Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

327

Gender

Male

Birthday

1905-01-26

Deathday

2007-07-09 (102 years old)

Place of Birth

San Francisco, California, USA

Also Known As

Charles Gerstle Levison
Charles L. Lane
Charlie Lane
Charles Levinson
Charles Levison

Charles Lane

Biography

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

7.3%

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Acting

2006

Legends as Roy (archive footage) (uncredited)

2005

The History of Hooterville as Self

2003

TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV

1995

The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes as Regent Yarborough

1993

Acting on Impulse as Bellhop

1990

Shannon's Deal

1986		When the Bough Breaks as Van der Graaf
1986		L.A. Law as Walter Graf

1985		Murphy's Romance as Amos Abbott
1985		The Comedy Factory as George McCloskey
1985		Otherworld as Velcrows Widley

1984

Hunter as Motel Owner

1983		Sunset Limousine as Reinhammer
1983		Strange Invaders as Prof. Hollister
1983		The Winds of War as Adm. William Standley

1982

St. Elsewhere

1981		Strange Behavior as Donovan
1981		The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies as Chief

1980

The Little Dragons as J.J.

1978		Movie Movie as Judge / Mr. Pennington
1978		Mork & Mindy

1977		Lou Grant
1977		Soap as Judge Petrillo
1977		Weekend Special

1976

Sybil as Dr. Quinoness

1975		One Day at a Time
1975		Long Way Home
1975		The Family Holvak
1975		Karen

1974		Chico and the Man
1974		Little House on the Prairie
1974		Rhoda

1973

Adam's Rib as Mayor

1972		The Sandy Duncan Show
1972		Maude
1972		Temperatures Rising as Fulton Briggs
1972		The Rookies
1972		Get to Know Your Rabbit as Mr. Beeman
1972		The Great Man's Whiskers as Philbrick

1971

Hitched as Round Tree

1970		The Aristocats as Lawyer (voice)
1970		The Odd Couple as Sid
1970		Nanny and the Professor

1969		My Dog, the Thief as Mr. Pfeiffer
1969		The Debbie Reynolds Show

1968		The Doris Day Show as Judge Carter
1968		What's So Bad About Feeling Good? as Dr. Shapiro

1967		Judd for the Defense
1967		The Flying Nun
1967		He & She as Mr. Simpson
1967		The Gnome-Mobile as Dr. Scoggins

1966		The Pruitts of Southampton as Maxwell
1966		Love on a Rooftop
1966		The Ugly Dachshund as Judge
1966		The Ghost & Mr. Chicken as Whitlow

1965		Billie as Coach Jones
1965		Get Smart as Uncle Abner
1965		The Wild Wild West as Roger Creed
1965		Honey West as Ash
1965		Green Acres as Mr. Wilson
1965		F Troop
1965		Please Don't Eat the Daisies as Man
1965		John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! as Editor

1964		Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
1964		The Munsters
1964		The Cara Williams Show
1964		The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964		Bewitched as Mr. Cushman
1964		Bewitched as Jessie Mortimer
1964		Bewitched as Mr. Roland
1964		Bewitched as Harold Jameson
1964		Bewitched as Ed Hotchkiss
1964		Bewitched as Mr. Harmon
1964		Bewitched as Shotwell
1964		Bewitched as George Meiklejohn
1964		The Bing Crosby Show
1964		Wendy and Me
1964		Rendezvous in Space as Interviewee
1964		Looking for Love as Director
1964		Good Neighbor Sam as Jack Bailey
1964		The New Interns as Connors
1964		The Carpetbaggers as Eugene Denby

1963		The Wheeler Dealers as Judge (uncredited)
1963		It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World as Airport Manager
1963		Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre as Charles Eckhardt
1963		Petticoat Junction as Homer Bedloe
1963		The Bill Dana Show
1963		Burke's Law as Dr. Lusk
1963		The Farmer's Daughter
1963		Papa's Delicate Condition as Mr. Cosgrove

1962		The Lucy Show as Mr. Barnsdahl
1962		Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1962		The Beverly Hillbillies as Foster Phinney
1962		The Beverly Hillbillies as Billy Hacker
1962		The Beverly Hillbillies as Homer Bedloe
1962		The Music Man as Constable

1961		The New Bob Cummings Show
1961		The Wonderful World of Disney
1961		Mister Ed

1960		Surfside 6
1960		The Andy Griffith Show as Mr. Frisby
1960		Guestward, Ho!
1960		Pete and Gladys
1960		The Tab Hunter Show
1960		The Comedy Spot

1959		The Untouchables as Alcatraz Official (uncredited)
1959		Dennis the Menace
1959		Dennis the Menace as Lawrence Finch
1959		The Twilight Zone as Mr. Peckinpaugh
1959		The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
1959		The DuPont Show with June Allyson as Dr. Shelley
1959		Fibber McGee & Molly as Salesman
1959		But Not for Me as Al Atwood
1959		The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock as Standard Bates
1959		The Mating Game as Inspector General Bigelow

1958		77 Sunset Strip
1958		Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958		The Ann Sothern Show
1958		Lawman
1958		The Donna Reed Show
1958		Teacher's Pet as Roy

