He was a prolific character actor who appeared in films and television shows during a career that spanned more than seven decades; he specialized in playing easily irritated persons. He is best remembered by many as 'Lawrence Finch', drug store proprietor in the TV series "Dennis the Menace" (1960 to 1962) and as railroad executive 'Homer Bedloe' in the television comedy series "Petticoat Junction" (1963 to 1968). Born Charles Levison, he relocated to Southern California during the mid-1930s and began his acting career performing Shakespeare at the Pasadena Playhouse. This was followed by Broadway, film, and television. Some of his memorable movie roles include "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" (1936), "You Can't Take it With You" (1938), "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939), "The Cat and the Canary" (1939), "Arsenic and Old Lace" (1944), "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946), "The Juggler" (1953), "Teacher's Pet" (1958), "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (1963), "The Carpetbaggers" (1964), and "Murphy's Romance" (1985). Beginning in the 1950s, Lane accumulated such television credits as "I Love Lucy," "Dennis the Menace," "Perry Mason," "Richard Diamond, Private Detective," "The Twilight Zone," "The Andy Griffith Show," "The Beverly Hillbillies," "Get Smart," "The Odd Couple," "Soap," "Hunter," and "L.A. Law." He continued to act into the 1990s.