Charles Lane

Charles Lane (born Charles Gerstle Levison; January 26, 1905 – July 9, 2007) was an American character actor and centenarian whose career spanned 76 years.

A prolific actor who played hundreds of roles in both film and TV, Lane often played sour, scowling and disagreeable clerks, doctors, judges, and middle-management authority figures. Recalling in 1981 his many roles, he said "They were all good parts, but they were jerks. If you have a type established, though, and you're any good, it can mean considerable work for you." The New York Times reported that Lane's persona was so familiar to the public, "that people would come up to him in the street and greet him, because they thought they knew him from their hometowns." Lane's first film role, of more than 382, was as a hotel clerk in Smart Money (1931) starring Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney. Lane appeared in many Frank Capra films, including Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), 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).

Lane transitioned smoothly into television, and is probably best remembered to TV viewers for his recurring role as the ever-scheming Homer Bedloe on Petticoat Junction. As well, Lucille Ball frequently cast Lane 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. Lane gave his last performance at the age of 101 as a narrator in 2006. an executive at the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company who was instrumental in rebuilding the city after the 1906 earthquake.

Career Lane spent a short time as an insurance salesman before taking to the stage at the Pasadena Playhouse. Actor/director Irving Pichel first suggested that Lane go into acting in 1929, and four years later Lane was a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild. He appeared unbilled but always making his presence known in many famous early-1930s Warner Bros. films, beginning with Smart Money then going on to other Pre-Code classics such as Blonde Crazy, Employees' Entrance, Blessed Event, 42nd Street, Gold Diggers of 1933, and She Had to Say Yes, finally getting billing when away from Warners' in My Woman, Looking for Trouble, and Twentieth Century. He became a favorite of director Frank Capra; in It's a Wonderful Life, Capra gave Lane a twist on his usual screen persona by casting him as an apparently hard-nosed rent collector who startles his employer, Mr. Potter (played by Lionel Barrymore) by speaking highly of James Stewart's character. Unexpected Father (1939) as Department of Health Quarantine Man (uncredited) Second Fiddle (1939) as Studio Chief (voice, uncredited) News Is Made at Night (1939) as District Attorney Rufe Reynolds They All Come Out (1939) as Psychiatrist Miracles for Sale (1939) as Fleetwood Apartments Desk Clerk (uncredited) Fifth Avenue Girl (1939) as Union Representative (uncredited) Golden Boy (1939) as Drake - Reporter (uncredited) Thunder Afloat (1939) (scenes deleted) Honeymoon in Bali (1939) as Photographer for Morrissey's (uncredited) Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) as "Nosey", reporter Television Spy (1939) as Mr. Adler Beware Spooks! (1939) as Mr. Moore, Credit Man (uncredited) The Cat and the Canary (1939) as Reporter (uncredited) The Honeymoon's Over (1939) as D.W. O'Connor (uncredited) Charlie McCarthy, Detective (1939) as Charlie's Doctor (uncredited)

