Don Lane (Morton Donald Isaacson)

Don Lane was born in New York City to a Jewish father (Jacob) and a Catholic mother (Dolly), who later converted to Judaism. He had two siblings and they were raised in The Bronx where he attended DeWitt Clinton High School.

Don Lane began his working life as a nightclub performer and singer, doing a mix routines of  comedy and singing. Appearing at many clubs in Hawaii, Los Angeles and New York. He also briefly appeared on one episode of the Ed Sullivan program in the late 1950s as one half of a double act before he drafted into the U.S. Army in the early 1950s and was commissioned as an officer and served in the artillery. After the military Don Lane went back and toured for two years entertaining the troops.

In 1965 Irish comedian Dave Allen presented a talk show on Sydney television for TCN-9. During the programs season he was sacked. TCN9 Producers were then looking for a replacement host to fill in for the rest of the season.  Whilst John Collins Producer was in Hawaii he found Don Lane working in the well-known nightclub the Copacabana. John Collins then asked Las Vegas performer Wayne Newton if there was anybody he should consider as a replacement; Newton's answer was "Don Lane".

Don Lane was given the host's chair for six weeks. He planned to base his version of the show on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. Don Lane's run was variously referred to as The Tonight Show, Tonight with Don Lane, and Sydney Tonight. Within a month, Nine settled on Lane as permanent host, with the result that his initial six-week contract was extended to forty weeks.

Then in the late 60’s Don Lane moved back to the USA and appeared in the U.S. sketch comedy series Wow, hosted by Ken Berry, which also featured Cheryl Ladd and Steve Martin. He then came back to Australia in 1975 to appear at a benefit concert for the victims of Cyclone Tracy.

The Nine Network then put him to air on Melbourne-based The Don Lane Show, which ran until 1983 and made him the most highly paid performer on Australian television. The Don Lane Show was and still is the highest rated variety program in Australian television history.

The Don Lane Show ended on 13 November 1983, his 50th birthday. His final episode ran for two and a half hours and featured such stars as Sammy Davis, Jr., Phyllis Diller, and David Bowie as well as musical appearances by John Farnham and Colleen Hewett. After the conclusion of The Don Lane Show he moved back to the United States for two years, living in Los Angeles.

Then in 1987 he came back to Australia as a personality for Network Ten, hosting programs like You've Got to Be Joking, Late Night Australia and the 1987 presentation of the TV Week Logie Awards.

In 1993, Lane made a guest appearance on the very last episode and closing segment of the comedy program The Late Show on Australia's ABC network. He also hosted American NFL broadcasts, which included live broadcasts from Super Bowl XXVII and Super Bowl XXVIII. Don also covered NCAA basketball for the ABC and was a colour commentator for the NBL on Foxtel.

In 1994, Lane hosted two specials for the Nine Network, The Best of The Don Lane Show. Each special was two hours dedicated to the most memorable moments from The Don Lane Show.

Don Lane was honoured in a 1996 episode of This Is Your Life dedicated to him and his career in television.

In 2003 Don Lane was inducted into the TV Week Logie Awards Hall of Fame.

In 2007 Don Lane released his "tell all" auto-biography entitled Never Argue With a Mug. The book follows Don Lane's career and explains show-business scandals in detail that he had personally experienced.

In June 2008, it was announced that Don Lane was suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and had been living in a care facility.

He married Jayne Ambrose, a talent agent, with whom they had a son, PJ Isaacson (also known as PJ Lane). Don and Jayne later divorced, however remained good friends and Jayne was his agent for the rest of his life.

Don Lane was affectionately widely known for the knick-name “Lanky Yank”.

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