Character Actor Charles Lane Dies at 102

Zoneboy · 07-10-2007, 05:07 PM

SANTA MONICA, California: Charles Lane, the prolific character actor whose bespectacled face and crotchety persona made him instantly recognizable to generations of movie-goers, has died, his son said Tuesday. He was 102.

The actor's son, Tom Lane, said he was talking with his father Monday evening. "He was lying in bed with his eyes real wide open," the younger Lane said. "Then he closed his eyes and stopped breathing."

Lane, whose career spanned more than 60 years, appeared in such film classics as "It's a Wonderful Life," "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" and "Twentieth Century."

He also had a recurring role as the scheming railroad man, Homer Bedloe, on the 1960s TV sitcom "Petticoat Junction" and appeared often on television's "I Love Lucy."

His crisp, stage-trained voice and no-nonsense appearance made him a natural for playing authority figures. He was a judge in "God is My Partner," a prosecutor in "Call Northside 777," a priest in "Date With an Angel" and a member of Clark Gable's newspaper editorial board in "Teacher's Pet."

In 1934, Frank Capra, then on his rise to fame, cast Lane in a horse racing film, "Broadway Bill." Capra liked the actor's work so much he included him in nine more movies, including "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and "You Can't Take It with You."

In Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life," he was a rent collector who shocks his boss, the evil Lionel Barrymore character, by telling him that hero James Stewart's character is a good businessman.

One of Lane's most cherished possessions was a letter from the fabled director declaring, "Well, Charlie, you've been my No. 1 crutch."

Lane continued to act into his 90s, and when he accepted an award from cable television's TV Land channel in honor of his 100th birthday, he made a point of saying he was still available for work.

In the 1931 film "Manhattan Parade," shown last month on Turner Classic Movies, Lane could be glimpsed in one of the opening scenes, playing a desk clerk waiting on a customer. The brief, uncredited bit was one of his first film appearances.

He was especially fond of his role in the "I Love Lucy" episode in which Lucy Ricardo gave birth to her son, Little Ricky. Papa Ricky (Ball's real-life husband, Desi Arnaz) was all nerves while Lane, as a fellow expectant father, was the picture of calm.

"This old guy was expecting his 10th child or something, and this nervous young man was expecting his first," Lane recalled in 2005. "It was a marvelous scene, and Desi was a fine actor."

A widower with a son and daughter, Lane had no formula for his longevity, although he noted his mother lived to be nearly 100.

He was a lifelong teetotaler. But his son noted that his father smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 70 years, quitting only when he became short of breath.

"I know that smoking kills people, and I must be the exception," Lane said then.

Tom Lane said Tuesday there would be no funeral for his father.

Mikado · 07-10-2007, 05:39 PM

Wow, we were all just talking about him 2 weeks ago

...Farewell, thy nobel thespian, you shall be missed! ( bows )

catlover79 · 07-10-2007, 05:51 PM

Oh my...I am so glad that I wrote to him just in time and got his autograph. What a sweet man, and a terrific character actor. I think I will buy a Hotchkiss dishy washy (Bewitched fans will understand the reference) in his honor.

Mr. Lane, and thank you...

Clint Eastwood Fan · 07-10-2007, 05:55 PM

Ver sad. He was a great actor....appearing in a lot of tv shows in the 1960's especially. R.I.P. Mr. Lane.

airhead · 07-10-2007, 06:06 PM

Sorry to hear that. I'll miss you Charles.

AB · 07-10-2007, 06:37 PM

He was a wonderful actor, he played the grouchy skinflint character to perfection.

Tweety · 07-10-2007, 07:05 PM

What a pro!

I'm not sure there was ever a time that I knew him by name, but he was so recognizable when you saw him... a totally unique actor, one of a kind.

RIP, Mr. Lane. And thanks for a lot of jobs well done

BensonFan · 07-10-2007, 07:25 PM

God Bless him for living so long. He will be remembered and missed.

