@urrutian ... ... He lived to be 102 didn't he? So he must have been in pretty good health to still have a house at 102 and not be in a nursing home. Thank you for being a loyal assistant all those years. He seemed like a really nice man.
Charles Lanes proves that the Secret of a Long Life is always looking Old even when you were Young. I swear he never aged. Possibly the Greatest Character Actor who ever lived. I Miss Him.
He was an amazing actor & had quite a career. I could listen to him for hours. Kudos to David Letterman for having the wisdom of having him on the program. Too bad it was a short interview but was delightful never the less. RIP Mr. Lane.
Thank you for posting this. I've long been fascinated with Charles Lane. Until now, I don't think I've ever seen a single interview with one of the most prolific film and TV actors of all time.
Indeed! Quite fascinating that his first talk show appearance was Letterman in 1982. And he carries himself so well with such dignity befitting his image.
Wow - this is a real treasure! I don't recall seeing Charles Lane in any other interviews. This guy was in everything. I think I first noticed him in some I Love Lucy re-runs when I was a kid. Then I would see him on tons of tv shows. I loved him as the judge on that hilarious show "Soap" I think he was in Murphys Romance with James Garner when he was getting up way up there in age. Then when Turner Classic movies came around- I woud see him as a much younger guy in so many films. When he turned 100 - they had some kind of tribute to him at some TV Land award show. When they asked him what he wanted to tell Hollywood- he said "I'm still available" (for work) 😀
Yeah, as a kid I too loved seeing. From what I have read, Charles and Lucy were great friends. Mr. Lane played the cantankerous role like nobody's business. His role play as Homer Bedloe on Petticoat Junction illustrates that role very well. CZcams has some examples, or did, of those episodes. Wonderfully talented actor.
That man Charles Lane was in nearly every old movie I watched....and such a talented actor, he past away at the ripe old age of 102 year old! 2007. Awesome!!!
I have always wondered why no one else would interview this most prolific of all all screen actors. It seemed that he was a presence in every decade since the advent of sound. My favorite was when he played the constable in the Music Man.
Wow! Letterman was fantastic in the 1980s. In the show's infancy, there were interesting guests with interesting stories, albeit not necessarily stars / household names. The success of the show brought more famous names who didn't necessarily have anything to say worth hearing. The fact that he points out his scenes were typically with the films' stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood, and had various anecdotes of these interactions takes this segment beyond mere talk show appearance plugging something forgetable, but an interview worthy of historic preservation in Hollywood film archives.
RIP CHARLES LANE YOU WERE ONE GREAT TALENTED CHARACTER ACTOR WHOEVER POSTED THIS VIDEO IT WAS A REAL REAL TREAT SEEING AN INTERVIEW WITH HIM THANK YOU.
Thank you so much for posting this. For some reason the Television Academy Foundation didn't do an oral history interview with him and I think we're all the poorer for it. I've never seen other interviews with him.
"Yes,he appeared in many film and TV shows,a lot of his early film roles were uncredited,but in everything he did he was great he did all genres Comedy,Western,Drama,Science Fiction,Horror,and many others,whether they be A films or B films,and as a guest star he did everything,the Andy Griffith show,the Beverly Hillbillies,Petticoat Junction,and many others to many to mention,but it was the supporting players like Mr. Lane and others that made Hollywood more enjoyable,loved this interview but the audience was a little bit rude though,thanks."-🤗.
According to IMDB, his first CREDITED role was in "My Woman" (1933) starring Helen Twelvetrees and Victor Jory. He played a character named Conn. But, he was credited as Charles Levinson, which was his real name. His father, an executive at the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, was instrumental in rebuilding San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake.
Oh, man..Charles Lane! Terrific character actor--he plays the reporter that Jimmy Stewart wants to beat the living s**t out of in 'Mr. Smith.' Howard Hawks also gave him a good-sized role in 'Ball of Fire' (1942.)
Charles Lane never disappointed me in anything he appeared in. And watching this clip I appreciate his modesty and honesty. I once sat through 'The Little Dragons' just to watch him play a 'nice guy' for once.
I SIMPLY LOVE CHARLES LANE ONE GREAT CHARACTER ACTOR ON SCORES OF TV SHOWS AND MOVIES I REMEMBER WATCHING HIM GROWING UP HE WAS GREAT A VERY VERY FUNNY FUNNY MAN.