1957		The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour as Claims Clerk (uncredited)
1957		The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour as Customs Officer (uncredited)
1957		The Real McCoys
1957		The Real McCoys as Mr. Leland
1957		The Restless Gun as Mayor Peter Mercer
1957		Maverick as Proprietor
1957		Perry Mason as Dr. Williams
1957		The Thin Man
1957		Bachelor Father
1957		Richard Diamond, Private Detective as Lt. Kevin Anders (uncredited)
1957		God Is My Partner as Judge Warner
1957		Whirlybirds

1956		The Gale Storm Show as Pierce
1956		On Trial
1956		The Birds and the Bees as Charlie Jenkins

1955		The People's Choice
1955		Screen Director's Playhouse
1955		Star Stage
1955		The Millionaire as Simon Whipple

1954		The Wonderful World of Disney as Mr. Pfeiffer
1954		Studio 57 as Henry
1954		Willy
1954		Dear Phoebe as Mr. Fosdick

1953		Topper as Mr. Kittler
1953		The Affairs of Dobie Gillis as Prof. Obispo
1953		Remains to Be Seen as Delapp
1953		The Juggler as Rosenberg

1952		The Sniper as Loud Drunk at Club
1952		Today as Self

1951		I Love Lucy as Mr. Stanley
1951		I Love Lucy as Casting Director
1951		I Love Lucy as Passport Office Clerk
1951		I Love Lucy as Mr. Hickox
1951		Here Comes the Groom as FBI Agent Ralph Burchard (uncredited)
1951		Criminal Lawyer as Frederick Waterman
1951		I Can Get It for You Wholesale as Herman Pulvermacher (uncredited)

1950		The Second Face as Mr. Westcott
1950		Lux Video Theatre as Walter Medford
1950		Riding High as Erickson
1950		The Yellow Cab Man as L.A. Casualty Co. Executive (uncredited)
1950		Backfire as Dr. Nolan (uncredited)

1949		Miss Grant Takes Richmond as Mr. Woodruff (uncredited)
1949		The House Across the Street as Apartment Manager (uncredited)
1949		Mighty Joe Young as Producer (uncredited)
1949		You're My Everything as Mr. Eddie Pflum

1948		Moonrise as Mr. Chandler
1948		Apartment for Peggy as Prof. Collins (uncredited)
1948		Race Street as Switchboard Operator Clerk (uncredited)
1948		Out of the Storm as Mr. Evans
1948		The Gentleman from Nowhere as Fenmore
1948		State of the Union as Blink Moran
1948		Smart Woman as Reporter
1948		Call Northside 777 as Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)

1947		Intrigue as Hotel Desk Clerk
1947		Louisiana as McCormack
1947		Roses Are Red as Lipton
1947		Bury Me Dead as Brighton
1947		Living in a Big Way as Hawkins (uncredited)
1947		It Happened on Fifth Avenue as Landlord (uncredited)

1946		It's a Wonderful Life as Real Estate Salesman
1946		The Invisible Informer as Nick Steele
1946		Mysterious Intruder as Detective Burns
1946		Just Before Dawn as Dr. Steiner (uncredited)
1946		A Close Call for Boston Blackie as Hack Hagen (uncredited)

1944

Arsenic and Old Lace as Reporter at Marriage License Office

1943

Mission to Moscow as Man in Kitchenin Montage (uncredited)

1942		Flying Tigers as Repkin (uncredited)
1942		Pardon My Sarong as Bus Company Superintendent (uncredited)
1942		Friendly Enemies as Braun
1942		Lady in a Jam as Government Man (uncredited)
1942		Thru Different Eyes as Mott
1942		They All Kissed the Bride as Spotter
1942		The Mad Martindales as Virgil Hickling
1942		Broadway as Hungry Harry
1942		Sunday Punch as Ringside spectator at Ole's first fight (uncredited)
1942		Broadway as Hungry Harry (uncredited)
1942		Tarzan's New York Adventure as Sargent's Lawyer Gould Beaton
1942		Home in Wyomin' as Newspaper Editor
1942		About Face as Rental Car Manager
1942		Obliging Young Lady as Private Detective Smith
1942		The Adventures of Martin Eden as Mr. White
1942		What's Cookin'? as K.D. Reynolds
1942		Born to Sing as Johnny
1942		Ride 'Em Cowboy as Martin Manning (uncredited)
1942		The Lady Is Willing as K.K. Miller
1942		A Close Call for Ellery Queen as Coroner
1942		A Gentleman at Heart as Holloway
1942		Sealed Lips as Attorney Emanuel 'Manny' T. Dixon

1941		Ball of Fire as Larsen
1941		Birth of the Blues as Wilbur - Bijou Theater Manager (uncredited)
1941		I Wake Up Screaming as Keating- Florist
1941		The Great Man's Lady as Pierce (uncredited)
1941		Appointment for Love as Smith (uncredited)
1941		New York Town as Census Taker (uncredited)
1941		Three Girls About Town as Mortician
1941		Buy Me That Town as J. Montague Gainsborough
1941		Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime as Dr. Prouty (coroner)
1941		The Big Store as Finance Company Man (uncredited)
1941		Sis Hopkins as Mayor's aide
1941		Barnacle Bill as Auctioneer
1941		Repent at Leisure as Clarence Morgan
1941		Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery as Doc Prouty
1941		Back Street as Reporter for Associated News