P.S. No funeral though? Seems strange (unless it was his wish).

Zoneboy · 07-10-2007, 07:38 PM

Charles Lane Next US TV Airings:
Wed. July 11 6:00 PM TVLAND Little House on the Prairie Welcome to Olesonville #9.3
Fri. July 13 2:00 AM TVLAND I Love Lucy Lucy Goes to the Hospital #2.16
Fri. July 13 11:30 AM TVLAND I Love Lucy Lucy Goes to the Hospital #2.16
Mon. July 16 6:00 AM AMC Johnny Apollo
Mon. July 16 11:30 AM TVLAND I Love Lucy The Business Manager #4.1
Tue. July 17 1:00 AM SCIFI The Twilight Zone Mr. Bevis #1.33

Plot summary for
The Night Before Christmas (2006)

GAB Entertainment is proud to announce completion of an all-new holiday short featuring veteran character actor Charles Lane ("It's A Wonderful Life") in his first performance of the 21st century. The eight-minute film Directed by George Ridjaneck features the artwork of Will Moses (great grandson of Grandma Moses) and an original score by Noa Lazarus. This special holiday treat was Produced by Garret A. Boyajian and Associate Produced by Jeff MacIntyre.

TV DVD Fan · 07-10-2007, 08:03 PM

Whenever I put in one of my classic TV show DVDs and see Charles Lane on the screen, my face just lights up (I've seen him in ILL, PJ, THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, THE LUCY SHOW, GOMER PYLE, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, I believe THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW just off the top of my head... and the list goes on and on and on. A prolific actor who's magic was never fully recognized by Hollywood (I wish he could've had a few starring roles throughout his fifty-years-plus career). Rest in peace Mr. Lane, you are a fine actor and a kind soul, and may God bless you.

stevejay · 07-10-2007, 08:42 PM

I was just talking about him to my 13 year old son. He was the greatest. I was always a huge fan of his. What a great life...102 years old. He deserved it. I and every TV fan out there will miss him dearly.

Already Gone · 07-10-2007, 09:53 PM

R.I.P. Mr. Lane.

First time, I saw him on TV was a rerun of Soap. He played Judge Anthony Petrillo. He presided over the Peter Campbell Murder trial.

He was also on an episode of Family. He played Doug's father in the "Thursday's Child" episode.

GoldenGirlsFan92 · 07-10-2007, 10:03 PM

R.I.P. Charles Lane.

Ohio8 · 07-10-2007, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV DVD Fan

Whenever I put in one of my classic TV show DVDs and see Charles Lane on the screen, my face just lights up (I've seen him in ILL, PJ, THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, THE LUCY SHOW, GOMER PYLE, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, I believe THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW just off the top of my head... and the list goes on and on and on. A prolific actor who's magic was never fully recognized by Hollywood (I wish he could've had a few starring roles throughout his fifty-years-plus career). Rest in peace Mr. Lane, you are a fine actor and a kind soul, and may God bless you.

He played Jane's landlord on The Beverly Hillbillies.

catlover79 · 07-11-2007, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Summer Breeze

R.I.P. Mr. Lane.

First time, I saw him on TV was a rerun of Soap. He played Judge Anthony Petrillo. He presided over the Peter Campbell Murder trial.

He was also on an episode of Family. He played Doug's father in the "Thursday's Child" episode.

The episode of Family he guested on was from the first season, entitled "Thursday's Child Has Far To Go". That was when Elayne Heilveil was playing Nancy. Good episode, by the way.

