RIP ‘Lois and Clark’ actor Lane Smith
June 15, 2005 
Actor Lane Smith, most famous for playing Daily Planet editor Perry White on Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997), died Monday at the age of 69 from Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Lane Smith, 69; Character Actor Gained Fame Playing Nixon in ‘The Final Days’:
Smith died Monday at his Los Angeles home of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease, his family said.
A veteran stage actor with scores of character parts in film and television, Smith achieved instant fame when he took on the role of Nixon in the production based on the book “The Final Days” by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Smith’s performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
Lane Smith really was a joy to watch as the Daily Planet editor on “Lois and Clark.”
In every episode, he really seemed to be concerned about managing the newspaper, while keeping Clark Kent (Dean Cain), Lois Lane (Terri Hatcher), and Jimmy Olsen (Justin Whalin) in line.
He really dug deep into the character, producing a perfect balance of gruff editor with an often-hidden caring side.
He played tribute to his Memphis roots by changing the character’s traditional catch-phrase from “Great Caesar’s Ghost!” to “Great shades of Elvis!” and transforming Perry White into an Elvisphile. And he did all in a the most believable fashion.
Smith played numerous character roles in his acting career — from President Richard Nixon to writer Jack Kerouac and even dictator Adolf Hitler.
Coincidentally, the other day I was just watching a rerun of the animated show King of the Hill called “Meet the Propaniacs,” where Bobby Hill starts an improv group that educates people about propane, that featured Lane Smith’s voice talents as “Charlie Fortner,” a propane executive the Hills run into while performing their show. I recognized Smith’s voice instantly and remembered back to his “Lois and Clark” days fondly.
Of course, he did a great job playing this animated character as he had done throughout his career. He was truly a great example of what a character actor can and should be. Great shades of Elvis! We’ll miss you, Lane.
