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.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Known For
The Aristocats
(1970)
Lawyer
It's a Wonderful Life
(1946)
Real Estate Salesman
Mighty Joe Young
(1949)
Producer (uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1933
(1933)
Society Reporter (uncredited)
Twentieth Century
(1934)
Max Jacobs
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
(1963)
Airport Manager
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
(1939)
Nosey
Arsenic and Old Lace
(1944)
Reporter at Marriage License Office
You Can't Take It with You
(1938)
Henderson
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
(1936)
Hallor (uncredited)
The Ugly Dachshund
(1966)
Judge
42nd Street
(1933)
Playwright (uncredited)
Ball of Fire
(1941)
Larsen
Call Northside 777
(1948)
Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
(1947)
Landlord (uncredited)
Good Neighbor Sam
(1964)
Jack Bailey
Full Filmography
Acting
City Girl
(1930)
Man at Train Station (uncredited)
The Road to Singapore
(1931)
Desk Clerk at Club
Manhattan Parade
(1931)
Desk clerk
Blonde Crazy
(1931)
Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Smart Money
(1931)
Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
The Mouthpiece
(1932)
Hotel Desk Clerk (Uncredited)
Union Depot
(1932)
Luggage Checkroom Clerk (uncredited)
Blessed Event
(1932)
Kane
Blondie Johnson
(1933)
Cashier (uncredited)
She Had to Say Yes
(1933)
Mr. Bernstein (uncredited)
42nd Street
(1933)
Playwright (uncredited)
The Bowery
(1933)
Doctor (uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1933
(1933)
Society Reporter (uncredited)
Grand Slam
(1933)
Waiter at Nicolai Restaurant
My Woman
(1933)
Conn
Mr. Skitch
(1933)
Hotel Clerk
Broadway Thru a Keyhole
(1933)
Columnist #2
Private Detective 62
(1933)
Process Server (Uncredited)
Employees' Entrance
(1933)
Shoe Salesman (uncredited)
Central Airport
(1933)
Amarillo Radio Operator (uncredited)
Let's Talk It Over
(1934)
Reporter
Twenty Million Sweethearts
(1934)
Reporter (uncredited)
The Bands Plays On
(1934)
Shyster Lawyer
A Wicked Woman
(1934)
Defense Attorney Beardsley (uncredited)
Twentieth Century
(1934)
Max Jacobs
The Show-Off
(1934)
Mr. Weitzenkorn
Looking for Trouble
(1934)
Switchboard Operator
I'll Fix It
(1934)
Al Nathan
Broadway Bill
(1934)
Morgan's Henchman (uncredited)
Ginger
(1935)
Judge (uncredited)
Woman Wanted
(1935)
Defense Attorney Herman (uncredited)
Here Comes the Band
(1935)
Mr. Scurry
The Florentine Dagger
(1935)
Man in Front Row (archive footage)
One More Spring
(1935)
Representative
Two for Tonight
(1935)
Writer
The Milky Way
(1936)
Willard
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
(1936)
Man in Front Row (archive footage)
36 Hours to Kill
(1936)
Lawyer Rickert
Two-Fisted Gentleman
(1936)
Joe Gordon
Easy to Take
(1936)
Skip
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
(1936)
Hallor (uncredited)
Lady Luck
(1936)
Feinberg
Internes Can't Take Money
(1937)
Grote
Nothing Sacred
(1937)
Rubenstein (uncredited)
Born Reckless
(1937)
Barnes's lawyer
Hot Water
(1937)
Grayson (uncredited)
Big Business
(1937)
Webster - Bank Representative
Sea Devils
(1937)
Judge (uncredited)
Criminal Lawyer
(1937)
Attorney (uncredited)
Danger – Love at Work
(1937)
Gilroy, an attorney
Bad Guy
(1937)
Attorney
Trapped by G-Men
(1937)
Fingers
Ali Baba Goes to Town
(1937)
Doctor
One Mile from Heaven
(1937)
Webb
We're on the Jury
(1937)
Horace Smith
Venus Makes Trouble
(1937)
District Attorney
Always in Trouble
(1938)
Donald Gower
The Rage of Paris
(1938)
Department Head (uncredited)
Blondie
(1938)
Furniture Salesman (uncredited)
Three Loves Has Nancy
(1938)
Cleaning Store Manager (uncredited)
You Can't Take It with You
(1938)
Henderson
Cocoanut Grove
(1938)
Weaver
Professor Beware
(1938)
Joe - Photographer
Kentucky
(1938)
Auctioneer
Joy of Living
(1938)
Fan in Margaret's Dressing Room (Uncredited)
Beware Spooks!