07-10-2007, 05:51 PM	#3
catlover79 Moderator Forum Celebrity Merry Christmas! Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 39,430	Oh my...I am so glad that I wrote to him just in time and got his autograph. What a sweet man, and a terrific character actor. I think I will buy a Hotchkiss dishy washy (Bewitched fans will understand the reference) in his honor. Mr. Lane, and thank you... __________________ Merry Christmas!! In loving memory of Lance Corporal David R. Baker - October 1, 1987 - October 20, 2009

07-10-2007, 06:06 PM	#5
airhead Frequent Poster Member Join Date: Jul 02, 2007 Location: Orem UT Posts: 103	Sorry to hear that. I'll miss you Charles. __________________ www.airsupplynowandforever.com

07-10-2007, 08:03 PM	#10
TV DVD Fan Senior Member Member Join Date: Apr 07, 2005 Posts: 2,453	Whenever I put in one of my classic TV show DVDs and see Charles Lane on the screen, my face just lights up (I've seen him in ILL, PJ, THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, THE LUCY SHOW, GOMER PYLE, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, I believe THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW just off the top of my head... and the list goes on and on and on. A prolific actor who's magic was never fully recognized by Hollywood (I wish he could've had a few starring roles throughout his fifty-years-plus career). Rest in peace Mr. Lane, you are a fine actor and a kind soul, and may God bless you. __________________ The new season of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" begins Monday, September 8th at 8 pm Eastern on Fox. Sarah Connor: Maybe if you spend your life hiding who you are, you might finally end up fooling yourself. - From the episode "Gnothi Seauton."

07-10-2007, 10:03 PM	#13
GoldenGirlsFan92 Senior Member Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2005 Location: Louisana Posts: 2,206	R.I.P. Charles Lane. __________________ The Golden Girls Seasons 1-7 are out! Buy Dolly Parton's NEW Single on Itunes! VOTE FOR "THE GOLDEN PALACE" & "EMPTY NEST" TO COME OUT ON DVD.

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07-10-2007, 05:07 PM	#1
Zoneboy Moderator Forum Veteran Rod Serling Fan Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: The Twilight Gallery or The Night Zone, Take Your Pick. Posts: 12,248	Character Actor Charles Lane Dies at 102 SANTA MONICA, California: Charles Lane, the prolific character actor whose bespectacled face and crotchety persona made him instantly recognizable to generations of movie-goers, has died, his son said Tuesday. He was 102. The actor's son, Tom Lane, said he was talking with his father Monday evening. "He was lying in bed with his eyes real wide open," the younger Lane said. "Then he closed his eyes and stopped breathing." Lane, whose career spanned more than 60 years, appeared in such film classics as "It's a Wonderful Life," "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" and "Twentieth Century." He also had a recurring role as the scheming railroad man, Homer Bedloe, on the 1960s TV sitcom "Petticoat Junction" and appeared often on television's "I Love Lucy." His crisp, stage-trained voice and no-nonsense appearance made him a natural for playing authority figures. He was a judge in "God is My Partner," a prosecutor in "Call Northside 777," a priest in "Date With an Angel" and a member of Clark Gable's newspaper editorial board in "Teacher's Pet." In 1934, Frank Capra, then on his rise to fame, cast Lane in a horse racing film, "Broadway Bill." Capra liked the actor's work so much he included him in nine more movies, including "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and "You Can't Take It with You." In Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life," he was a rent collector who shocks his boss, the evil Lionel Barrymore character, by telling him that hero James Stewart's character is a good businessman. One of Lane's most cherished possessions was a letter from the fabled director declaring, "Well, Charlie, you've been my No. 1 crutch." Lane continued to act into his 90s, and when he accepted an award from cable television's TV Land channel in honor of his 100th birthday, he made a point of saying he was still available for work. In the 1931 film "Manhattan Parade," shown last month on Turner Classic Movies, Lane could be glimpsed in one of the opening scenes, playing a desk clerk waiting on a customer. The brief, uncredited bit was one of his first film appearances. He was especially fond of his role in the "I Love Lucy" episode in which Lucy Ricardo gave birth to her son, Little Ricky. Papa Ricky (Ball's real-life husband, Desi Arnaz) was all nerves while Lane, as a fellow expectant father, was the picture of calm. "This old guy was expecting his 10th child or something, and this nervous young man was expecting his first," Lane recalled in 2005. "It was a marvelous scene, and Desi was a fine actor." A widower with a son and daughter, Lane had no formula for his longevity, although he noted his mother lived to be nearly 100. He was a lifelong teetotaler. But his son noted that his father smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 70 years, quitting only when he became short of breath. "I know that smoking kills people, and I must be the exception," Lane said then. Tom Lane said Tuesday there would be no funeral for his father. __________________ Somewhere between the greed for money and sound judgment, the legends of country music were tossed aside for the outlandish sound they call country music today. Last edited by Zoneboy : 07-10-2007 at 06:12 PM.

