Charles Lane (January 26, 1905 – July 9, 2007)

This man was amazing…he was absolutely amazing. As far as character actors go this man set the standards… He began in films in 1923 in The White Sister and would go on to appear in hundreds of films as the years went by. Some of his more notable film appearances include You Can’t Take it With You, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Farmer’s Daughter, Miss Grant Takes Richmond, It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, Strange Invaders and Murphy’s Romance. He had a recurring role as the coroner in the Ellery Queen films of the 1940’s… Television became his second home though and he appeared on just about every major and minor show you can name. Below is a brief list of his television credits it doesn’t even come close to being complete. “Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre” “I Love Lucy” “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” “The Thin Man” “Perry Mason” “The Real McCoys” “Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse” “Fibber McGee and Molly” “The Twilight Zone” “The Untouchables” “The DuPont Show with June Allyson” “Dennis the Menace” “The Lucy Show” “77 Sunset Strip” “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” “Make Room for Daddy” “The Andy Griffith Show” “The Bill Dana Show” “The Cara Williams Show” “The Donna Reed Show” “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies” “Honey West” “Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre” “Green Acres” “The Debbie Reynolds Show” “Maude” “Soap” “Lou Grant” “Little House on the Prairie” “St. Elsewhere” “L.A. Law” His final television role was on “Shannon’s Deal” in 1991 and his final film role was in The Night Before Christmas in 2006… To “Lucy” fans he is best remembered for being the strict disciplinarian that has no patients for her zany actions. He appeared on three of the redhead’s five television shows. He is also well known to fans of “Petticoat Junction” as Kate Bradley’s (Bea Benaderet) bitter rival Homer Bedloe… His career spanned more than eighty years and hundreds and hundreds of performances…he truly is a legend. On March 16, 2005, he was honored at the 3rd Annual TV Land Awards in recognition of his 100th birthday. He left us two years later… In Memoriam Remembers: Charles Lane

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