American character actor Charles Lane died on Monday in Los Angeles. He was aged 102. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living American actor.
He had appeared in many Frank Capra films, including Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Arsenic and Old Lace and It’s a Wonderful Life.
He started his career playing the role of a hotel desk clerk in Smart Money starring James Cagney and Edward G. Robinson. The character actor, with his bony physique, craggy face took up the roles of lawyers, judges, assorted lawmen, shoe salesman, waiter, reporter, process-server, henchman and other different types of roles. Lane appeared in more than 250 films and hundreds of television shows.
His wife, actress Ruth Covell died in 2002 aged 71. He is survived by two children, Thomas Lane of Santa Monica, California, and Alice Deane of Friday Harbor, Wash. and a granddaughter.