1940s

Parole Fixer (1940) as Florist's Customer (uncredited) Johnny Apollo (1940) as Assistant District Attorney It's a Date (1940) as Mr. Horner (uncredited) Primrose Path (1940) as Mr. 'Smitty' Smith / Hawkins (uncredited) Buck Benny Rides Again (1940) as Charlie Graham The Doctor Takes a Wife (1940) as Reporter (uncredited) I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby (1940) as Gannon (uncredited) The Crooked Road (1940) as Phil Wesner, Defense Attorney Edison, the Man (1940) as Second Lecturer (uncredited) Alias the Deacon (1940) as Supervisor (uncredited) On Their Own (1940) as Johnson You Can't Fool Your Wife (1940) as Salesman (scenes deleted) Queen of the Mob (1940) as Horace Grimley We Who Are Young (1940) as Perkins Rhythm on the River (1940) as Bernard Schwartz The Great Profile (1940) as Director The Leather Pushers (1940) as Henry 'Mitch' Mitchell City for Conquest (1940) as Al - Dance Team Manager (uncredited) A Little Bit of Heaven (1940) as Stafford (uncredited) Blondie Plays Cupid (1940) as Train Conductor (uncredited) Dancing on a Dime (1940) as Freeman Taylor Ellery Queen, Master Detective (1940) as Dr. Prouty Texas Rangers Ride Again (1940) as Train Passenger (uncredited) The Invisible Woman (1940) as Growley Back Street (1941) as Blake (uncredited) You're the One (1941) as Announcer Footlight Fever (1941) as Link - Insurance Agent (uncredited) Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery (1941) as Doc Prouty Repent at Leisure (1941) as Clarence Morgan Barnacle Bill (1941) as Auctioneer (uncredited) Sis Hopkins (1941) as Rollo Blondie in Society (1941) as Washing Machine Salesman (uncredited) The Big Store (1941) as Finance Company Agent (uncredited) Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime (1941) as Dr. Prouty Sing Another Chorus (1941) as Ryan Buy Me That Town (1941) as J. Montague Gainsborough Three Girls About Town (1941) as Mortician (uncredited) Birth of the Blues (1941) as Wilbur - Theater Manager (uncredited) I Wake Up Screaming (1941) as Keating—Florist New York Town (1941) as Census Taker (uncredited) Appointment for Love (1941) as Smith (uncredited) Look Who's Laughing (1941) as Club Secretary (uncredited) Ball of Fire (1941) as Larsen Sealed Lips (1942) as Attorney Emanuel 'Manny' T. Dixon A Gentleman at Heart (1942) as Holloway A Close Call for Ellery Queen (1942) as Coroner (uncredited) Obliging Young Lady (1942) as Private Detective Smith The Lady Is Willing (1942) as K.K. Miller Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942) as Martin Manning (uncredited) Born to Sing (1942) as Johnny (uncredited) What's Cookin'? (1942) as K.D. Reynolds The Great Man's Lady (1942) as Pierce (uncredited) The Adventures of Martin Eden (1942) as Mr. White, Publisher (uncredited) Yokel Boy (1942) as Cynic (uncredited) About Face (1942) as Rental Car Manager Home in Wyomin' (1942) as Newspaper Editor Tarzan's New York Adventure (1942) as Gould Beaton Broadway (1942) as Hungry Harry (uncredited) Sunday Punch (1942) as Ringside spectator at Ole's first fight (uncredited) The Mad Martindales (1942) as Virgil Hickling They All Kissed the Bride (1942) as Spotter (uncredited) Are Husbands Necessary? (1942) as Mr. Brooks Lady in a Jam (1942) as Government Man (uncredited) Thru Different Eyes (1942) as Mott Friendly Enemies (1942) as Braun Pardon My Sarong (1942) as Bus Company Superintendent (uncredited) Flying Tigers (1942) as Repkin (uncredited) Mission to Moscow (1943) as Man in Kitchen in Montage (uncredited) Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) as Reporter A Close Call for Boston Blackie (1946) as Hack Hagen (uncredited) Just Before Dawn (1946) as Dr. Steiner (uncredited) Mysterious Intruder (1946) as Detective Burns The Invisible Informer (1946) as Nick Steele The Show Off (1946) as Quiz Master (uncredited) Swell Guy (1946) as Ben Tilwell (uncredited) It's a Wonderful Life (1946) as Potter's Rent Collector The Farmer's Daughter (1947) as Jackson - Campaign Reporter It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947) as Landlord (uncredited) Living in a Big Way (1947) as Hawkins (uncredited) Bury Me Dead (1947) as Mr. Brighton (uncredited) Louisiana (1947) as McCormack Roses Are Red (1947) as Lipton Intrigue (1947) as Hotel Desk Clerk Call Northside 777 (1948) as Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited) State of the Union (1948) as Blink Moran Smart Woman (1948) as Reporter (uncredited) Race Street (1948) as Switchboard Operator-Clerk (uncredited) The Gentleman from Nowhere (1948) as Fenmore Out of the Storm (1948) as Mr. Evans Apartment for Peggy (1948) as Prof. Collins (uncredited) Moonrise (1948) as Mr. Chandler - Man in Black The Boy with Green Hair (1948) as Passerby (uncredited) Mother Is a Freshman (1949) as Mr. De Haven (uncredited) You're My Everything (1949) as Mr. Eddie Pflum (uncredited) Mighty Joe Young (1949) as Producer (uncredited) The House Across the Street (1949) as Apartment Manager (uncredited) Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949) as Mr. Woodruff (uncredited)

1950s

Backfire (1950) as Dr. Nolan (uncredited) Borderline (1950) as Peterson—U.S. Customs Man (uncredited) The Yellow Cab Man (1950) as L.A. Casualty Co. Executive (uncredited) Riding High (1950) as Erickson Love That Brute (1950) as Joe Evans - Cigar Store Owner (uncredited) The Second Face (1950) as Mr. West - Insurance Claims Adjustor The Du Pont Story (1950) as Lammot du Pont For Heavens Sake (1950) as Arthur Crane (IRS) (uncredited) I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1951) as Herman Pulvermacher (uncredited) Criminal Lawyer (1951) as Frederick Waterman (uncredited) Here Comes the Groom (1951) as FBI Agent Ralph Burchard (uncredited) The Sniper (1952) as Drunk in Bar (uncredited) Three for Bedroom "C" (1952) as Trainman (uncredited) Burns & Allen TV Series (Jan 1, 1953) as Mr. Fitzpatrick I Love Lucy (TV series) (1953: Lucy Goes to the Hospital) (1953: Lucy Tells the Truth) (1954: The Business Manager) (1956: Staten Island Ferry) The Juggler (1953) as Rosenberg Remains to Be Seen (1953) as Delapp (examiner) The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953) as Chemistry Professor Obispo Francis Joins the WACS (1954) (uncredited) Dear Phoebe (1954, TV series) Willy (1954–1955) in episode "First Case" (1954) Kiss Me Deadly (1955) as Doctor (uncredited) The Birds and the Bees (1956) as Charlie Jenkins - Bartender Top Secret Affair (1957) as Bill Hadley God Is My Partner (1957) as Judge Warner The People's Choice (1957) as Manager The Real McCoys (1957–1958) (ABC-TV, two episodes) as Harry Poulson Teacher's Pet (1958) as Roy The Restless Gun (1958) as Mayor Pete Mercer in Episode "The Suffragette" Perry Mason in the Fiery Fingers (1958) as Dr. Williams Richard Diamond, Private Detective in "One Foot in the Grave" (CBS-TV, 1958) as Kevin Anders The Mating Game (1959) as Inspector General Bigelow The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock (1959) as Stanford Bates But Not for Me (1959) as Al Atwood Dennis The Menace (1959–1963) TV series as Mr. Finch

