Los Angeles, California
1942 - 2020
July 10, 1942 - February 11, 2020 Charles Lee Layne, a.k.a. Charles Lanyer, beloved husband, brother, uncle, and accomplished actor, died February 11 in Los Angeles from complications following surgery. Born in Kirkland, Wash., July 10, 1942, to Ethel and Walter Layne, Charles grew up in...
Read MoreCharles was a terrific actor. He starred in m play, NAMES, in 1995 at the Matrix Theater, it was Critics Choice in every major newspaper and that had a lot to do with Charles' incredible performance in the role of Harold Clurman to Dixie Carter's Stella Adler. I'll never forget his warmth and commitment to his work. We were all better when he was in the room. Rest in peace, dear man.
Mark Kemble
July 30, 2020 | Coworker
One of my first professional acting jobs was the third monk holding the pagoda at PCPA in the King and I. Charles was amazing as the King and I think he sensed I was a bit out to sea and was just super supportive during that season. Over the years, I would run into him in Los Angeles and he always remembered my name and asked what I was up to - he was a great actor and mentor.
Kevin Bash
July 18, 2020 | Friend
Turalu Murdock
February 28, 2020 | Windhoek, Namibia
Elizabeth (Lissa) Woods
February 26, 2020 | Pasadena, CA
Charles was my cousin Sally's husband. Many years ago when he played the Devil in JBShaw's play Man and Superman, he invited me and other family members to come. It was an exciting experience to witness his skill as an actor, while knowing him as a member of my extended family. In recent years I enjoyed sitting and talking with him at family gatherings. I will miss him at future ones.
Paul Ridgway
February 25, 2020 | Family
I was so sorry to hear about the passing of Charles Layne. We attended and graduated from Issaquah High School (Issaquah, Washington) together in 1960. He was (as one of our co-classmates stated) a great guy and definitely a BMOC (Big Man on Campus).
I was well aware that he spent much of his life in the theatre. But, I had no idea the extent of his accomplishments.
To Charles I extend this goodby message:
You are and were amazing. Take a bow, dear Charles. We applaud your...
Sarah Erickson-Seils
February 25, 2020 | Palm Desert, CA
Charles and I first met in the fifth grade when my family moved to Issaquah from Seattle. We both played on the basketball team through senior year. We both were good students. I visited him at Princeton when he was an undergrad there. I was going to college in Pennsylvania. We saw each other periodically since our school years. But now I realise that it was not enough. He was a good guy! Jim Schembs
Jim Schembs
February 24, 2020 | Paradise Valley, AZ