Charles Lane, R.I.P.
Posted July 10th, 2007 by Rich Heldenfels
The smart, scene-stealing actor has died. Obit here, although "Petticoat Junction" fans know that his character's name was actually Homer Bedloe. Nice photo here.
Lane was one of those guys who would pop up in a movie, and I would nod happily, knowing that he was about to deliver the goods. He was especially fine at playing people who were cynical but not blind, capable of good even as they were aware of all the bad in the world.
Let's remember his moment in "It's a Wonderful Life." He tells Potter about the growth of Bailey Park, "and are the local yokels making with the David and Goliath wisecracks." The Baileys, Lane notes, were chumps, with each home worth twice what it cost the savings and loan to build. He tries to offer Potter advice. Potter brushes him off.
"No skin off my nose," Lane says. "But one of these days, this bright young man is going to be asking George Bailey for a job."
As I said, cynical — referring to chumps — but not blind. And sure, the lines make the point. But Lane knew how to deliver them.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Funny how I feel a sense of loss with Mr. Lane's passing. How many times thru the years have we seen him on shows like Bewitched, etc., and just took him for granted. The B-actors never really get their due in Hollywood, but are some of the most-recognized faces, even if we don't know their names til they die. Surely every TV watcher from the past century can recall Mr. Lane's stern voice, and see picture him in one role or another. He was like a lot like chameleon William Shallert, only less known (due to Wm's exposure on The Patty Duke Show). I'm sure many who took the time to look at the pictures and realize who Charles Lane was were shocked to realize he was still living at 102. He truly saw the Golden Age of Hollywood, and there may never be another character actor as versatile and prolific as he was.