Don Lane and Bert Newton as Laurel and Hardy for The Tonight Show. Source: Herald Sun

Source: Defamer Australia, The Age, Herald Sun.

He was one of the titans of Australian television, drawing millions of viewers at his peak to his variety program which set the standard for many shows to follow.

Don Lane, who died at the age of 75, was a multiple Logie winner who connected with Australian audiences with his self-titled The Don Lane Show despite his American roots.

The legendary entertainer was born in New York in 1933 and worked as a nightclub singer before making the move to Australian television in 1965.

Entertainment legend Don Lane was charismatic and funny until the very end, his close friend and biographer Janise Beaumont says.

Lane, 75, died this morning after battling Alzheimer’s disease.

‘He didn’t want this to happen, but he was still Don,’’ Ms Beaumont told Macquarie Radio.

‘‘And pretty much up to the end he was very tactile … he loved hugs, he still could make eye contact, still be funny, still be charismatic – but this bastard of Alzheimer’s… we’ve got to find a cure. I’ll go on any committee, I’ll dress up in a chicken suit to raise money to help find a cure because it robs people of so much.’’

Hear, hear, Janise.

Born in New York, Don Lane emigrated to Australia in 1965.

Lane was originally hired to fill in for someone at Channel Nine for six weeks. He went on to become one of the country’s most popular stars and at one time was the highest paid person on Australian television.

Celebrities, including Robin Williams, Billy Connolly, Dame Edna, Tony Curtis, Peter Sellers and Kiss all appeared on The Don Lane Show, which became must-see late night entertainment between 1975 and 1983.

In some ways, Don Lane was the Todd McKenney of his time.

In the late 1968, Lane was charged with importing marijuana. He strenuously protested his innocence, claiming that a vengeful former business associate had planted the drugs in his jacket pocket. He was eventually found not guilty, after being defended by barrister Marcus Einfeld.

The Courier Mail’s tribute to Don contains quite a few good stories, including the time Uri Geller fan Don told a sceptic to “piss off”, but this would have to be my favourite.

In the early 80s, Lane was ejected from the Logie Awards ceremony after attempting to punch TV identity Ernie Sigley, with whom he had developed a long-running feud.

Rest in peace, lanky American.