I’ve been a fan of actor Charles Lane (Born Charles Gerstle Levison) for as long as I can remember, which must coincide with my first viewing television. Mr. Lane has been the part of innumerous casts of actors in as many television programs, movies and plays. Born in 1905, he began acting in the early 1930s and continued on acting throughout his life.

Most might recall his roll in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, ‘Meet John Doe’ or his appearances in Lucille Ball’s programs and the Beverly Hillbillies. Click here for quite a list of his accomplishments.

I don’t know when I actually first saw him, but as time strolled along, he became a very familiar face. It became fun to be watching some televized flick and spot Mr. Lane. A kind of on-going ‘Where’s Waldo? I specifically remember watching ‘Murphy’s Romance’ with Sally Field and James Garner back in 1985 in a theatre. Suddenly there he was again, as always acting older than his actual years, Mr. Charles Lane.

The photo is, of course, of Mr. Lane. The scrawl is his autograph. I received it just a couple weeks ago after he signed it and placed it in the mail. Mr. Lane is still very much alive and living in California at the healthy age of 102. His birthday was this past January 26th.

I had for the last few years been hoping to send a birthday card when I learned he was still alive and of his mailing address. Apparently there are quite a few fans that send birthday cards and receive an autograph of Mr. Lane when requested. This year I finally painted a card for him and mailed it. I received the autograph shown a couple weeks ago. My goal with this blog is to always have art attached to each of these postings of some sort and I hope Mr. Lane’s autograph will do.

Next year I hope to be able to create another card for Mr. Lane and for many years to come.