Actor
· Acting
Richard Lawson
Born 1947-03-07
📍 Loma Linda, California, USA
Richard Lee Lawson (born March 7, 1947) is an American actor who has starred in movies and on television. He is perhaps best known for his roles in genre films; he portrayed Ryan in the 1982 film Poltergeist, and Dr. Ben Taylor in the 1983 NBC miniseries V.
Filmography 93
Aftershock: The Nicole P. Bell Story
as Al Sharpton
2025
Beauty in Black
as Norman
2024
Will I See You Again?
2024
Tyler Perry's Divorce in the Black
as Clarence
2024
CHAAW: Chapter 1
as Chief of Police
2023
Sherri
as Self - Guest
2022
The Black Hamptons
as Moses Britton
2022
A Holiday Chance
as Garvin
2021
Not Alone
as Dr. James Clay
2021
North Hollywood
as Adolf's Dad
2021
Always a Bridesmaid
as Carlton Blakeston Sr.
2019
mixed-ish
as Lynwood
2019
Beyoncé Presents: Making The Gift
as Self
2019
From Zero to I Love You
as Ron Logsdon
2019
Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror
as Self
2019
Shotguns and Six Strings: Making a Rock N Roll Fable
as Self
2017
Lemonade
as Self (home footage)
2016
Saints & Sinners
as Pastor Evan Johnson
2016
A Royal Family Christmas
as Leighton Royal
2015
A Royal Family Holiday
2015
Stitchers
as Admiral Decker
2015
For Colored Girls
as Frank
2010
Love for Sale
as Uncle Mac
2008
They Are Here: The Real World of the Poltergeists
as Himself
2007
The Last Stand
as Winston
2006
Grey's Anatomy
as Bill Pierce
2005
Guess Who
as Marcus
2005
Numb3rs
as Clay Porter, Sr. (uncredited)
2005
Christmas at Water's Edge
as Mr. Turner
2004
Blue Hill Avenue
as Uncle Rob
2003
All of Us
2003
Dead Like Me
as William Garrett
2003
Half & Half
as Ben
2002
The Bernie Mac Show
as Bishop
2001
The Division
as LaBon
2001
The District
as Richard Gray
2000
Strong Medicine
as Alton Clayborne
2000
Soul Food
as Rev. Bobby Baxter
2000
Family Law
as Chuck
1999
Judging Amy
as Thomas Horne
1999
Jackie's Back!
as Milkman Summers (Jackie's Ex-Husband #1)
1999
Justice
as Gus
1999
L.A. Doctors
as Gary Miller
1998
How Stella Got Her Groove Back
as Jack
1998
Wag the Dog
as Young Man / CIA
1997
Pandora's Clock
as Daniel Robb
1996
Moesha
as Marlon James
1996
JAG
as Sgt. Dan Craig
1995
The Parent 'Hood
1995
Touched by an Angel
as Nicholas Freeman
1994
Sister, Sister
as Victor Sims
1994
Saved by the Bell: The New Class
as Judge Thurston Jones
1993
Double Your Pleasure
as Dash
1989
The Forgotten
as Sgt. Frank " Doc " McDermott
1989
Father Dowling Mysteries
1989
Wiseguy
1987
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
as Det. Nathaniel Hawthorne
1987
Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI
as Adam Prentice
1986
Under the Influence
as Dr. Duran
1986
MacGyver
as Jesse Colton
1985
The Comedy Factory
as Dr. Julius Pepper
1985
Stick
as Cornell
1985
The Cosby Show
as Mr. Bostic
1984
Streets of Fire
as Officer Ed Price
1984
Hardcastle and McCormick
1983
V
as Dr Ben Taylor
1983
St. Elsewhere
as The Messiah
1982
Remington Steele
as Monroe Henderson
1982
Poltergeist
as Ryan
1982
T. J. Hooker
as Officer David McNeil
1982
Chicago Story
as Detective O.Z. Tate
1982
Dynasty
as Nick Kimball
1981
Magnum, P.I.
as Gerald Calvin
1980
The Jericho Mile
as R.C. Stiles
1980
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story
as Gene Davis
1980
The Main Event
as Hector Mantilla
1979
Charleston
as James Harris
1979
The White Shadow
as David Mackey
1978
Coming Home
as Pat
1978
What Really Happened to the Class of '65?
1977
Black Fist
as Leroy Fisk
1977
Audrey Rose
as Policeman #1
1977
The Fantastic Journey
as Barker
1977
Crossfire
as Officer Ken Dillard
1975
Good Times
1974
Sugar Hill
as Valentine
1974
Kojak
as 1st Suspect
1973
Scream Blacula Scream
as Willis Daniels
1973
The Streets of San Francisco
1972
Dirty Harry
as Homosexual (uncredited)
1971
All in the Family
as Angry Black Man
1971
Medical Center
1969
Black Terror
as Talk Show Host