Charles Lane (actor)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Charles Lane | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 26, 1905 San Francisco, California, USA |
Charles Lane (born January 26, 1905 in San Francisco, California as Charles Gerstle Levison) is an American character actor, seen on countless movies and TV shows, and is also the current oldest living American actor still working.
He appeared in most Frank Capra films, including Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Arsenic and Old Lace, and It's a Wonderful Life.
Among his many roles as a character actor, Lane is perhaps most widely remembered for his portrayal of J. Homer Bedloe on Petticoat Junction. Bedloe was a mean-spirited railroad executive who visited the Shady Rest Hotel periodically, attempting to find justification for ending the train service of the Hooterville Cannonball (and never succeeding). He is also widely remembered for his appearance in the "I Love Lucy" episode "Lucy Goes To the Hospital." In the waiting room, he tells Ricky he has six girls, and is hoping for a boy. Upon hearing that his wife has given birth to triplet girls, he turns to Ricky and brings the house down with his grim utterance of the two words: "Nine girls!" He also appeared in three subsequent episodes in the series, including the title role of "The Business Manager."
Despite his stern, hardhearted demeanor in films and television, friends and acquaintances seem to unanimously describe Lane as warm, funny, and kind. He has never been arrested, never been fodder for the Hollywood press. He was a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild in 1933.
In 1990, Lane was rushed to the hospital, having difficulty breathing. A doctor asked if he was still smoking, and Lane replied that he had kicked the habit 45 minutes earlier. He never smoked again.
Concurrent with his big break into movies as an extra, Lane married his sweetheart Ruth Covell in 1931. They remained together until her death in 2002. Lane still lives in the Brentwood home he bought with her, for $46,000, in 1964. He walks with a cane, but remains healthy, and says he is still available for work.
As for being typecast, Lane described it as "... a pain in the ass. You did something that was pretty good, and the picture was pretty good. But that pedigreed you into that type of part, which I thought was stupid and unfair, too. It didn't give me a chance, but it made the casting easier for the studio".
All told, Lane appeared in more than 150 films and hundreds of television shows. On his busiest days, Lane said he sometimes played more than one role—getting into costume and filming his two or three lines, then hurrying off to another set for a different costume and a different role.
His most recent appearance on the movie screen was in 1987's Date With an Angel with Phoebe Cates and Emmanuelle Béart, but he continued to act on TV until the age of 90 when he appeared in the 1995 Disney TV remake of its 1970 teen comedy The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes with Kirk Cameron in the role originated by Kurt Russell.
In 2005, the TV Land Awards paid tribute to Lane by celebrating his 100th birthday. Seated in a wheelchair in the audience which had sung Happy Birthday to him, Lane was presented with his award and then announced "If you're interested, I'm still available [for work]!" The audience gave him a standing ovation.
Irving Pichel, the actor/director who in 1929 first suggested that Lane go into acting, made the same suggestion in 1943 to the parents of five-year-old Natalie Wood.
Contents |
[edit] Filmography
[edit] 1990s
- The Computer Wore Shoes (1995)
- Acting On Impulse (1993)
[edit] 1980s
- War and Remberance (mini) series (1988)
- Date with an Angel (1987)
- Vanishing America (1986)
- When the Bough Breaks (1986)
- Murphy's Romance (1985)
- Sunset Limousine (1983)
- Strange Invaders (1983)
- The Winds of War (mini) series (1983)
- Strange Behavior (1981)
- The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies (1981)
- The Little Dragons (1980)
[edit] 1970s
- Movie Movie (1978)
- Sybil (1976)
- Karen TV Series (1975)
- Get to Know Your Rabbit (1972)
