Posted on 07/10/2007 2:26:11 PM PDT by Deo volente
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Charles Lane, the prolific character actor whose name was little known, but whose bespectacled face and crotchety persona made him instantly recognizable to generations of movie-goers, has died, his son said Tuesday. He was 102.
The actor's son, Tom Lane, said he was talking with his father Monday evening. "He was lying in bed with his eyes real wide open," the younger Lane said. "Then he closed his eyes and stopped breathing."
Lane, whose career spanned more than 60 years, appeared in such film classics as "It's a Wonderful Life," "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" and "Twentieth Century."
He also had a recurring role as the scheming railroad man, Homer Beadle, on the 1960s TV sitcom "Petticoat Junction" and appeared often on television's "I Love Lucy."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Turned the odometer over with a deuce.
RIP
guilty of not remembering his name, but knew his face the instance I saw it.
He lived to a wonderful old age.
Prayers to the family for their loss.
As of 2006, he is one of the few remaining survivors of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
He must have been a hoot.
Was honored on March 16, 2005, at the TVLand Awards for his long career and his 100th birthday. When he received his award, he said in his still-booming voice, "In case anyone's interested, I'm still available!"
Didn’t he play a part on Dennis the Menace too? Maybe I am thinking of someone else. Was good in parts like a store manager ... things like that. One of those names you NEVER remember but a face you NEVER forget. Glad his son was with him right up to the end. Rest in peace.
Didn’t he play a part on Dennis the Menace too? Maybe I am thinking of someone else. Was good in parts like a store manager ... things like that. One of those names you NEVER remember but a face you NEVER forget. Glad his son was with him right up to the end. Rest in peace.
Wow -— another who didn’t know the name, but knew the face. That is quite a life and to outlive Jimmy Stewart.... Wow.
It just occurs to me after all these years—was that a pun?
A mind is a terrible thing.
Goodness — he smoked a pack a day for 70 years! God was looking out for him.
May we all be blessed enough and...healthy enough to enjoy a cake one day with ALL THOSE CANDLES!!! :) Rest in Peace!
“Dozens of the prettiest little homes you ever saw, 90% of them owned by suckers who used to pay rent to you.”
Wow! One of the most impressive character actors I’ve ever seen - what a list of accomplishments. Like others have mentioned, I didn’t recognize the name, but instantly recognized him as being in just about everything. RIP Charles Lane.
That was a great scene in a movie with many great scenes! RIP to a great actor and a good man.
I think the only people left from that film now are the Bailey children.
The best actors are the ones who make you remember the characters they played more than their real names.
God bless and comfort his family.
His wife Ruth, to whom he was married for over 70 years, was a Professor of Theater, Film, and Television at UCLA.
She passed away in 2002.
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/senate/inmemoriam/ruthlane.htm
On Dennis the Menace, he was Mr. Finch, the Drugstore owner.
Ahh, thanks. I THOUGHT I remembered him in that show. Good actor and good man. Something we lack a lot of today.
Ping to the thread posted by you on the occasion of Charles Lane’s 100th Birthday in 2005. He passed away yesterday.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1328531/posts
He worked for Potter
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