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Charles Lane

Charles Lane

Acting·1905–2007·217 films

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 se

Filmography

The Aristocats
The Aristocats (1970)Lawyer (voice)
It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)Real Estate Salesman
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)Nosey
Arsenic and Old Lace
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)Reporter at Marriage License Office
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)Airport Manager
You Can't Take It with You
You Can't Take It with You (1938)Henderson
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)Hallor (uncredited)
Ball of Fire
Ball of Fire (1941)Larsen
42nd Street
42nd Street (1933)Author of 'Pretty Lady' (uncredited)
The Music Man
The Music Man (1962)Constable
The Ugly Dachshund
The Ugly Dachshund (1966)Judge
Gold Diggers of 1933
Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)Society Reporter (uncredited)
Call Northside 777
Call Northside 777 (1948)Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)
Mighty Joe Young
Mighty Joe Young (1949)Producer (uncredited)
Twentieth Century
Twentieth Century (1934)Max Jacobs
Nothing Sacred
Nothing Sacred (1937)Rubenstein (uncredited)
Date with an Angel
Date with an Angel (1987)Father O'Shea
City Girl
City Girl (1930)Man at Train Station (uncredited)
Teacher's Pet
Teacher's Pet (1958)Roy
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966)Whitlow
Tarzan's New York Adventure
Tarzan's New York Adventure (1942)Sargent's Lawyer Gould Beaton
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)Landlord (uncredited)
The Cat and the Canary
The Cat and the Canary (1939)Reporter
The Invisible Woman
The Invisible Woman (1940)Growley
Strange Invaders
Strange Invaders (1983)Prof. Hollister
The Sniper
The Sniper (1952)Loud Drunk at Club
I Wake Up Screaming
I Wake Up Screaming (1941)Keating- Florist
Moonrise
Moonrise (1948)Mr. Chandler
Murphy's Romance
Murphy's Romance (1985)Amos Abbott
The Big Store
The Big Store (1941)Finance Company Man (uncredited)
State of the Union
State of the Union (1948)Blink Moran
The Gnome-Mobile
The Gnome-Mobile (1967)Dr. Scoggins
Strange Behavior
Strange Behavior (1981)Donovan
The Boy with Green Hair
The Boy with Green Hair (1948)
Flying Tigers
Flying Tigers (1942)Repkin (uncredited)
Good Neighbor Sam
Good Neighbor Sam (1964)Jack Bailey
Blonde Crazy
Blonde Crazy (1931)Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
The Carpetbaggers
The Carpetbaggers (1964)Eugene Denby
City for Conquest
City for Conquest (1940)Al - Dance Team Manager (uncredited)
Golden Boy
Golden Boy (1939)Reporter Drake
Backfire
Backfire (1950)Dr. Nolan (uncredited)
Smart Money
Smart Money (1931)Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1995)Regent Yarborough
Pardon My Sarong
Pardon My Sarong (1942)Bus Company Superintendent (uncredited)
Ride 'Em Cowboy
Ride 'Em Cowboy (1941)Martin Manning (uncredited)
Edison, the Man
Edison, the Man (1940)Second Lecturer
Employees' Entrance
Employees' Entrance (1933)Shoe Salesman (uncredited)
Fifth Avenue Girl
Fifth Avenue Girl (1939)Union Representative (uncredited)
Private Detective 62
Private Detective 62 (1933)Process Server (Uncredited)
Primrose Path
Primrose Path (1940)Mr. Smith (uncredited)
Get to Know Your Rabbit
Get to Know Your Rabbit (1972)Mr. Beeman
The Milky Way
The Milky Way (1936)Willard
Broadway Bill
Broadway Bill (1934)Morgan's Henchman (uncredited)
The Wheeler Dealers
The Wheeler Dealers (1963)Judge (uncredited)
Movie Movie
Movie Movie (1978)Judge / Mr. Pennington
Mission to Moscow
Mission to Moscow (1943)Man in Kitchenin Montage (uncredited)
Johnny Apollo
Johnny Apollo (1940)Assistant D.A.
