Richard Lane
Actor
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Richard Lane (May 28, 1899 – September 5, 1982) was an American television announcer and actor who made his mark broadcasting wrestling and roller derby shows on KTLA-TV, mainly from the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Lane was born in 1899 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin to a farm family. Early in life he developed talents for reciting poetry and doing various song-and-dance acts.
By his teenage years, he was doing an "iron jaw" routine in circuses around Europe and worked as a drummer touring with a band in Australia. After the decline of vaudeville, Lane obtained extensive work in motion pictures and was best known at the time for playing Inspector John or William Faraday or Farraday (depending on the film) in all fourteen Boston Blackie Columbia Pictures features starring Chester Morris, starting with Meet Boston Blackie in 1941. During World War II, he appeared as emcee with USO troops entertaining G.I.s. His unit appeared at Fort MacArthur in September 1944. Lane also announced for the Jalopy Derby and Destruction Derby at Ascot Park, Gardena California.
Lane also played Faraday in the first radio version of Boston Blackie, which ran on NBC from June 23, 1944 to September 15, 1944.
Filmography
The Shaggy D.A.
as Roller Rink Announcer 1976
Union Pacific
as Sam Reed 1939
Air Force
as Maj. W.G. Roberts 1943
Boom Town
as Assistant D.A. 1940
Arabian Nights
as Corporal 1942
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
as Michael Gihuly 1949
Wonder Man
as Assistant District Attorney 1945
Brother Orchid
as Mugsy O'Day 1940
A-Haunting We Will Go
as Phillips 1942
Quicksand
as Lt. Nelson 1950
Thank Your Lucky Stars
as Barney Johnson (uncredited) 1943
The Bullfighters
as 'Hot Shot' Coleman 1945
Two O'Clock Courage
as Al Haley 1945
Ride 'Em Cowboy
as Pete Conway (uncredited) 1941
Here Come the Co-Eds
as Near-Sighted Man at Ballroom 1945
Gung Ho!
as Capt. Dunphy 1943