The Mad MartindalesVirgil Hickling
  85. 1942BroadwayHungry Harry
  86. 1942Sunday PunchRingside spectator at Ole's first fight (uncredited)
  87. 1942Tarzan's New York AdventureSargent's Lawyer Gould Beaton
  88. 1942Home in Wyomin'Newspaper Editor
  89. 1942About FaceRental Car Manager
  90. 1942Obliging Young LadyPrivate Detective Smith
  91. 1942The Adventures of Martin EdenMr. White
  92. 1942What's Cookin'?K.D. Reynolds
  93. 1942Born to SingJohnny
  94. 1942The Lady Is WillingK.K. Miller
  95. 1942A Close Call for Ellery QueenCoroner
  96. 1942A Gentleman at HeartHolloway
  97. 1942Sealed LipsAttorney Emanuel 'Manny' T. Dixon
  98. 1941Ball of FireLarsen
  99. 1941Ride 'Em CowboyMartin Manning (uncredited)
  100. 1941Birth of the BluesWilbur - Bijou Theater Manager (uncredited)
  101. 1941I Wake Up ScreamingKeating- Florist
  102. 1941The Great Man's LadyPierce (uncredited)
  103. 1941New York TownCensus Taker (uncredited)
  104. 1941Appointment for LoveSmith (uncredited)
  105. 1941Three Girls About TownMortician
  106. 1941Buy Me That TownJ. Montague Gainsborough
  107. 1941Ellery Queen and the Perfect CrimeDr. Prouty (coroner)
  108. 1941The Big StoreFinance Company Man (uncredited)
  109. 1941Sis HopkinsMayor's aide
  110. 1941Barnacle BillAuctioneer
  111. 1941Repent at LeisureClarence Morgan
  112. 1941Ellery Queen's Penthouse MysteryDoc Prouty
  113. 1941You're the OneAnnouncer
  114. 1941Back StreetReporter for Associated News
  115. 1940The Invisible WomanGrowley
  116. 1940The Texas Rangers Ride AgainTrain Passenger (uncredited)
  117. 1940Ellery Queen, Master DetectiveDr. Prouty
  118. 1940Dancing on a DimeFreeman Taylor
  119. 1940Blondie Plays CupidTrain Conductor (uncredited)
  120. 1940City for ConquestAl - Dance Team Manager (uncredited)