(1939)
Moore (uncredited)
They All Come Out
(1939)
Psychiatrist
Lucky Night
(1939)
Carpenter
Honeymoon in Bali
(1939)
Photographer (uncredited)
Golden Boy
(1939)
Reporter Drake
Miracles for Sale
(1939)
Fleetwood Apartments Desk Clerk
Let Us Live
(1939)
Auto Show Salesman (uncredited)
News Is Made at Night
(1939)
District Attorney Rufe Reynolds
Second Fiddle
(1939)
Studio Chief
The Cat and the Canary
(1939)
Reporter
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
(1939)
Nosey
Charlie McCarthy, Detective
(1939)
Charlie's Doctor
5th Ave Girl
(1939)
Union Representative (uncredited)
Boy Slaves
(1939)
Albee
Inside Story
(1939)
District Attorney
Television Spy
(1939)
Mr. Adler
Rose of Washington Square
(1939)
Sam Kress
Dancing on a Dime
(1940)
Freeman Taylor
Rhythm on the River
(1940)
Bernard Schwartz
You Can't Fool Your Wife
(1940)
Salesman
Primrose Path
(1940)
Mr. Smith (uncredited)
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
(1940)
Dr. Prouty
We Who Are Young
(1940)
Perkins
The Texas Rangers Ride Again
(1940)
Train Passenger (uncredited)
Queen of the Mob
(1940)
Horace Grimley
The Invisible Woman
(1940)
Growley
City for Conquest
(1940)
Al - Dance Team Manager (uncredited)
The Crooked Road
(1940)
Phil Wesner, Defense Attorney
On Their Own
(1940)
Johnson
The Doctor Takes a Wife
(1940)
Reporter
Buck Benny Rides Again
(1940)
Charlie Graham
Edison, the Man
(1940)
Second Lecturer
It's a Date
(1940)
Mr. Horner (uncredited)
Blondie Plays Cupid
(1940)
Train Conductor (uncredited)
The Great Profile
(1940)
Director
The Leather Pushers
(1940)
Henry 'Mitch' Mitchell
Johnny Apollo
(1940)
Assistant D.A.
Barnacle Bill
(1941)
Auctioneer
Sis Hopkins
(1941)
Mayor's aide
New York Town
(1941)
Census Taker (uncredited)
Repent at Leisure
(1941)
Clarence Morgan
The Big Store
(1941)
Finance Company Man (uncredited)
Three Girls About Town
(1941)
Mortician
Back Street
(1941)
Reporter for Associated News
Birth of the Blues
(1941)
Wilbur - Bijou Theater Manager (uncredited)
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
(1941)
Dr. Prouty (coroner)
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery
(1941)
Doc Prouty
Appointment for Love
(1941)
Smith (uncredited)
Ball of Fire
(1941)
Larsen
I Wake Up Screaming
(1941)
Keating- Florist
Buy Me That Town
(1941)
J. Montague Gainsborough
They All Kissed the Bride
(1942)
Spotter
Ride 'Em Cowboy
(1942)
Martin Manning (uncredited)
About Face
(1942)
Rental Car Manager
Obliging Young Lady
(1942)
Private Detective Smith
The Adventures of Martin Eden
(1942)
Mr. White
Flying Tigers
(1942)
Repkin (uncredited)
Friendly Enemies
(1942)
Braun
The Great Man's Lady
(1942)
Pierce (uncredited)
Home in Wyomin'
(1942)
Newspaper Editor
A Close Call for Ellery Queen
(1942)
Coroner
Broadway
(1942)
Hungry Harry
The Mad Martindales
(1942)
Virgil Hickling
Tarzan's New York Adventure
(1942)
Sargent's Lawyer Gould Beaton
Pardon My Sarong
(1942)
Bus Company Superintendent (uncredited)
Sealed Lips
(1942)
Attorney Emanuel 'Manny' T. Dixon
Born to Sing
(1942)
Johnny
Thru Different Eyes
(1942)
Mott
Sunday Punch
(1942)
Ringside spectator at Ole's first fight (uncredited)
The Lady Is Willing
(1942)
K.K. Miller
A Gentleman at Heart
(1942)
Holloway
What's Cookin'?