1940		The Invisible Woman as Growley
1940		The Texas Rangers Ride Again as Train Passenger (uncredited)
1940		Ellery Queen, Master Detective as Dr. Prouty
1940		Dancing on a Dime as Freeman Taylor
1940		Blondie Plays Cupid as Train Conductor (uncredited)
1940		City for Conquest as Al - Dance Team Manager (uncredited)
1940		The Leather Pushers as Henry 'Mitch' Mitchell
1940		The Great Profile as Director
1940		Rhythm on the River as Bernard Schwartz
1940		We Who Are Young as Perkins
1940		Queen of the Mob as Horace Grimley
1940		Buck Benny Rides Again as Charlie Graham
1940		You Can't Fool Your Wife as Salesman
1940		On Their Own as Johnson
1940		Edison, the Man as Second Lecturer
1940		The Crooked Road as Phil Wesner, Defense Attorney
1940		The Doctor Takes a Wife as Reporter (uncredited)
1940		Johnny Apollo as Assistant D.A.
1940		Primrose Path as Mr. Smith (uncredited)
1940		It's a Date as Mr. Horner (uncredited)

1939		Charlie McCarthy, Detective as Charlie's Doctor
1939		The Cat and the Canary as Reporter
1939		Beware Spooks! as Moore (uncredited)
1939		Television Spy as Mr. Adler
1939		Mr. Smith Goes to Washington as Nosey
1939		Honeymoon in Bali as Photographer (uncredited)
1939		Fifth Avenue Girl as Union Representative (uncredited)
1939		Golden Boy as Reporter Drake
1939		Miracles for Sale as Fleetwood Apartments Desk Clerk
1939		They All Come Out as Psychiatrist
1939		News Is Made at Night as District Attorney Rufe Reynolds
1939		Second Fiddle as Studio Chief
1939		Lucky Night as Carpenter
1939		Rose of Washington Square as Sam Kress
1939		Let Us Live as Auto Show Salesman (uncredited)
1939		Inside Story as District Attorney
1939		Boy Slaves as Albee

1938		Kentucky as Auctioneer
1938		Blondie as Furniture Salesman (uncredited)
1938		Always in Trouble as Donald Gower
1938		Three Loves Has Nancy as Cleaning Store Manager (uncredited)
1938		You Can't Take It with You as Henderson
1938		Professor Beware as Joe - Photographer
1938		The Rage of Paris as Department Head (uncredited)
1938		Cocoanut Grove as Weaver
1938		Joy of Living as Fan in Margaret's Dressing Room (Uncredited)

1937		Nothing Sacred as Rubenstein (uncredited)
1937		Ali Baba Goes to Town as Doctor
1937		Danger – Love at Work as Gilroy, an attorney
1937		Hot Water as Grayson (uncredited)
1937		Trapped by G-Men as Fingers
1937		Bad Guy as Attorney
1937		One Mile from Heaven as Webb
1937		Born Reckless as Barnes's lawyer
1937		Big Business as Webster - Bank Representative
1937		Venus Makes Trouble as District Attorney
1937		Internes Can't Take Money as Grote
1937		Sea Devils as Judge (uncredited)
1937		We're on the Jury as Horace Smith
1937		Criminal Lawyer as Attorney (uncredited)

1936		Easy to Take as Skip
1936		Lady Luck as Feinberg
1936		Two-Fisted Gentleman as Joe Gordon
1936		36 Hours to Kill as Lawyer Rickert
1936		Mr. Deeds Goes to Town as Hallor (uncredited)
1936		The Milky Way as Willard
1936		The Milky Way
1936		The Adventures of Frank Merriwell as Man in Front Row (archive footage)

1935		Two for Tonight as Writer
1935		Here Comes the Band as Mr. Scurry
1935		Woman Wanted as Defense Attorney Herman (uncredited)
1935		Ginger as Judge (uncredited)
1935		The Florentine Dagger as Man in Front Row (archive footage)
1935		One More Spring as Representative

1934		The Band Plays On as Shyster Lawyer
1934		A Wicked Woman as Defense Attorney Beardsley (uncredited)
1934		Broadway Bill as Morgan's Henchman (uncredited)
1934		I'll Fix It as Al Nathan
1934		Let's Talk It Over as Reporter
1934		Twenty Million Sweethearts as Reporter (uncredited)
1934		Twentieth Century as Max Jacobs
1934		Looking for Trouble as Switchboard Operator
1934		The Show-Off as Mr. Weitzenkorn

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

1932		Blessed Event as Kane
1932		The Mouthpiece as Hotel Desk Clerk (Uncredited)
1932		Union Depot as Luggage Checkroom Clerk (uncredited)

1931		Manhattan Parade as Desk clerk
1931		Blonde Crazy as Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
1931		The Road to Singapore as Desk Clerk at Club
1931		Smart Money as Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)

1930

City Girl as Man at Train Station (uncredited)