The Rage of Paris
The Rage of Paris (1938)Department Head (uncredited)
Race Street
Race Street (1948)Switchboard Operator Clerk (uncredited)
Ali Baba Goes to Town
Ali Baba Goes to Town (1937)Doctor
Mysterious Intruder
Mysterious Intruder (1946)Detective Burns
Bury Me Dead
Bury Me Dead (1947)Brighton
Internes Can't Take Money
Internes Can't Take Money (1937)Grote
Here Comes the Groom
Here Comes the Groom (1951)FBI Agent Ralph Burchard (uncredited)
Blondie Johnson
Blondie Johnson (1933)Cashier (uncredited)
Miracles for Sale
Miracles for Sale (1939)Fleetwood Apartments Desk Clerk
Papa's Delicate Condition
Papa's Delicate Condition (1963)Mr. Cosgrove
Union Depot
Union Depot (1932)Luggage Checkroom Clerk (uncredited)
My Dog, the Thief
My Dog, the Thief (1969)Mr. Pfeiffer
The Mating Game
The Mating Game (1959)Inspector General Bigelow
Let Us Live
Let Us Live (1939)Auto Show Salesman (uncredited)
Kentucky
Kentucky (1938)Auctioneer
Central Airport
Central Airport (1933)Amarillo Radio Operator (uncredited)
Back Street
Back Street (1941)Reporter for Associated News
Lady in a Jam
Lady in a Jam (1942)Government Man (uncredited)
The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock
The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock (1959)Standard Bates
The Juggler
The Juggler (1953)Rosenberg
Billie
Billie (1965)Coach Jones
The Road to Singapore
The Road to Singapore (1931)Desk Clerk at Club (uncredited)
The Great Man's Lady
The Great Man's Lady (1941)Pierce (uncredited)
Birth of the Blues
Birth of the Blues (1941)Wilbur - Bijou Theater Manager (uncredited)
The Bowery
The Bowery (1933)Doctor (uncredited)
The Mouthpiece
The Mouthpiece (1932)Hotel Desk Clerk (Uncredited)
I Can Get It for You Wholesale
I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1951)Herman Pulvermacher (uncredited)
Blondie
Blondie (1938)Furniture Salesman (uncredited)
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! (1965)Editor
The Lady Is Willing
The Lady Is Willing (1942)K.K. Miller
The Doctor Takes a Wife
The Doctor Takes a Wife (1940)Reporter (uncredited)
She Had to Say Yes
She Had to Say Yes (1933)Mr. Bernstein (uncredited)
But Not for Me
But Not for Me (1959)Al Atwood
They All Kissed the Bride
They All Kissed the Bride (1942)Spotter
My Woman
My Woman (1933)Conn
Roses Are Red
Roses Are Red (1947)Lipton
What's So Bad About Feeling Good?
What's So Bad About Feeling Good? (1968)Dr. Shapiro
Appointment for Love
Appointment for Love (1941)Smith (uncredited)
Apartment for Peggy
Apartment for Peggy (1948)Prof. Collins (uncredited)
It's a Date
It's a Date (1940)Mr. Horner (uncredited)
Blessed Event
Blessed Event (1932)Kane
They All Come Out
They All Come Out (1939)Psychiatrist
Riding High
Riding High (1950)Erickson
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949)Mr. Woodruff (uncredited)
Joy of Living
Joy of Living (1938)Fan in Margaret's Dressing Room (Uncredited)
Three Loves Has Nancy
Three Loves Has Nancy (1938)Cleaning Store Manager (uncredited)
Second Fiddle
Second Fiddle (1939)Studio Chief
Sunset Limousine
Sunset Limousine (1983)Reinhammer
Woman Wanted
Woman Wanted (1935)Defense Attorney Herman (uncredited)
A Close Call for Boston Blackie
A Close Call for Boston Blackie (1946)Hack Hagen (uncredited)
The Little Dragons
The Little Dragons (1980)J.J.
