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Charles LaneAmerican actor
Date of Birth: 26.01.1905
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Charles Lane
Charles Gerstle Levison, better known by his stage name Charles Lane, was an American actor known for his roles in a number of films and television shows. He was born on January 26, 1905, in San Francisco, California, to Alice and Jacob Levison. In 1906, he survived the legendary San Francisco earthquake and was one of the last living participants of the tragic events of that time at the time of his death.
Early Career
Lane first began his acting career in 1929 and four years later became one of the co-founders of the Screen Actors Guild. He formed a close creative partnership with director Frank Capra and frequently collaborated with him on films such as "You Can't Take It With You," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," "Arsenic and Old Lace," and "It's a Wonderful Life." He often played supporting roles in Lucille Ball's works, portraying a strict law enforcement officer and the comedic foil to her lighthearted characters in series like "I Love Lucy," "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour," and "The Lucy Show."
Later Career
Lane sold insurance for a period of time before trying his hand at acting in the Pasadena Playhouse theater. He continued to work in both films and television throughout his career. In 1949, Lane portrayed a journalist in the film "Mighty Joe Young" and regularly played the role of Mr. Fosdick in the comedy series "Dear Phoebe" which aired on NBC in 1954 and 1955. In the late 1950s, he appeared in two episodes of the romantic comedy series "How to Marry a Millionaire" alongside Barbara Eden and Merry Anders. However, his most famous role during this time was J. Homer Bedloe in the situational comedy "Petticoat Junction," where he played a gruff railroad administrator attempting to find reasons to close the local railway station.
Later Years and Legacy
During the 1960s, Lane starred in several television programs, including the dramas "American Civil War" and "Gray Ghost," as well as the short-lived comedy series "The Bing Crosby Show" on ABC. Despite typically portraying dry and rigid characters in films, Lane was known for his kind and gentle nature off-screen. In 1990, at the age of 85, Lane was admitted to the hospital due to breathing problems. When asked by a doctor if he smoked, Lane replied that he had quit smoking forty-five minutes ago and he never smoked again.
Charles Lane passed away peacefully in his own bed at his home in Brentwood. At the time of his death, he was 102 years old, having lived a long and fulfilling life. Longevity seemed to run in the Levison family, as Lane's mother lived to be 100 years old before her passing in 1973.