07-10-2007, 05:39 PM	#2
Mikado Forum Celebrity Main st bridge Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,727	Wow, we were all just talking about him 2 weeks ago ...Farewell, thy nobel thespian, you shall be missed! ( bows )

07-10-2007, 05:55 PM	#4
Clint Eastwood Fan Forum Legend Member Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Behind the couch with Valerie Posts: 50,972	Ver sad. He was a great actor....appearing in a lot of tv shows in the 1960's especially. R.I.P. Mr. Lane. __________________ Sonny Leave the drama at the door

07-10-2007, 06:37 PM	#6
AB Forum Veteran Merry Christmas Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 21,851	He was a wonderful actor, he played the grouchy skinflint character to perfection.

07-10-2007, 07:05 PM	#7
Tweety Senior Member Member Join Date: Jan 18, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 4,176	What a pro! I'm not sure there was ever a time that I knew him by name, but he was so recognizable when you saw him... a totally unique actor, one of a kind. RIP, Mr. Lane. And thanks for a lot of jobs well done

07-10-2007, 07:25 PM	#8
BensonFan Senior Member Board Psychologist Join Date: Mar 16, 2004 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 2,510	God Bless him for living so long. He will be remembered and missed. P.S. No funeral though? Seems strange (unless it was his wish).

07-10-2007, 07:38 PM	#9
Zoneboy Moderator Forum Veteran Rod Serling Fan Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: The Twilight Gallery or The Night Zone, Take Your Pick. Posts: 12,248	Charles Lane Next US TV Airings: Wed. July 11 6:00 PM TVLAND Little House on the Prairie Welcome to Olesonville #9.3 Fri. July 13 2:00 AM TVLAND I Love Lucy Lucy Goes to the Hospital #2.16 Fri. July 13 11:30 AM TVLAND I Love Lucy Lucy Goes to the Hospital #2.16 Mon. July 16 6:00 AM AMC Johnny Apollo Mon. July 16 11:30 AM TVLAND I Love Lucy The Business Manager #4.1 Tue. July 17 1:00 AM SCIFI The Twilight Zone Mr. Bevis #1.33 Plot summary for The Night Before Christmas (2006) GAB Entertainment is proud to announce completion of an all-new holiday short featuring veteran character actor Charles Lane ("It's A Wonderful Life") in his first performance of the 21st century. The eight-minute film Directed by George Ridjaneck features the artwork of Will Moses (great grandson of Grandma Moses) and an original score by Noa Lazarus. This special holiday treat was Produced by Garret A. Boyajian and Associate Produced by Jeff MacIntyre.

07-10-2007, 08:42 PM	#11
stevejay Occasional Poster Member Join Date: Nov 14, 2006 Location: Posts: 13	I was just talking about him to my 13 year old son. He was the greatest. I was always a huge fan of his. What a great life...102 years old. He deserved it. I and every TV fan out there will miss him dearly.

07-10-2007, 09:53 PM	#12
Already Gone Senior Member Member Join Date: Dec 31, 2004 Posts: 2,582	R.I.P. Mr. Lane. First time, I saw him on TV was a rerun of Soap. He played Judge Anthony Petrillo. He presided over the Peter Campbell Murder trial. He was also on an episode of Family. He played Doug's father in the "Thursday's Child" episode.

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