Charles Lane

Personal Info

Known For
Acting
Born
January 26, 1905 (102 years old)
Died
July 9, 2007
Place of Birth
San Francisco, California, USA
Popular Genres
Comedy Drama Romance
Career Span
1930 – 2005

Charles Lane

6 wins
65 nominations
6 Oscars
215 credits

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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Personal Info

Born
Jan 26, 1905
From
San Francisco, California, USA
Known For
Acting
Career
1930 – 2005

Known For

It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life
1946
as Real Estate Salesman
The Aristocats
The Aristocats
1970
as Lawyer (voice)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
1963
as Airport Manager
Mighty Joe Young
Mighty Joe Young
1949
as Producer (uncredited)
Nothing Sacred
Nothing Sacred
1937
as Rubenstein (uncredited)
You Can't Take It with You
You Can't Take It with You
1938
as Henderson
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
1947
as Landlord (uncredited)
42nd Street
42nd Street
1933
as Playwright (uncredited)
Call Northside 777
Call Northside 777
1948
as Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)
Strange Behavior
Strange Behavior
1981
as Donovan
The Wheeler Dealers
The Wheeler Dealers
1963
as Judge (uncredited)
Arsenic and Old Lace
Arsenic and Old Lace
1944
as Reporter at Marriage License Office

Frequent Collaborators

Ellen Corby
Ellen Corby
2 shared projects
in "Mighty Joe Young"
 View Shared Movies
Herschel Graham
2 shared projects
in "Mighty Joe Young"
 View Shared Movies
John Indrisano
2 shared projects
in "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"
 View Shared Movies
Max Wagner
2 shared projects
in "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"
 View Shared Movies
Sterling Holloway
Sterling Holloway
2 shared projects
in "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"
 View Shared Movies
Bess Flowers
Bess Flowers
2 shared projects
in "Nothing Sacred"
 View Shared Movies
James Stewart
James Stewart
1 shared project
in "It's a Wonderful Life"
 View Shared Movies
Donna Reed
Donna Reed
1 shared project
in "It's a Wonderful Life"
 View Shared Movies
Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore
1 shared project
in "It's a Wonderful Life"
 View Shared Movies
Thomas Mitchell
Thomas Mitchell
1 shared project
in "It's a Wonderful Life"
 View Shared Movies
Henry Travers
Henry Travers
1 shared project
in "It's a Wonderful Life"
 View Shared Movies
Beulah Bondi
Beulah Bondi
1 shared project
in "It's a Wonderful Life"
 View Shared Movies

Award Recognition

6
Wins
65
Nominations
6
Oscars

Complete Filmography

2005

The History of Hooterville as Self

1995

The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes as Regent Yarborough

1993

Acting on Impulse as Bellhop

1986

When the Bough Breaks as Van der Graaf

1985

Murphy's Romance as Amos Abbott

1983

Strange Invaders as Prof. Hollister
Sunset Limousine as Reinhammer

1981

Strange Behavior as Donovan Award
The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies as Chief

1980

The Little Dragons as J.J.

1978

Movie Movie as Judge / Mr. Pennington

1975

Long Way Home

1972

The Great Man's Whiskers as Philbrick
Get to Know Your Rabbit as Mr. Beeman

1971

Hitched as Round Tree

1970

The Aristocats as Lawyer (voice) Award

1969

My Dog, the Thief as Mr. Pfeiffer

1968

What's So Bad About Feeling Good? as Dr. Shapiro

1967

The Gnome-Mobile as Dr. Scoggins

1966

The Ugly Dachshund as Judge Award
The Ghost & Mr. Chicken as Whitlow

1965

Billie as Coach Jones
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! as Editor

1964

Good Neighbor Sam as Jack Bailey Award
The Carpetbaggers as Eugene Denby
Looking for Love as Director
The New Interns as Connors
Rendezvous in Space as Interviewee

1963

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World as Airport Manager Award
The Wheeler Dealers as Judge (uncredited) Award
Papa's Delicate Condition as Mr. Cosgrove

1962

The Music Man as Constable Award

1959

The Mating Game as Inspector General Bigelow
But Not for Me as Al Atwood
The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock as Standard Bates

1958

Teacher's Pet as Roy

1957

God Is My Partner as Judge Warner

1956

The Birds and the Bees as Charlie Jenkins

1953

The Juggler as Rosenberg
The Affairs of Dobie Gillis as Prof. Obispo
Remains to Be Seen as Delapp