Rhythm on the River
Rhythm on the River (1940)Bernard Schwartz
The Affairs of Dobie Gillis
The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953)Prof. Obispo
Just Before Dawn
Just Before Dawn (1946)Dr. Steiner (uncredited)
Born Reckless
Born Reckless (1937)Barnes's lawyer
Lucky Night
Lucky Night (1939)Carpenter
Blondie Plays Cupid
Blondie Plays Cupid (1940)Train Conductor (uncredited)
The Texas Rangers Ride Again
The Texas Rangers Ride Again (1940)Train Passenger (uncredited)
Twenty Million Sweethearts
Twenty Million Sweethearts (1934)Reporter (uncredited)
Friendly Enemies
Friendly Enemies (1942)Braun
The Yellow Cab Man
The Yellow Cab Man (1950)L.A. Casualty Co. Executive (uncredited)
Acting on Impulse
Acting on Impulse (1993)Bellhop
The House Across the Street
The House Across the Street (1949)Apartment Manager (uncredited)
Rose of Washington Square
Rose of Washington Square (1939)Sam Kress
36 Hours to Kill
36 Hours to Kill (1936)Lawyer Rickert
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime (1941)Dr. Prouty (coroner)
Sealed Lips
Sealed Lips (1942)Attorney Emanuel 'Manny' T. Dixon
Professor Beware
Professor Beware (1938)Joe - Photographer
We Who Are Young
We Who Are Young (1940)Perkins
Smart Woman
Smart Woman (1948)Reporter
Looking for Trouble
Looking for Trouble (1934)Switchboard Operator
You're My Everything
You're My Everything (1949)Mr. Eddie Pflum
We're on the Jury
We're on the Jury (1937)Horace Smith
Grand Slam
Grand Slam (1933)Waiter at Nicolai Restaurant
Sea Devils
Sea Devils (1937)Judge (uncredited)
When the Bough Breaks
When the Bough Breaks (1986)Van der Graaf
The Second Face
The Second Face (1950)Mr. Westcott
Intrigue
Intrigue (1947)Hotel Desk Clerk
Criminal Lawyer
Criminal Lawyer (1937)Attorney (uncredited)
The New Interns
The New Interns (1964)Connors
Boy Slaves
Boy Slaves (1939)Albee
A Wicked Woman
A Wicked Woman (1934)Defense Attorney Beardsley (uncredited)
Danger – Love at Work
Danger – Love at Work (1937)Gilroy, an attorney
The Birds and the Bees
The Birds and the Bees (1956)Charlie Jenkins
Ginger
Ginger (1935)Judge (uncredited)
One Mile from Heaven
One Mile from Heaven (1937)Webb
Manhattan Parade
Manhattan Parade (1931)Desk clerk
Criminal Lawyer
Criminal Lawyer (1951)Frederick Waterman
Born to Sing
Born to Sing (1942)Johnny
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
Ellery Queen, Master Detective (1940)Dr. Prouty
One More Spring
One More Spring (1935)Representative
Queen of the Mob
Queen of the Mob (1940)Horace Grimley
You Can't Fool Your Wife
You Can't Fool Your Wife (1940)Salesman
The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies
The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies (1981)Chief
Dancing on a Dime
Dancing on a Dime (1940)Freeman Taylor
Looking for Love
Looking for Love (1964)Director
Three Girls About Town
Three Girls About Town (1941)Mortician
Living in a Big Way
Living in a Big Way (1947)Hawkins (uncredited)
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery (1941)Doc Prouty
Repent at Leisure
Repent at Leisure (1941)Clarence Morgan
About Face
About Face (1942)Rental Car Manager
Sunday Punch
Sunday Punch (1942)Ringside spectator at Ole's first fight (uncredited)
Remains to Be Seen
Remains to Be Seen (1953)Delapp
The Florentine Dagger
The Florentine Dagger (1935)Man in Front Row (archive footage)
Broadway Thru a Keyhole
Broadway Thru a Keyhole (1933)Columnist #2
Broadway
Broadway (1942)Hungry Harry
News Is Made at Night
News Is Made at Night (1939)District Attorney Rufe Reynolds
The Great Profile
The Great Profile (1940)Director
Barnacle Bill
Barnacle Bill (1941)Auctioneer
A Close Call for Ellery Queen
A Close Call for Ellery Queen (1942)Coroner
The Show-Off
The Show-Off (1934)Mr. Weitzenkorn
Hitched
Hitched (1973)Round Tree
Out of the Storm
Out of the Storm (1948)Mr. Evans
The Band Plays On
The Band Plays On (1934)Shyster Lawyer
Advice to the Lovelorn
Advice to the Lovelorn (1933)
Honeymoon in Bali
Honeymoon in Bali (1939)Photographer (uncredited)
Buy Me That Town
Buy Me That Town (1941)J. Montague Gainsborough
What's Cookin'?