(1942)
K.D. Reynolds
Lady in a Jam
(1942)
Government Man
Mission to Moscow
(1943)
Man in Kitchenin Montage (uncredited)
Arsenic and Old Lace
(1944)
Reporter at Marriage License Office
Just Before Dawn
(1946)
Dr. Steiner (uncredited)
A Close Call for Boston Blackie
(1946)
Hack Hagen (uncredited)
Mysterious Intruder
(1946)
Detective Burns
It's a Wonderful Life
(1946)
Real Estate Salesman
The Invisible Informer
(1946)
Nick Steele
Living in a Big Way
(1947)
Hawkins (uncredited)
Roses Are Red
(1947)
Lipton
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
(1947)
Landlord (uncredited)
Intrigue
(1947)
Hotel Desk Clerk
Bury Me Dead
(1947)
Brighton
Louisiana
(1947)
McCormack
The Gentleman from Nowhere
(1948)
Fenmore
Apartment for Peggy
(1948)
Prof. Collins (uncredited)
Call Northside 777
(1948)
Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)
Smart Woman
(1948)
Reporter
Moonrise
(1948)
Mr. Chandler
Out of the Storm
(1948)
Mr. Evans
Race Street
(1948)
Switchboard Operator Clerk (uncredited)
State of the Union
(1948)
Blink Moran
Mighty Joe Young
(1949)
Producer (uncredited)
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
(1949)
Mr. Woodruff (uncredited)
The House Across the Street
(1949)
Apartment Manager (uncredited)
You're My Everything
(1949)
Mr. Eddie Pflum
The Second Face
(1950)
Mr. Westcott
The Yellow Cab Man
(1950)
L.A. Casualty Co. Executive (uncredited)
Riding High
(1950)
Erickson
Backfire
(1950)
Dr. Nolan (uncredited)
Criminal Lawyer
(1951)
Frederick Waterman
I Can Get It for You Wholesale
(1951)
Herman Pulvermacher (uncredited)
Here Comes the Groom
(1951)
Ralph Burchard
The Sniper
(1952)
Loud Drunk at Club
The Juggler
(1953)
Rosenberg
Remains to Be Seen
(1953)
Delapp
The Affairs of Dobie Gillis
(1953)
Prof. Obispo
The Birds and the Bees
(1956)
Charlie Jenkins
God Is My Partner
(1957)
Judge Warner
Teacher's Pet
(1958)
Roy
The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock
(1959)
Standard Bates
The Mating Game
(1959)
Inspector General Bigelow
But Not for Me
(1959)
Al Atwood
The Music Man
(1962)
Constable
Papa's Delicate Condition
(1963)
Mr. Cosgrove
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
(1963)
Airport Manager
The Wheeler Dealers
(1963)
Judge (uncredited)
The Carpetbaggers
(1964)
Eugene Denby
Looking for Love
(1964)
Director
Good Neighbor Sam
(1964)
Jack Bailey
Rendezvous in Space
(1964)
Interviewee
The New Interns
(1964)
Connors
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!
(1965)
Editor
Billie
(1965)
Coach Jones
The Ghost & Mr. Chicken
(1966)
Whitlow
The Ugly Dachshund
(1966)
Judge
The Gnome-Mobile
(1967)
Dr. Scoggins
What's So Bad About Feeling Good?
(1968)
Dr. Shapiro
My Dog the Thief
(1969)
Mr. Pfeiffer
The Aristocats
(1970)
Lawyer
The Great Man's Whiskers
(1972)
Philbrick
Get to Know Your Rabbit
(1972)
Mr. Beeman
Long Way Home
(1975)
Movie Movie
(1978)
Judge / Mr. Pennington
The Little Dragons
(1980)
J.J.
Strange Behavior
(1981)
Donovan
The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies
(1981)
Chief
Sunset Limousine
(1983)
Reinhammer
Strange Invaders
(1983)
Prof. Hollister
Murphy's Romance
(1985)
Amos Abbott
When the Bough Breaks
(1986)
Van der Graaf
Acting on Impulse
(1993)
Bellhop
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
(1995)
Regent Yarborough
The History of Hooterville
(2005)
Self