1952

The Sniper as Loud Drunk at Club Award

1951

Here Comes the Groom as FBI Agent Ralph Burchard (uncredited)
Criminal Lawyer as Frederick Waterman
I Can Get It for You Wholesale as Herman Pulvermacher (uncredited)

1950

Riding High as Erickson
Backfire as Dr. Nolan (uncredited)
The Yellow Cab Man as L.A. Casualty Co. Executive (uncredited)
The Second Face as Mr. Westcott

1949

Mighty Joe Young as Producer (uncredited) Award
Miss Grant Takes Richmond as Mr. Woodruff (uncredited)
The House Across the Street as Apartment Manager (uncredited)
You're My Everything as Mr. Eddie Pflum

1948

Call Northside 777 as Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited) Award
Moonrise as Mr. Chandler Award
State of the Union as Blink Moran Award
Smart Woman as Reporter
Race Street as Switchboard Operator Clerk (uncredited)
Apartment for Peggy as Prof. Collins (uncredited)
Out of the Storm as Mr. Evans
The Gentleman from Nowhere as Fenmore

1947

It Happened on Fifth Avenue as Landlord (uncredited) Award
Living in a Big Way as Hawkins (uncredited)
Intrigue as Hotel Desk Clerk
Bury Me Dead as Brighton
Louisiana as McCormack
Roses Are Red as Lipton

1946

It's a Wonderful Life as Real Estate Salesman Award
A Close Call for Boston Blackie as Hack Hagen (uncredited)
Just Before Dawn as Dr. Steiner (uncredited)
Mysterious Intruder as Detective Burns
The Invisible Informer as Nick Steele

1944

Arsenic and Old Lace as Reporter at Marriage License Office Award

1943

Mission to Moscow as Man in Kitchenin Montage (uncredited)

1942

Tarzan's New York Adventure as Sargent's Lawyer Gould Beaton
Pardon My Sarong as Bus Company Superintendent (uncredited)
Flying Tigers as Repkin (uncredited)
Lady in a Jam as Government Man (uncredited)
Ride 'Em Cowboy as Martin Manning (uncredited)
A Gentleman at Heart as Holloway
The Mad Martindales as Virgil Hickling
Obliging Young Lady as Private Detective Smith
Sunday Punch as Ringside spectator at Ole's first fight (uncredited)
They All Kissed the Bride as Spotter
A Close Call for Ellery Queen as Coroner
Broadway as Hungry Harry
Broadway as Hungry Harry (uncredited)
Born to Sing as Johnny
The Lady Is Willing as K.K. Miller
The Adventures of Martin Eden as Mr. White
Home in Wyomin' as Newspaper Editor
About Face as Rental Car Manager
Sealed Lips as Attorney Emanuel 'Manny' T. Dixon
Friendly Enemies as Braun
Thru Different Eyes as Mott
What's Cookin'? as K.D. Reynolds

1941

Ball of Fire as Larsen
I Wake Up Screaming as Keating- Florist
The Big Store as Finance Company Man (uncredited)
New York Town as Census Taker (uncredited)
The Great Man's Lady as Pierce (uncredited)
Three Girls About Town as Mortician
Back Street as Reporter for Associated News
Appointment for Love as Smith (uncredited)
Birth of the Blues as Wilbur - Bijou Theater Manager (uncredited)
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime as Dr. Prouty (coroner)
Sis Hopkins as Mayor's aide
Repent at Leisure as Clarence Morgan
Buy Me That Town as J. Montague Gainsborough
Barnacle Bill as Auctioneer
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery as Doc Prouty
You're the One as Announcer

1940

City for Conquest as Al - Dance Team Manager (uncredited)
The Invisible Woman as Growley
We Who Are Young as Perkins
Edison, the Man as Second Lecturer
Johnny Apollo as Assistant D.A.
The Texas Rangers Ride Again as Train Passenger (uncredited)
Ellery Queen, Master Detective as Dr. Prouty
The Doctor Takes a Wife as Reporter (uncredited)
Rhythm on the River as Bernard Schwartz
Queen of the Mob as Horace Grimley
Primrose Path as Mr. Smith (uncredited)
It's a Date as Mr. Horner (uncredited)
Buck Benny Rides Again as Charlie Graham
The Leather Pushers as Henry 'Mitch' Mitchell
The Great Profile as Director
You Can't Fool Your Wife as Salesman
Blondie Plays Cupid as Train Conductor (uncredited)
On Their Own as Johnson
The Crooked Road as Phil Wesner, Defense Attorney
Dancing on a Dime as Freeman Taylor

1939

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington as Nosey Award
The Cat and the Canary as Reporter
Let Us Live as Auto Show Salesman (uncredited)
Golden Boy as Reporter Drake
Second Fiddle as Studio Chief
Rose of Washington Square as Sam Kress
Miracles for Sale as Fleetwood Apartments Desk Clerk
Fifth Avenue Girl as Union Representative (uncredited)
Lucky Night as Carpenter
They All Come Out as Psychiatrist
Boy Slaves as Albee
Television Spy as Mr. Adler
Charlie McCarthy, Detective as Charlie's Doctor
Honeymoon in Bali as Photographer (uncredited)
Beware Spooks! as Moore (uncredited)
News Is Made at Night as District Attorney Rufe Reynolds
Inside Story as District Attorney

1938

You Can't Take It with You as Henderson Award
Three Loves Has Nancy as Cleaning Store Manager (uncredited)
Kentucky as Auctioneer
Joy of Living as Fan in Margaret's Dressing Room (Uncredited)
Blondie as Furniture Salesman (uncredited)
Professor Beware as Joe - Photographer
Cocoanut Grove as Weaver
The Rage of Paris as Department Head (uncredited)
Always in Trouble as Donald Gower

1937

Nothing Sacred as Rubenstein (uncredited) Award
Sea Devils as Judge (uncredited)
Hot Water as Grayson (uncredited)
Ali Baba Goes to Town as Doctor
One Mile from Heaven as Webb
Born Reckless as Barnes's lawyer
Danger – Love at Work as Gilroy, an attorney
Big Business as Webster - Bank Representative
Internes Can't Take Money as Grote
We're on the Jury as Horace Smith
Criminal Lawyer as Attorney (uncredited)
Trapped by G-Men as Fingers
Venus Makes Trouble as District Attorney
Bad Guy as Attorney

1936

The Milky Way as Willard
The Milky Way
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town as Hallor (uncredited)
36 Hours to Kill as Lawyer Rickert
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell as Man in Front Row (archive footage)
Lady Luck as Feinberg
Two-Fisted Gentleman as Joe Gordon
Easy to Take as Skip

1935

Woman Wanted as Defense Attorney Herman (uncredited)
Ginger as Judge (uncredited)
Here Comes the Band as Mr. Scurry
Two for Tonight as Writer
The Florentine Dagger as Man in Front Row (archive footage)
One More Spring as Representative

1934

Twentieth Century as Max Jacobs
Broadway Bill as Morgan's Henchman (uncredited)
A Wicked Woman as Defense Attorney Beardsley (uncredited)
The Band Plays On as Shyster Lawyer
Looking for Trouble as Switchboard Operator
I'll Fix It as Al Nathan
Twenty Million Sweethearts as Reporter (uncredited)
Let's Talk It Over as Reporter
The Show-Off as Mr. Weitzenkorn

1933

42nd Street as Playwright (uncredited) Award
Gold Diggers of 1933 as Society Reporter (uncredited) Award
The Bowery as Doctor (uncredited)
Employees' Entrance as Shoe Salesman (uncredited)
Private Detective 62 as Process Server (Uncredited)
Grand Slam as Waiter at Nicolai Restaurant
Central Airport as Amarillo Radio Operator (uncredited)
She Had to Say Yes as Mr. Bernstein (uncredited)
Mr. Skitch as Hotel Clerk
Blondie Johnson as Cashier (uncredited)
Broadway Thru a Keyhole as Columnist #2
My Woman as Conn

1932

Union Depot as Luggage Checkroom Clerk (uncredited)
Blessed Event as Kane
The Mouthpiece as Hotel Desk Clerk (Uncredited)

1931

Smart Money as Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Blonde Crazy as Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
The Road to Singapore as Desk Clerk at Club
Manhattan Parade as Desk clerk

1930

City Girl as Man at Train Station (uncredited)

Photos & Videos

Featured in Trailers

It's a Wonderful Life
The Aristocats
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Mighty Joe Young
Nothing Sacred
You Can't Take It with You
42nd Street
Call Northside 777
Strange Behavior

Career Statistics

Roles by Genre
Genre Evolution