Dave introduces Mr. Lane by saying "You won't recognize his name, ... but you will recognize his face." A few nights later, the Viewer Mail segment included a letter from a young woman protesting that SHE, in fact, had never seen Charles Lane before. Dave debunked this claim by showing a mocked-up newspaper story exposing the "fact" that the letter writer and Lane had long been ensconced in a secret love nest!
I feel like Charles Lane is family from seeing him all my life. By the way the audience broke up because of the 'for instance' film title Dave came up with "Were You In ' My Sister Suzy'. " a double entendre.
I loved him in The Disorderly Orderly with Jerry Lewis as the Corporate Boss of the Hospital, it said so much about the state of US healthcare even then.
0:40 Obviously, this was before we had IMDB.com. Research into many topics was either much more difficult or simply impossible - at least for the average person. At that time, one would have had to be a studio or media executive to commission such research.
I was just in the middle of watching "Mr. Deeds" and wondered, what is the name of that actor? Looked it up on Imdb, and that's what brought me here... isn't the internet a powerful tool for resolving life's most important questions, sometimes?
He came close. He was in a Christmas episode of Bewitched where he played a grumpy Scrooge-like business owner who didn’t believe in Santa Clause. Samantha took care of that and he was a sweet man at the end.
This has been driving me crazy but they got his picture of him playing wizzie on the movie posse I searched and searched but I was like this guy really played a black dude? But I hope they got him mixed lol
Mr Lane😍 I was his house keeper until the day He pass away. He was a wonderful person.
You were very lucky to work with such a wonderful person
@urrutian ...
... He lived to be 102 didn't he?
So he must have been in pretty good health to still have a house at 102 and not be in a nursing home.
Thank you for being a loyal assistant all those years. He seemed like a really nice man.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing 😊
Wow! How wonderful that must have been.
He had a long life, he passed at the age of 102 & was married for 70 years❤️🙏
Charles Lanes proves that the Secret of a Long Life is always looking Old even when you were Young. I swear he never aged. Possibly the Greatest Character Actor who ever lived. I Miss Him.
And to think that he would live another 25 years after this appearance! Remarkable man and career!
Just finished watching him on Bewitched, for the hundredth time as a character actor on a TV show over the years.
Rest In Peace Mr. Lane.
He was an amazing actor & had quite a career. I could listen to him for hours. Kudos to David Letterman for having the wisdom of having him on the program. Too bad it was a short interview but was delightful never the less. RIP Mr. Lane.
Thank you for posting this. I've long been fascinated with Charles Lane. Until now, I don't think I've ever seen a single interview with one of the most prolific film and TV actors of all time.
Indeed! Quite fascinating that his first talk show appearance was Letterman in 1982. And he carries himself so well with such dignity befitting his image.
in my opinion the best character actor ever amazing he got to live to be 102
Met him at a celebrity tennis tournament in '75, and he was quite charming. Not at all like the character he often plays. One of a kind.
Wow - this is a real treasure! I don't recall seeing Charles Lane in any other interviews. This guy was in everything. I think I first noticed him in some I Love Lucy re-runs when I was a kid. Then I would see him on tons of tv shows. I loved him as the judge on that hilarious show "Soap" I think he was in Murphys Romance with James Garner when he was getting up way up there in age. Then when Turner Classic movies came around- I woud see him as a much younger guy in so many films. When he turned 100 - they had some kind of tribute to him at some TV Land award show. When they asked him what he wanted to tell Hollywood- he said "I'm still available" (for work) 😀
Yeah, as a kid I too loved seeing. From what I have read, Charles and Lucy were great friends. Mr. Lane played the cantankerous role like nobody's business.
His role play as Homer Bedloe on Petticoat Junction illustrates that role very well. CZcams has some examples, or did, of those episodes. Wonderfully talented actor.
One of my favorite character actors of all time!
That man Charles Lane was in nearly every old movie I watched....and such a talented actor, he past away at the ripe old age of 102 year old! 2007. Awesome!!!
One of the few interviews that I wanted to hear more. It was nice to hear someone be so frank and positive and intelligent about his work.
pro tip: you can watch movies on Flixzone. Been using it for watching loads of movies these days.
