Baby Boomers and their parents might not know the name of Charles Lane, but his face is familiar to anyone who watched television in the 1950's, '60's and '70's, as well as to those who went to the movies long before those three decades.
He's probably most widely known as Homer Bedlow, the old curmudgeon that appeared on many episodes of Petticoat Junction. Actually, he's most known as playing any old curmudgeon, as he spent an entire career type-cast as the grumpy man of authority. And no one did this better than Charles Lane.
His movie roles were seldom large and he played the same type of character in most of his television appearances, but Charles Lane was so good at what he did it was impossible to not notice him. He appeared in such classics as Twentieth Century, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Arsenic and Old Lace and It's a Wonderful Life. On television he showed up in some of the most popular programs of the time like Topper, The Lucy Show, Get Smart and The Beverly Hillbillies, just to name a few.
After working for 8 decades in the business, Charles Lane died in 2007 at the age of 102. Most people will probably never know his name, but his face and characters will continue to be around for a long, long time..
He's probably most widely known as Homer Bedlow, the old curmudgeon that appeared on many episodes of Petticoat Junction. Actually, he's most known as playing any old curmudgeon, as he spent an entire career type-cast as the grumpy man of authority. And no one did this better than Charles Lane.
His movie roles were seldom large and he played the same type of character in most of his television appearances, but Charles Lane was so good at what he did it was impossible to not notice him. He appeared in such classics as Twentieth Century, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Arsenic and Old Lace and It's a Wonderful Life. On television he showed up in some of the most popular programs of the time like Topper, The Lucy Show, Get Smart and The Beverly Hillbillies, just to name a few.
After working for 8 decades in the business, Charles Lane died in 2007 at the age of 102. Most people will probably never know his name, but his face and characters will continue to be around for a long, long time..
