Lane Chandler (born Robert Clinton Oakes,[1] June 4, 1899 – September 14, 1972)[1] was an American actor specializing mainly in Westerns.
Studio executives suggested changing his name to Lane Chandler, and as such he began achieving leading roles opposite stars like Clara Bow, Greta Garbo, Betty Bronson and Esther Ralston.
As a silent film star, Chandler performed well, but when talkies arrived he was cast more in supporting roles, as in The Great Mike of 1944.
Many of his films featured alliterative titles such as Riders of the Rio (1931), Primrose Path (1931), The Cheyenne Cyclone (1931), The Hurricane Horseman (1931), Battling Buckaroo (1932), The Wyoming Whirlwind (1932), The Reckless Rider (1932), The Texas Tornado (1932), and Sagebrush Trail with John Wayne; all but two of these films starred Chandler top-billed with his name above the title.
With the advent of television Chandler began making appearance on numerous series, often in Westerns such as The Lone Ranger, The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok, Lawman, Have Gun – Will Travel, Rawhide, Maverick, Cheyenne, and Gunsmoke (as “Trumbull” in the S7E10 titled “Indian Ford” in 1961 & as “Luke” in the S8E8’s “The Trappers” in 1962); many of these TV series appearances were bit parts with no billing at all.