@Gael Cullen Yea, been using Flixzone for years myself :)
Look how young his hands looked. He was one of my favorite character actors. I loved to hate him, but loved him.
I have always wondered why no one else would interview this most prolific of all all screen actors. It seemed that he was a presence in every decade since the advent of sound. My favorite was when he played the constable in the Music Man.
Beautifully done, Mr. Lane. We saw how brilliant an actor you were.
Charles Lane was a great character actor.
Not to sound like an echo but, I, too, always wished to see the 'real' Charles Lane. Thank-you, so much, Mr. Giller, for sharing this.
Wow! Letterman was fantastic in the 1980s. In the show's infancy, there were interesting guests with interesting stories, albeit not necessarily stars / household names. The success of the show brought more famous names who didn't necessarily have anything to say worth hearing. The fact that he points out his scenes were typically with the films' stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood, and had various anecdotes of these interactions takes this segment beyond mere talk show appearance plugging something forgetable, but an interview worthy of historic preservation in Hollywood film archives.
I didn't realize how many shows Mr. Lane had been on. I Love Lucy, Bewitched, so many in the 1960's and 70's. He was great. I love all of his work.
What a man! I've always loved him. I wish he was in more interviews besides only this one
RIP CHARLES LANE YOU WERE ONE GREAT TALENTED CHARACTER ACTOR WHOEVER POSTED THIS VIDEO IT WAS A REAL REAL TREAT SEEING AN INTERVIEW WITH HIM THANK YOU.
You're welcome!
I just saw him on Petticoat Junction. Charles Lane liked working with Bea Bernadette. She was a treasure. Loved her and her character Kate Bradley.
I also liked her as Betty Rubble!
He would live another 25 years and remained lucid until the end.
czcams.com/video/ua1weS_Aepw/video.html
He appeared in I Love Lucid. I mean I Love Lucy. He was the mean business manager.
Was last actor to have been a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild (1933).
So many stories he told , and could have told...
Thank you so much for posting this. For some reason the Television Academy Foundation didn't do an oral history interview with him and I think we're all the poorer for it. I've never seen other interviews with him.
"Yes,he appeared in many film and TV shows,a lot of his early film roles were uncredited,but in everything he did he was great he did all genres Comedy,Western,Drama,Science Fiction,Horror,and many others,whether they be A films or B films,and as a guest star he did everything,the Andy Griffith show,the Beverly Hillbillies,Petticoat Junction,and many others to many to mention,but it was the supporting players like Mr. Lane and others that made Hollywood more enjoyable,loved this interview but the audience was a little bit rude though,thanks."-🤗.
He lived another quarter century after this.
What a blessing to live to be 102!!!!! How few are afforded the privilege.
His mother lived also 100 years.
According to IMDB, his first CREDITED role was in "My Woman" (1933) starring Helen Twelvetrees and Victor Jory. He played a character named Conn. But, he was credited as Charles Levinson, which was his real name.
His father, an executive at the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, was instrumental in rebuilding San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake.
Such a wonderful character actor he always played crochety, tough guys but always thought he was a sweetie down deep inside...rip dear man..❤️❤️❤️
I will never forget him in I Love Lucy and The Munsters. :)
Oh, man..Charles Lane! Terrific character actor--he plays the reporter that Jimmy Stewart wants to beat the living s**t out of in 'Mr. Smith.' Howard Hawks also gave him a good-sized role in 'Ball of Fire' (1942.)
Weird, the movie Mr. Smith goes to Washington was aired on KQED TV in San Francisco this evening (November 9, 2019). Strange coincidence
homer bedlow was fantastic on petticoat junction. always the villan..
Cantankerously perfect.
The Homer Bedloe character was very relatable, as my dad had a boss that was just like Bedloe . . . police chief Gordon Davis, Stanford University!
He lived a full 25 years after this interview! Wow, what a life.
Enjoyed the interview, it's amazing he did live to be over a hundred.
Charles Lane never disappointed me in anything he appeared in. And watching this clip I appreciate his modesty and honesty. I once sat through 'The Little Dragons' just to watch him play a 'nice guy' for once.
And to think he lived another 25 years!
