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Richard Lane

Richard Lane

Actor · Died September 5, 1982, aged 83 · Rice Lake, Wisconsin, USA

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.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 27, 1899
Died
September 5, 1982 (aged 83)
From
Rice Lake, Wisconsin, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
43 on MovieCove · 150 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 38% in 30 days

What are Richard Lane's films like?

Across their 27 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
30%
Bonds
25%
Self
19%
Society
12%
Power
9%
Survival
4%
Ideas
1%
Romantic love10 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 27 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 22 · Serious 3 · Dark 2

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 12 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 13 · Charged 10 · Intense 4

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 13 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 9

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 6

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 18 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

9 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 3 of 9 analyzed roles.

Shadow
3 of 9
Threshold guardian
3 of 9
Trickster
2 of 9
Herald
1 of 9
Show the 9 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
13
Joyful
11
Tense
10
Romantic
8
Absurd
8
Other
14

How their films linger

Feel-good21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy23
  • Bittersweet3
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Richard Lane's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 43 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Richard Lane's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

150 credits, 43 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Shaggy D.A.(1976)

    as Roller Rink Announcer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Kansas City Bomber(1972)

    as Len

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • I Can Get It for You Wholesale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Kelley

  • The Admiral Was a Lady(1950)

    as Marty Gruber

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Jackie Robinson Story(1950)

    as Hopper

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Everybody's Dancin' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Colonel Ed Harrison

  • Quicksand(1950)

    as Lt. Nelson

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • There's a Girl in My Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Sergeant Mullin

  • The Big Wheel(1949)

    as Reno Riley

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Flung by a Fling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Sgt. Dick Lane

  • Take Me Out to the Ball Game(1949)

    as Michael Gihuly

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Inspector William R. Farraday

  • Miss Mink of 1949(1949)

    as Herbert Pendelton

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • He's in Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Dick

  • The Babe Ruth Story(1948)

    as Boston Braves' coach

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Creeper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Insp. Fenwick

  • Pardon My Lamb Chop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Dick, Shell-shocked Veteran

  • Trapped by Boston Blackie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Insp. William R. Farraday

  • The Return of the Whistler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Gaylord Traynor

  • Tenth Avenue Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Street Vendor

  • Two Nuts in a Rut (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Richard Lane, producer

  • Devil Ship (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Capt. Biff Brown

  • Wedding Belle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Dick Lane

  • Training for Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Richard Lane

  • Out of the Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Detective Noonan

  • Song of Scheherazade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Lieutenant

  • Boston Blackie and the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Inspector Farraday

  • Sioux City Sue(1946)

    as Jefferson Lang

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Gentleman Joe Palooka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Phillips

  • Pardon My Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Dick

  • Hot Water (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Dick

  • Monkey Businessmen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Mr. Jordan (voice) (uncredited)

  • Ain't Love Cuckoo? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Dick Lane

  • The Phantom Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Inspector John Farraday

  • Talk About a Lady(1946)

    as Duke Randall

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • A Close Call for Boston Blackie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Inspector Farraday

  • Girl on the Spot(1946)

    as Weepy McGurk

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • High Blood Pleasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Dick

  • Boston Blackie's Rendezvous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Inspector Farraday

  • Wonder Man(1945)

    as Assistant District Attorney

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Insp. John Farraday

  • The Bullfighters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as 'Hot Shot' Coleman

  • Two O'Clock Courage(1945)

    as Al Haley

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • What a Blonde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Pomeroy

  • Here Come the Co-eds(1945)

    as Near-Sighted Man at Ballroom

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Brazil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Edward Graham

  • Bowery to Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Walter Rogers

  • One Mysterious Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Inspector Farraday

  • A Wave, a WAC and a Marine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Marty Allen

  • Mr. Winkle Goes to War(1944)

    as Sgt. 'Alphabet' Czeidrowski

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Louisiana Hayride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as J. Huntington McMasters

  • Take It Big (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Eddie Hampton

  • Bermuda Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Detective Sergeant Donovan

  • Slightly Terrific (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Mike Hamilyon

  • 'Gung Ho!': The Story of Carlson's Makin Island Raiders(1943)

    as Capt. Dunphy

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • The Chance of a Lifetime(1943)

    as Insp. John Farraday

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Crazy House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as S. E. Hanley

  • Corvette K-225(1943)

    as Vice Admiral

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Thank Your Lucky Stars(1943)

    as Barney Johnson (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Fired Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Orin Tracy

  • Don't Be a Sucker! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Soapbox Orator

  • Swing Your Partner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Mr. Lane

  • Air Force(1943)

    as Maj. W.G. Roberts

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • After Midnight with Boston Blackie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Inspector Farraday

  • It Ain't Hay(1943)

    as Slicker

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Arabian Nights(1942)

    as Corporal

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Time to Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Lt. Breeze

  • Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Inspector Farraday

  • Dead End Kids Go To War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Don Ames