- The Great Man's Whiskers (1972)
- Hitched (1971)
- The Aristocats (1970) (voice)
[edit] 1960s
- The Beverly Hillbillies (1963/1969/1971)
- My Dog, the Thief (1969)
- Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady? (1968)
- What's So Bad About Feeling Good? (1968)
- The Gnome-Mobile (1967)
- Eight on the Lam (1967) (uncredited)
- The Pruitts of Southampton (1966) TV Series
- The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966)
- The Ugly Dachshund (1966)
- Billie (1965)
- John Goldfarb, Please Come Home (1965)
- Looking for Love (1964)
- Good Neighbor Sam (1964)
- The New Interns (1964)
- The Carpetbaggers (1964)
- Petticoat Junction (1963) TV Series (1963-1968)
- The Wheeler Dealers (1963) (uncredited)
- It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)
- Papa's Delicate Condition (1963)
- The Music Man (1962)
[edit] 1950s
- But Not for Me (1959)
- The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock (1959)
- The Mating Game (1959)
- Teacher's Pet (1958)
- The Real McCoys (1957) TV Series
- God Is My Partner (1957)
- Top Secret Affair (1957)
- The Birds and the Bees (1956)
- Dear Phoebe (1954) TV Series
- Francis Joins the WACS (1954) (uncredited)
- The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953)
- Remains to Be Seen (1953)
- The Juggler (1953)
- Three for Bedroom C (1952) (uncredited)
- The Sniper (1952) (uncredited)
- Here Comes the Groom (1951) (uncredited)
- Criminal Lawyer (1951)
- I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1951) (uncredited)
- For Heavens Sake (1950) (uncredited)
- The Du Pont Story (1950)
- The Second Face (1950)
- Love That Brute (1950)
- Riding High (1950)
- The Yellow Cab Man (1950) (uncredited)
- Borderline (1950) (uncredited)
- Backfire (1950) (uncredited)
[edit] 1940s
- Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949) (uncredited)
- The House Across the Street (1949) (uncredited)
- Mighty Joe Young (1949) (uncredited)
- You're My Everything (1949) (uncredited)
- Mother is a Freshman (1949) (uncredited)
- Apartment for Peggy (1948) (uncredited)
- Moonrise (1948)
- Out of the Storm (1948)
- The Gentlemen From Nowhere (1948)
- Race Street (1948) (uncredited)
- Smart Woman (1948) (uncredited)
- State of the Union (1948)
- Call Northside 777 (1948) (uncredited)
- Intrigue (1947)
- Roses Are Red (1947)
- Louisiana (1947)
- Bury Me Dead (1947) (uncredited)
- Living in a Big Way (1947) (uncredited)
- It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947) (uncredited)
- The Farmer's Daughter (1947)
- The Show Off (1946) (uncredited)
- It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
- Swell Guy (1946)
- The Invisible Informer (1946)
- Mysterious Intruder (1946)
- Just Before Dawn (1946)
- A Close Call for Boston Blackie (1946)
- Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
- Mission to Moscow (1943) (uncredited)
- Flying Tigers (1942) (uncredited)
- Pardon My Sarong (1942) (uncredited)
- Friendly Enemies (1942)
- Lady in a Jam (1942) (uncredited)
- Thru Different Eyes (1942)
- Are Husbands Necessary? (1942)
- They All Kissed The Bride (1942) (uncredited)
- Tarzan's New York Adventure (1942)
- The Mad Martindales (1942)
- Broadway (1942) (uncredited)
- Home in Wyomin' (1942)
- The Great Man's Lady (1942) (uncredited)
- About Face (1942)
- Yokel Boy (1942) (uncredited)
- The Adventures of Martin Eden (1942)
- What's Cookin'? (1942)
- Born to Sing (1942) (uncredited)
- The Lady Is Willing (1942)
- Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942) (uncredited)
- Obliging Young Lady (1942)
- A Close Call for Ellery Queen (1942)
- A Gentleman at Heart (1942)
- Ball of Fire (1941)
- Look Who's Laughing (1941) (uncredited)
- I Wake Up Screaming (1941)
- Appointment for Love (1941) (uncredited)
- Birth of Blues (1941) (uncredited)
- New York Town (1941) (uncredited)
- Three Girls About Town (1941) (uncredited)
- Buy Me That Town (1941)
- Sing Another Chorus (1941)
- Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime (1941)
- Sealed Lips (1941)
- The Big Store (1941) (uncredited)
- Blondie in Society (1941) (uncredited)
- Sis Hopkins (1941)
- Barnacle Bill (1941) (uncredited)
- Repent at Leisure (1941)
- Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery (1941)
- Footlight Fever (1941)
- The Big Store (1941)
- You're the One (1941)
- Back Street (1941) (uncredited)
- The Invisible Woman (1940)
- The Texas Ranger Rides Again (1940)
- Ellery Queen, Master Detective (1940)
- Dancing on a Dime (1940)
- Blondie Plays Cupid (1940) (uncredited)
- A Little Bit of Heaven (1940) (uncredited)
- City For Conquest (1940) (uncredited)
- The Leather Pushers (1940)
- The Great Profile (1940)
- Rhythm on the River (1940)
- We Who Are Young (1940)
- Queen of the Mob (1940) (uncredited)
- The Doctor Takes a Wife (1940) (uncredited)
- I Can't Give Anything But Love, Baby (1940) (uncredited)
- You Can't Fool Your Wife (1940) (scenes deleted}
- On Your Own (1940) (uncredited)
- Edison, the Man (1940) (uncredited)
- The Crooked Road (1940)
- Buck Benny Rides Again (1940)
- Johnny Apollo (1940)
- Primrose Path (1940) (uncredited)
- It's a Date (1940) (uncredited)
[edit] 1930s
- Charlie McCarthy, Detective (1939) (uncredited)
- The Honeymoon's Over (1939) (uncredited)
- The Cat and the Canary (1939) (uncredited)
- Beware Spooks (1939) (uncrediterd)
- Television Spy (1939)
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
- Thunder Afloat (1939) (scenes deleted)
- Honeymoon in Bali (1939) (uncredited)
- Golden Boy (1939) (uncredited)
- 5th Avenue Girl (1939) (uncredited)
- Miracles for Sale (1939) (uncredited)
- They All Come Out (1939)
- News Is Made at Night (1939)
- Second Fiddle (1939) (voice)
- Unexpected Father (1939) (uncredited)
- Rose of Wshington Square (1939) (uncredited)
- Lucky Night (1939)
- Inside Story (1939)
- Let Us Live! (1939) (uncredited)
- Boy Slaves (1939)
- Kentucky (1938)
- Thanks for Everything (1938)
- Blondie (1938) (uncredited)
- Always in Trouble (1938)
- Three Loves Have Nancy (1938) (uncredited)
- You Can't Take it With You (1938)
- Professor Beware (1938) (uncredited)
- The Rage of Paris (1938) (uncredited)
- Cocoanut Grove (1938) (uncredited)
- Joy of Living (1938) (uncredited)
- City Girl (1938) (uncredited)
- Ali Baba Goes to Town (1937)
- Partners in Crime (1937) (uncredited)
- Danger-Love at Work (1937)
- Hot Water (1937) (uncredited)
- Trapped by G-Men (1937)
- Fit for a King (1937)
- Bad Guy (1937) (uncredited)
- One Milefrom Heaven (1937) (uncredited)
- Born Reckless (1937) (uncredited)
- Venus Makes Trouble (1937)
- Internes Can't Take Money (1937)
- Sea Devils (1937) (uncredited)
- We're on the Jury (1937)
- Criminal Lawyer (1937) (uncredited)
- In Old Chicago (1937)
- Three Men on a House (1936) (uncredited)
- Come Closer, Folks (1936) (uncredited)
- Easy to Take (1936)
- Lady Luck (1936)
- Two-Fisted Gentleman (1936)
- 36 Hours to Kill (1936)
- The Bride Walks Out (1936) (uncredited)
- The Crime of Dr. Forbes (1936)
- Ticket to Paradise (1936) (uncredited)
- Neighborhood House (1936) (uncredited)
- Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) (uncredited)
- It Had Happened (1936) (uncredited)
- The Milky Way (1936)
- Two for Tonight (1935)
- Here Comes the Band (1935)
- Woman Wanted (1935) (uncredited)
- Ginger (1935) (uncredited)
- Princess O'Hara (1935) (uncredited)
- One More Spring (1935) (uncredited)
- The Band Plays On (1934) (uncredited)
- A Wicked Woman (1934) (uncredited)
- Broadway Bill (1934) (uncredited)
- I'll Fix It (1934)
- Let's Talk It Over (1934)
- Twentieth Century(1934)
- Twenty Million Sweethearts (1934) (uncredited)
- Looking for Trouble (1934)
- The Show Off (1934) (uncredited)
- Mr. Skitch (1933) (uncredited)
- Advice to the Lovelorn (1933)
- Broadway Through a Keyhole (1933) (uncredited)
- The Bowery (1933) (uncredited)
- My Woman (1933)
- She Had to Say Yes (1933) (uncredited)
- Private Detective 62 (1933)
- Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) (uncredited)
- Central Airport (1933) (uncredited)
- Blondie Johnson (1933)
- Grand Slam (1933) (uncredited)
- 42nd Street (1933) (uncredited)
- Employees' Entrance (1933) (uncredited)
- Blessed Event (1932) (uncredited)
- The Mouthpiece (1932) (uncredited)
- Manhattan Parade (1932) (uncredited)
- Union Depot (1932) (uncredited)
- Blonde Crazy (1931) (uncredited)
- The Road to Singapore (1931) (uncredited)
- Smart Money (1931) (uncredited)