He was always the greatest at being a total grouch!!!!
He was in lots of 30s 40s and 50s movies. Always playing a grouch.
I SIMPLY LOVE CHARLES LANE ONE GREAT CHARACTER ACTOR ON SCORES OF TV SHOWS AND MOVIES I REMEMBER WATCHING HIM GROWING UP HE WAS GREAT A VERY VERY FUNNY FUNNY MAN.
He has a great role in The Invisible Woman and was the repo man who takes back Groucho's car in The Big Store.
He was a great actor RIP
I SIMPLY LOVE CHARLES LANE ONE GREAT FUNNY HILARIOUS CHARACTER ACTOR RIP CHARLES LANE.
A working actor is a happy actor. Mr. Lane was one of the greatest to ever do it.
It's amazing that he never did other interviews like this. He was a a living treasure.
Played (Maxwell Smart's uncle)..uncle Abner !..and his aunt Bertha..
"You better get out of the shoe sales business Max, before it kills you!'
Dave introduces Mr. Lane by saying "You won't recognize his name, ... but you will recognize his face." A few nights later, the Viewer Mail segment included a letter from a young woman protesting that SHE, in fact, had never seen Charles Lane before. Dave debunked this claim by showing a mocked-up newspaper story exposing the "fact" that the letter writer and Lane had long been ensconced in a secret love nest!
I feel like Charles Lane is family from seeing him all my life. By the way the audience broke up because of the 'for instance' film title Dave came up with "Were You In ' My Sister Suzy'. " a double entendre.
"weren't you in "My Sister Suzy?" lol, I'm pretty sure at that point of Daves career, that was totally unintentional.
He appeared on Little House on the prairie for the episode called Welcome to Olesonville. Hilarious!
The man was sharp as a tack
A great character actor indeed!
I loved him in The Disorderly Orderly with Jerry Lewis as the Corporate Boss of the Hospital, it said so much about the state of US healthcare even then.
Great movie indeed but that wasn’t Charles Lane that was Everett Sloane that played the cranky boss in that one
You could never escape Charles Lane
bewitched brought me here
Loved him on that show. One of my favorite Bewitched epis!
Definitely an unforgettable character actor. They don’t make them like that anymore!!
Surprised he didn't bring up his time on I love Lucy, or The Ghost and Mr Chicken with Don Knotts.
Look at those cheesy 80's chairs! Mr. Lane was an incredibly talented actor. He acted in so many things.
0:40 Obviously, this was before we had IMDB.com. Research into many topics was either much more difficult or simply impossible - at least for the average person. At that time, one would have had to be a studio or media executive to commission such research.
379 acting credits-not bad!
Certainly, one of a kind!
wow !!!
I was gonna say that!
John's Wacky World News k
Mr Lane!!
I was just in the middle of watching "Mr. Deeds" and wondered, what is the name of that actor? Looked it up on Imdb, and that's what brought me here... isn't the internet a powerful tool for resolving life's most important questions, sometimes?
His last role in a movie was (of all things) a priest in Date With An Angel.
I LIKE him!!! Glad I watched this. Now, didn't he also play Mr. Dithers in the 1940's "Blondie" series?
There are so many roles he would have been well suited for.One would have been Ed Brown in Chico & the Man.
I looked up Mr. Lane after seeing him in "The Beverly Hillbillies" where he played the hilarious role as a bank president.
Carolyn Argabright Not Mr Drysdale, though
I lover him in the Beverly Hillbillies where he and Mr. Drysdale were acting out the old west shoot-out sceen for the Clampett's benefit.
I always wondered why he never played Scrooge on "A Christmas Carol"
He would have been awesome
He came close. He was in a Christmas episode of Bewitched where he played a grumpy Scrooge-like business owner who didn’t believe in Santa Clause. Samantha took care of that and he was a sweet man at the end.
I fells like he was in every show in the early days of tv.
He was good at playing the tight wad and skin flint type of character such as Homer Bedlow on Petticoat Junction and Beverly hillbillies
Homer Bedloe!
This has been driving me crazy but they got his picture of him playing wizzie on the movie posse I searched and searched but I was like this guy really played a black dude? But I hope they got him mixed lol
OMG look at his collar. I'm glad those aren't popular anymore!