Charles Lane: A Television Legend

Charles Lane: A Television Legend
You Know His Face Just Not His Name

In the history of the four television series that Lucille Ball starred in, Charles Lane was the only regularly appearing actor to be fired. By this time in his career he had already appeared in over a hundred movies and dozens of television series, including numerous appearances on I Love Lucy. It was 1962 when he was let go from The Lucy Show. Lane was in his late ’50s and Lucille Ball could no longer deal with the delays caused by his problems memorizing lines. It was not easy for her. They had been working together since the movie You Can’t Fool Your Wife in 1940. Lane would hold Lucille in great esteem the rest of his life.

Born Charles Gerstle Levison in San Francisco, in January of 1905, Lane started his film and TV career with movie Smart Money in 1931. Starting in the 1950s he focused mainly on television but still appeared in the occasional film project.

Lane appeared in some of the most important films and television series of all time, including: 42nd Street, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Arsenic and Old Lace, It’s a Wonderful Life, Mighty Joe Young, I Can Get It For You Wholesale, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, The Music Man, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, The Wild, Wild West, Green Acres, I Love Lucy, Perry Mason, The Real McCoys, The Twilight Zone, Mr. Ed, Dennis the Menace, The Lucy Show, Get Smart, Petticoat Junction, Mork & Mindy, Lou Grant, Soap, St. Elsewhere, and many more.

His career spanned more than 70 years and he was held with great regard. He even appeared in 10 films directed by the great Frank Capra. Sadly, he was one of the many actors who were typecast. He almost always appeared as a cranky son of a bitch whose only joy in life was to cause people pain. In an interview with the Associated Press he was quoted as saying “You did something that was pretty good, and the picture was pretty good. That pedigreed you in that type of part, which I thought was stupid, and unfair, too. It didn't give me a chance, but it made casting easier for the studio.”

When it comes to the entertainment industry, Charles Lane was an important figure in the history of the business. He was not only a founding member of The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, he was a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild. Even with all his history he was not recognized for his contributions until shortly before his death.

Most people did not even know he was still alive when the cable network TVLand honored him on his 100th birthday on March 25, 2005. He rightfully received a standing ovation. That same year the Academy presented him with an honorary Emmy for being the oldest surviving founding member and oldest member in the Academy’s history. The Screen Actors Guild even named January 30, 2005 Charles Lane Day.

When he was honored by TVLand Lane said in as loud of a voice as his fail body could muster “I’m still available!” And he was. In 2006 he did narration for a short film, The Night Before Christmas, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. His last project was a documentary on his life, You Know The Face, which is currently in post-production and will be released in 2008.

Charles Lane had one of the longest careers in the history of the entertainment industry. He passed away silently in his sleep on July 9, 2007, at the ripe age of 102. He will always be remembered as one of the most prodigious character actors in film and television history.

2005 TVLand Awards: