Richard Lawson
Acting
96
Acting Credits
1
Directed
Biography
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.
Known For
Filmography
Aftershock: The Nicole P. Bell Story
2025
as Al Sharpton
Tyler Perry's Divorce in the Black
2024
as Clarence
Will I See You Again?
2024
Beauty in Black
2024
as Norman
CHAAW: Chapter 1
2023
as Chief of Police
Black Terror
2023
as Talk Show Host
Carl Weber's The Black Hamptons
2022
as Moses Britton
The Sherri Shepherd Show
2022
as Self - Guest
Not Alone
2021
as Dr. James Clay
A Holiday Chance
2021
as Garvin
North Hollywood
2021
as Adolf's Dad
Beyoncé Presents: Making The Gift
2019
as Self
Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror
2019
as Self
Always a Bridesmaid
2019
as Carlton Blakeston Sr.
From Zero to I Love You
2019
as Ron Logsdon
mixed-ish
2019
as Lynwood
Shotguns and Six Strings: Making a Rock N Roll Fable
2017
as Self
Lemonade
2016
as Self (home footage)
Saints & Sinners
2016
as Pastor Evan Johnson
A Royal Family Christmas
2015
as Leighton Royal
A Royal Family Holiday
2015
Stitchers
2015
as Admiral Decker
For Colored Girls
2010
as Frank
Love for Sale
2008
as Uncle Mac
They Are Here: The Real World of the Poltergeists
2007
as Self
The Last Stand
2006
as Winston
Guess Who
2005
as Marcus
Numb3rs
2005
as Clay Porter, Sr. (uncredited)
Grey's Anatomy
2005
as Bill Pierce
Christmas at Water's Edge
2004
as Mr. Turner
Blue Hill Avenue
2003
as Uncle Rob
Maniac Magee
2003
as Mr. Beale
All of Us
2003
Dead Like Me
2003
as William Garrett
Half & Half
2002
as Ben
For the People
2002
as Clay Portman
The Division
2001
as LaBon
The Bernie Mac Show
2001
as Bishop
The District
2000
as Richard Gray
Soul Food
2000
as Rev. Bobby Baxter
Strong Medicine
2000
as Alton Clayborne
Justice
1999
as Gus
Jackie's Back!
1999
as Milkman Summers (Jackie's Ex-Husband #1)
Judging Amy
1999
as Thomas Horne
Family Law
1999
as Chuck
How Stella Got Her Groove Back
1998
as Jack
L.A. Doctors
1998
as Gary Miller
Wag the Dog
1997
as Young Man / CIA
Good News
1997
Moesha
1996
as Marlon James
Pandora's Clock
1996
as Daniel Robb
The Parent 'Hood
1995
JAG
1995
as Dan Craig
Touched by an Angel
1994
as Nicholas Freeman
Sister, Sister
1994
as Victor Sims
Saved by the Bell: The New Class
1993
as Judge Thurston Jones
The Forgotten
1989
as Sgt. Frank " Doc " McDermott
Double Your Pleasure
1989
as Dash
Father Dowling Mysteries
1989
Wiseguy
1987
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
1987
as Det. Nathaniel Hawthorne
Under the Influence
1986
as Dr. Duran
Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI
1986
as Adam Prentice
Stick
1985
as Cornell
MacGyver
1985
as Jesse Colton
The Comedy Factory
1985
as Dr. Julius Pepper
Streets of Fire
1984
as Officer Ed Price
The Cosby Show
1984
as Mr. Bostic
Hardcastle and McCormick
1983
V
1983
as Dr Ben Taylor
Poltergeist
1982
as Ryan
St. Elsewhere
1982
as The Messiah
Remington Steele
1982
as Monroe Henderson
Chicago Story
1982
as Detective O.Z. Tate
T. J. Hooker
1982
as Officer David McNeil
Dynasty
1981
as Nick Kimball
The Jericho Mile
1980
as R.C. Stiles
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story
1980
as Gene Davis
Magnum, P.I.
1980
as Gerald Calvin
The Main Event
1979
as Hector Mantilla
Charleston
1979
as James Harris
Coming Home
1978
as Pat
The White Shadow
1978
as David Mackey
Audrey Rose
1977
as Policeman #1
Black Fist
1977
as Leroy Fisk
The Fantastic Journey
1977
as Barker
What Really Happened to the Class of '65?
1977
Crossfire
1975
as Officer Ken Dillard
Sugar Hill
1974
as Valentine
Good Times
1974
Scream Blacula Scream
1973
as Willis Daniels
Kojak
1973
as 1st Suspect
The Streets of San Francisco
1972
Dirty Harry
1971
as Homosexual (uncredited)
All in the Family
1971
as Angry Black Man
Medical Center
1969