What's Cookin'? (1942)K.D. Reynolds
Obliging Young Lady
Obliging Young Lady (1942)Private Detective Smith
Mr. Skitch
Mr. Skitch (1933)Hotel Clerk
You're the One
You're the One (1941)Announcer
The Crooked Road
The Crooked Road (1940)Phil Wesner, Defense Attorney
Lady Luck
Lady Luck (1936)Feinberg
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell (1936)Man in Front Row (archive footage)
Always in Trouble
Always in Trouble (1938)Donald Gower
Two for Tonight
Two for Tonight (1935)Writer
Sis Hopkins
Sis Hopkins (1941)Mayor's aide
New York Town
New York Town (1941)Census Taker (uncredited)
The Mad Martindales
The Mad Martindales (1942)Virgil Hickling
Charlie McCarthy, Detective
Charlie McCarthy, Detective (1939)Charlie's Doctor
The Adventures of Martin Eden
The Adventures of Martin Eden (1942)Mr. White
Television Spy
Television Spy (1939)Mr. Adler
Here Comes the Band
Here Comes the Band (1935)Mr. Scurry
A Gentleman at Heart
A Gentleman at Heart (1942)Holloway
Home in Wyomin'
Home in Wyomin' (1942)Newspaper Editor
God Is My Partner
God Is My Partner (1957)Judge Warner
Buck Benny Rides Again
Buck Benny Rides Again (1940)Charlie Graham
Beware Spooks!
Beware Spooks! (1939)Moore (uncredited)
The Gentleman from Nowhere
The Gentleman from Nowhere (1948)Fenmore
Bad Guy
Bad Guy (1937)Attorney
The Invisible Informer
The Invisible Informer (1946)Nick Steele
Hot Water
Hot Water (1937)Grayson (uncredited)
Big Business
Big Business (1937)Webster - Bank Representative
Let's Talk It Over
Let's Talk It Over (1934)Reporter
I'll Fix It
I'll Fix It (1934)Al Nathan
Cocoanut Grove
Cocoanut Grove (1938)Weaver
Trapped by G-Men
Trapped by G-Men (1937)Fingers
Inside Story
Inside Story (1939)District Attorney
The Great Man's Whiskers
The Great Man's Whiskers (1972)Philbrick
I Want My Man
I Want My Man (1925)French Doctor
The Leather Pushers
The Leather Pushers (1940)Henry 'Mitch' Mitchell
Easy to Take
Easy to Take (1936)Skip
Thru Different Eyes
Thru Different Eyes (1942)Mott
Two-Fisted Gentleman
Two-Fisted Gentleman (1936)Joe Gordon
Louisiana
Louisiana (1947)McCormack
On Their Own
On Their Own (1940)Johnson
Long Way Home
Long Way Home (1975)
Rendezvous in Space
Rendezvous in Space (1964)Interviewee
A Bewitched Christmas
A Bewitched Christmas (1994)Jesse Mortimer
The History of Hooterville
The History of Hooterville (2005)Self