He was the man with a frown that never turned upside down. His name was Charles Lane. His crabby face was a staple to film and television for 77 years! Born in San Francisco in 1905 he was an American character actor who worked steadily except for a period of time when he worked as an insurance salesman until he started studying acting at the Pasadena Playhouse.
Charles Lane was a great friend of Lucille Ball and she cast him many times on her various productions. During the golden age of television if some one needed a crabby man or a nasty old geezer Charles Lane was your man. He also worked in movies. He had roles in "It's a Wonderful Life", "Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" and "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes".
His roles were always the ornery curmudgeons but in reality he was a fun loving and amusing man who was loved by the casts he worked with. He lived for many years in Brentwood, CA with his long time wife Ruth. His son Tom announced his death at the age of 107. He died in his bed taking his last breath in his bead room. "He closed his eyes and just died." his son said.
