Biography
Lane Chandler (1899–1972) was an American actor who appeared in more than 300 films and numerous television series, often in Westerns and in uncredited bit parts.
Born Robert Clinton Oakes, he moved to Los Angeles in the early 1920s and began working as an auto mechanic before securing roles in Paramount Westerns from 1925. Studio executives suggested the name Lane Chandler, under which he played leading roles in several silent films, including The Legion of the Condemned (1928). With the arrival of sound he transitioned to supporting parts as a sheriff, army officer or the leading man's partner.
Chandler appeared in Laura (1944) as a detective (uncredited) and in other notable films such as It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Red River (1948) and Samson and Delilah (1949). He continued working in films and on television Westerns including The Lone Ranger, Maverick, Cheyenne and Gunsmoke until the late 1960s.
