He grew up in Issaquah, Wash., and attended Issaquah High School. At Princeton he majored in religion, was on the freshman track team (javelin throw), sang in the Nassoons, and was a member of Tiger Inn. 

Following graduation Charles became a teaching fellow at International College in Beirut, Lebanon. Returning to the U.S., he earned a BFA (actors training program) at the University of Washington in 1972 and embarked on an acting career, adopting the stage name of Charles Lanyer. He soon joined the prestigious American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Moving to Los Angeles, he appeared in popular TV shows such as Hill Street Blues, Dallas, and NYPD Blue as well as films such as The Stepfatherand Die Hard 2. Eventually he returned to his first love, the stage, performing frequently at the American Conservatory Theater, South Coast Repertory Theater, and Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts. He won more than a dozen awards for his stage performances. 

Charles is survived by his wife, Sara; a sister; a brother; and nieces and nephews whom he loved. The class extends its condolences to them all.