1960s

The Tab Hunter Show (1960–1961) — Dr. Spike in "Personal Appearance" (1961) Pete and Gladys (1960–1962) — Mr. Vincent in "The House Next Door" (1961) and Slater in "Garden Wedding" (1962) The DuPont Show with June Allyson with June Allyson as Elsa Wilson, in "The Old-Fashioned Way" (1961) as Dr. Shelley The Lucy Show (1962) as Mr. Barnstahl Mister Ed - "Wilbur in the Lion's Den" (1962) The Music Man (1962) as Constable Locke Mr. Smith Goes to Washington TV series (1963) as Caleb It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) as Airport Manager Papa's Delicate Condition (1963) as Mr. Cosgrove The Wheeler Dealers (1963) as Judge (uncredited) Petticoat Junction — (1963–1968) (24 episodes) as Homer Bedloe The Beverly Hillbillies (1963–1971) as Foster Phinney / Homer Bedloe / Billy Hacker Bewitched (1964–1972, TV series) as Mr. Roland / Mr. Cushman / Harold Jameson / Mr. Harmon / Mr. Meikeljohn / Shotwell / Jessie Mortimer / Ed Hotchkiss The Andy Griffith Show in episode "Aunt Bee the Crusader" (1964) as Mr. Frisby Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. in episode 106 "Pay Day" (1964) as General Richards The Carpetbaggers (1964) as Denby The New Interns (1964) as Connors Good Neighbor Sam (1964) as Jack Bailey Looking for Love (1964) as Screen Test Director The Cara Williams Show in episode "Variety is the Spice of Wife" (1965) as McAvie Get Smart in "My Nephew the Spy" (1965) as Uncle Abner Kentucky Jones in "The Big Speech" (1965) as Doc Axby John Goldfarb, Please Come Home (1965) as 'Strife' Magazine Editor Billie (1965) as Coach Jones The Donna Reed Show in "The Big League Shock" (1965) as Mr. Sampson The Munsters in "The Most Beautiful Ghoul in the World" (1966) as Mr. Edgar Z. Holmes The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) as Lawyer Whitlow The Ugly Dachshund (1966) as Judge The Pruitts of Southampton (1966–1967, TV series) as Maxwell F Troop (1966) as Mr. S. A. MacGuire He and She (1967) as Mr. Julius Simpson, US Immigration officer Eight on the Lam (1967) as Bank Examiner (uncredited) The Gnome-Mobile (1967) as Dr. Scoggins Wild Wild West S3 E7 "The Night of the Hangman" as the scheming Roger Creed (1967) What's So Bad About Feeling Good? (1968) as Dr. Shapiro Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady? (1968) as Mr. Duckworth Green Acres in episode "The Rummage Sale" (1968) as Mr Wilson My Dog, the Thief (1969) as Mr. Pfeiffer

1970s

The Aristocats (1970) as Georges Hautecourt (voice) Nanny and the Professor (1970–1971, TV series) as Ticket Seller / Driving Inspector Hitched (1971) as Round Tree The Great Man's Whiskers (1972) as Philbrick Get to Know Your Rabbit (1972) as Mr. Beeman The Odd Couple in "Take my Furniture, Please" (1973) as Sid Karen TV series (1975) as Dale Busch Sybil (1976) as Dr. Quinoness Family (1976) as James Lawrence / Thursday's Child Movie Movie (1978) as Judge / Mr. Pennington Soap (1977–1978, TV series) as Judge Petrillo The Little Dragons (1979) as J.J.

1980s

Return of the Beverly Hillbillies (1981) as Chief Strange Behavior (1981) as Donovan Little House on the Prairie episode "Welcome to Olsenville" (1982) as Jess Moffet The Winds of War (mini) series (1983) as Adm. William Standley Strange Invaders (1983) as Professor Hollister Sunset Limousine (1983) as Reinhammer Murphy's Romance (1985) as Amos Abbott When the Bough Breaks (1986) as Van der Graaf Vanishing America (1986) as Shopkeeper Date with an Angel (1987) as Father O'Shea St. Elsewhere episode "Weigh In, Way Out" (1987) as Mr. Welte War and Remembrance (mini) series (1988) as Adm. William Standley

1990s Dark Shadows (1991, episode #6) as Antique Dealer Acting on Impulse (1993) as Bellhop The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1995) as Regent Yarborough

2000s The Night Before Christmas (2006) (holiday short) as Narrator (voice)