Charles Lane Biography

Fast Facts

• Won a Special Award at the 2005 TV Land Awards on his 100th birthday
• Made his screen acting debut in the film "Smart Money" in 1931
• Worked as an insurance salesman before a friend convinced him to give acting a try
• Quote: "[on typecasting] "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․""
• Best known as a character actor who worked for more than 60 years, appearing in films like "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Arsenic and Old Lace․"
• Appeared in a number of films directed by Frank Capra, including "It's a Wonderful Life," "You Can't Take It With You" and "Mr․ Smith Goes to Washington," and the director once referred to him as "my No․ 1 crutch․"
• Befriended Lucille Ball while she was still a chorus girl for RKO, and as such was later invited to appear on "I Love Lucy" several times
• Prior to his death, he was one of the last survivors of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
• Said that his favorite role of his career was in 1938's "You Can't Take It With You," in which he played an income tax collector
• Since he appeared in small roles in so many films, he often forgot the titles of projects that he worked on, and even once paid to see a movie in theaters and was surprised to see himself on screen