Charles Lane
ActingAbout Charles Lane
Charles Lane (born Charles Gerstle Levison; January 26, 1905 – July 9, 2007) was an American character actor and centenarian whose career spanned 77 years. Lane gave his last performance at the age of 101 as a narrator in 2006. Lane appeared in many Frank Capra films, including You Can't Take It With You (1938), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and Riding High (1950). He was a favored supporting actor of Lucille Ball, who often used him as a no-nonsense authority figure and comedic foe of her scatterbrained TV character on her TV series I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour and The Lucy Show. His first film of more than 250 was as a hotel clerk in Smart Money (1931) starring Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Charles Lane reveals a career defined by exceptional commercial consistency. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Comedy
The majority of Charles Lane's filmography leans towards the Comedy genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 100% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Charles Lane remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in New York Town, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Charles Lane Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Charles Lane's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Charles Lane.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | The Aristocats | Lawyer (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | My Dog, the Thief | Mr. Pfeiffer | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | What's So Bad About Feeling Good? | Dr. Shapiro | Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | The Ugly Dachshund | Judge | Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | The Ghost & Mr. Chicken | Whitlow | Hit | Similar → |
| 1963 | It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World | Airport Manager | Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | The Music Man | Constable | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | Teacher's Pet | Roy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Birds and the Bees | Charlie Jenkins | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | The Sniper | Loud Drunk at Club | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Criminal Lawyer | Frederick Waterman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | The Second Face | Mr. Westcott | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Apartment for Peggy | Prof. Collins (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | State of the Union | Blink Moran | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Call Northside 777 | Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | It Happened on Fifth Avenue | Landlord (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | It's a Wonderful Life | Real Estate Salesman | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Arsenic and Old Lace | Reporter at Marriage License Office | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Home in Wyomin' | Newspaper Editor | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Ball of Fire | Larsen | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | New York Town | Census Taker (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | I Wake Up Screaming | Keating- Florist | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Barnacle Bill | Auctioneer | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Back Street | Reporter for Associated News | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Blondie Plays Cupid | Train Conductor (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | City for Conquest | Al - Dance Team Manager (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Rhythm on the River | Bernard Schwartz | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Edison, the Man | Second Lecturer | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Johnny Apollo | Assistant D.A. | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Primrose Path | Mr. Smith (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Cat and the Canary | Reporter | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Beware Spooks! | Moore (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Mr. Smith Goes to Washington | Nosey | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Fifth Avenue Girl | Union Representative (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Lucky Night | Carpenter | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Let Us Live | Auto Show Salesman (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Boy Slaves | Albee | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Blondie | Furniture Salesman (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | You Can't Take It with You | Henderson | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Danger – Love at Work | Gilroy, an attorney | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | One Mile from Heaven | Webb | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Mr. Deeds Goes to Town | Hallor (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | The Band Plays On | Shyster Lawyer | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Twentieth Century | Max Jacobs | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Advice to the Lovelorn | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Gold Diggers of 1933 | Society Reporter (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | 42nd Street | Playwright (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | Blonde Crazy | Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | Smart Money | Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1930 | City Girl | Man at Train Station (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
Charles Lane - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Charles Lane?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Charles Lane is "New York Town" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Charles Lane acted in?
Charles Lane has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Charles Lane?
Other notable films include "The Band Plays On", "It's a Wonderful Life", and "Apartment for Peggy".