Charles Lane

Birth Name:

Charles Gerstle Levison

Birth Place:

San Francisco, California, United States

Profession

Actor, Soundtrack

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․"
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
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

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