Charles Lane was an American character actor, whose career spanned a remarkable 76 years; starting in 1931 and ending over 250 films later in 2006, a year prior to his death at the age of 102 with more than 250 films credits. His Disney roles included Regent Yarborough in the 1995 remake of The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Georges Hautecourt in The Aristocats, Mr. Pfeiffer in The Wonderful World of Disney episode "My Dog, the Thief", the Judge in The Ugly Dachshund, and Dr. Scoggins in The Gnome-Mobile.
Born and raised in California, Lane spent a short time as an insurance salesman before taking to the stage at the Pasadena Playhouse. Actor/director Irving Pichel first suggested that Lane go into acting in 1929, and four years later was a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild.
He frequently collaborated with director Frank Capra for films, such as Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, You Can't Take It with You, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Arsenic and Old Lace, It's a Wonderful Life, and Riding High. Other known appearances included Mighty Joe Young (1949), The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, Gold Diggers of 1933, Ali Baba Goes to Town, Kentucky, Johnny Apollo, The Invisible Woman, Flying Tigers, The Farmer's Daughter, It Happened on 5th Avenue, The Du Pont Story, The Birds and the Bees, The Music Man, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, The Carpetbaggers, Sybil, and Strange Invaders.
His television credits included recurring guest spots on shows, such as I Love Lucy, Dear Phoebe, Willy, The Real McCoys, Dennis the Menace, Guestward, Ho!, Pete and Gladys, Mister Ed, Petticoat Junction, The Beverly Hillbillies, Bewitched, The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Get Smart, The Donna Reed Show, The Munsters, Nanny and the Professor, The Odd Couple, Soap, and Little House on the Prarie.
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