Charles Lane, RIP

[Free For All]

Charles Lane

You may not recognize him by name, but you've seen him on many TV shows and films.....he was the quintessential "crotchety old man" (with a heart of gold).

RIP

[Chuck Nessa]

Almost a nightly companion from the '50s through the '70s.

G,bye.

[JSngry]

Born to play J.C. Dithers, but apparently never did.

[Chuck Nessa]

Born to play J.C. Dithers, but apparently never did.

Gee, I'd have bet he did.

[DukeCity]

He must've been doing something right; he was 102!!!

R.I.P.

[Jim R]

Almost a nightly companion from the '50s through the '70s.

Yeah, and he kept on going way beyond that (after I'd stopped watching). After reviewing this list, it looks like there were about 9 tv shows he never appeared on.

RIP.

[Chuck Nessa]

He must've been doing something right; he was 102!!!

R.I.P.

He smoked for 70 years.

[JSngry]

Born to play J.C. Dithers, but apparently never did.

Gee, I'd have bet he did.

Yep. but apparently not.

Go figure.

[Jazzmoose]

I cannot believe this man was still alive!

[JSngry]

I cannot believe this man was still alive!

Well, yeah. How else could he have died?

[Randy Twizzle]

Well at least he outlived that bastard Boots Randolph.

[catesta]

Oh shit, you're right I didn't recognize the name, but did the face immediately.

What a career, and what a long live he had.

In 1990, Lane was rushed to the hospital after having difficulty breathing. A doctor asked if he was still smoking, and Lane replied that he had kicked the habit 45 minutes earlier.

In 2005, the TV Land Awards paid tribute to Lane by celebrating his 100th birthday. Seated in a wheelchair in the audience which had sung Happy Birthday to him, Lane was presented with his award and then announced "If you're interested, I'm still available [for work]!" The audience gave him a standing ovation.

As for being typecast, Lane described it as "... a pain in the ass. You did something that was pretty good, and the picture was pretty good. But that pedigreed you into that type of part, which I thought was stupid and unfair, too. It didn't give me a chance, but it made the casting easier for the studio".

R.I.P.

[BERIGAN]

Just happened to flip by a movie on TCM yesterday from 1933, Central Airport ,and there he was in the movie! One of many he didn't even receive a credit(at the time) for being in! Check out how very many films and TV shows he was in during his career! I was amazed to see him as a middle aged character in It's a Wonderful Life. Graying hair, and yet he lived 60 years after the film came out!!!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0485272/

[Hot Ptah]

He played the IRS agent in the Lionel Barrymore version of "You Can't Take It With You", and he only just died now!

[Free For All]

Another character actor you probably know well (and is still with us).....

William Schallert (b. 1922)

[Kalo]

Just happened to flip by a movie on TCM yesterday from 1933, Central Airport ,and there he was in the movie! One of many he didn't even receive a credit(at the time) for being in! Check out how very many films and TV shows he was in during his career! I was amazed to see him as a middle aged character in It's a Wonderful Life. Graying hair, and yet he lived 60 years after the film came out!!!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0485272/

He already looked late-middle-aged in 1934, when he played the Max Jacobs character in Twentieth Century. He was about 30 then.

An amazing career. Eight films, I believe, for Frank Capra, and at least a couple by Howard Hawks, as well as the many other films and recurring roles on television.

Edited July 13, 2007 by Kalo

[JSngry]

Bumping this back up to say that Charles Lane still rules. Talk about skills...