  • A-Haunting We Will Go(1942)

    as Phillips

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Drums of the Congo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Coutlass

  • Dr. Broadway(1942)

    as Patrick Doyle

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Alias Boston Blackie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Inspector Farraday

  • To the Shores of Tripoli(1942)

    as Lieutenant

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Butch Minds the Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Harry the Horse

  • Hellzapoppin'(1941)

    as Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Confessions of Boston Blackie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Inspector John Farraday

  • Ride 'Em Cowboy(1942)

    as Pete Conway (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Riders of the Purple Sage(1941)

    as Steve Oldring

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Navy Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as 'Rocky' Anderson

  • San Antonio Rose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Charles J. Willoughby

  • For Beauty's Sake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Mr. Jackman

  • Time Out for Rhythm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Mike Armstrong

  • The Cowboy and the Blonde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Gilbert

  • I Wanted Wings(1941)

    as Flight Commander

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob(1941)

    as Recruiting Officer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Penalty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Craig

  • Meet Boston Blackie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Inspector Faraday

  • Ride, Kelly, Ride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Dan Thomas

  • Respect the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as George Johnson

  • Youth Will Be Served (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mr. Hewitt

  • Yesterday's Heroes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Cleats Slater

  • The Bride Wore Crutches (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Bill Daly

  • Hired Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as McNab

  • Boom Town(1940)

    as Assistant D.A.

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Brother Orchid(1940)

    as Mugsy O'Day

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Biscuit Eater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Harvey McNeil

  • Sandy Is a Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Philip Jarvis

  • Two Girls on Broadway(1940)

    as Buddy Bartell

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Free, Blonde and 21 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Lieutenant Lake

  • City of Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Marty Connors

  • Nick Carter, Master Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Sam Vaughn

  • The Amazing Mr. Williams(1939)

    as Reagan (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Main Street Lawyer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Ballou, Marco's Lawyer

  • Drunk Driving (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Rick

  • Sued for Libel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Smiley Dugan

  • Hero for a Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Abbott

  • The Escape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as David Clifford

  • The Day the Bookies Wept(1939)

    as Ramsey Firpo

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Mutiny on the Blackhawk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Kit Carson

  • News Is Made at Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Barney Basely

  • Stronger Than Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Jerry Brody

  • Unexpected Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Leo Murphy - Booking Agent

  • It Could Happen to You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as District Attorney

  • Union Pacific(1939)

    as Sam Reed

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • For Love or Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Foster

  • Mr. Moto in Danger Island(1939)

    as Police Commissioner Gordon

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Charlie Chan in Honolulu(1938)

    as Joe Arnold

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Last Warning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Richard Lane

  • His Exciting Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Homer Carslake

  • Exposed(1938)

    as Tony Mitchell

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Mr. Doodle Kicks Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Assistant Coach Jones

  • I'm from the City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Captain Oliver 'Ollie' Fitch

  • The Jitters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Dance Studio Manager

  • The Saint in New York(1938)

    as Dispatcher (Uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Blind Alibi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Bowers

  • Joy of Living (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Harvey (Uncredited)

  • Go Chase Yourself (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Nails

  • This Marriage Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Joe Selby

  • Radio City Revels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Crane

  • Ears of Experience (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as The Boss

  • Everybody's Doing It(1938)

    as Steve Devers

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Dummy Owner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Actor

  • Crashing Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Hugo Wells

  • Wise Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Detective

  • Danger Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Bill

  • Many Unhappy Returns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Doctor

  • Saturday's Heroes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Red Watson

  • Should Wives Work? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Actor

  • The Life of the Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Hotel Manager

  • Flight from Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Mr. Hanson

  • Super-Sleuth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Barker

  • New Faces of 1937 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Broker

  • There Goes My Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Tim J. Whelan

  • You Can't Buy Luck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Det. McGrath

  • The Outcasts of Poker Flat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as High-Grade

  • The Woman I Love(1937)

    as Florence's Boyfriend

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Shake, Mr. Shakespeare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Mr. Smith

  • Punch and Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Russ Biff

  • For the Love of Pete (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as McSwat's Cornerman

Career shape

Star power in the 92nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 150 titles from 1936 to 1976.

Biggest box office

Hellzapoppin' (1941)

$5.4K worldwide

Highest rated

Hellzapoppin' (1941)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

Here Come the Co-eds (1945)

Film career

  • 1939Screen debut· Union Pacific

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting150 of 150: 150 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score55th

By decade

1930s49 · acting1940s94 · acting1950s5 · acting1970s2 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 15 roles
3944

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Richard Lane's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 55th percentile, the median of all 43; across their 27 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 55th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Reach · how many have seen their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Midcredits score across 43 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th21
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 43 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

Talk About a Lady (1946)

80th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Hellzapoppin' (1941)

Midcredits 91st · 78% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 24 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Richard Lane work with?

People who share at least 2 of Richard Lane's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Charles D. Brown shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers