Richard Lawson

Richard Lawson

Acting • Born 1947-03-07

Acting2Loma Linda, California, USA

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.

Filmography

96 credits
Poltergeist

Poltergeist

Movie • 1982

Ryan

Justice

Justice

Movie • 1999

Gus

The Forgotten

The Forgotten

Movie • 1989

Sgt. Frank " Doc " McDermott

Not Alone

Not Alone

Movie • 2021

Dr. James Clay

The Main Event

The Main Event

Movie • 1979

Hector Mantilla

A Holiday Chance

A Holiday Chance

Movie • 2021

Garvin

Scream Blacula Scream

Scream Blacula Scream

Movie • 1973

Willis Daniels

Wag the Dog

Wag the Dog

Movie • 1997

Young Man / CIA

Crossfire

Crossfire

Movie • 1975

Officer Ken Dillard

For Colored Girls

For Colored Girls

Movie • 2010

Frank

Blue Hill Avenue

Blue Hill Avenue

Movie • 2003

Uncle Rob

Audrey Rose

Audrey Rose

Movie • 1977

Policeman #1

Double Your Pleasure

Double Your Pleasure

Movie • 1989

Dash

Sugar Hill

Sugar Hill

Movie • 1974

Valentine

The Jericho Mile

The Jericho Mile

Movie • 1980

R.C. Stiles

Christmas at Water's Edge

Christmas at Water's Edge

Movie • 2004

Mr. Turner

Black Fist

Black Fist

Movie • 1977

Leroy Fisk

Stick

Stick

Movie • 1985

Cornell

CHAAW: Chapter 1

CHAAW: Chapter 1

Movie • 2023

Chief of Police

Under the Influence

Under the Influence

Movie • 1986

Dr. Duran

Tyler Perry's Divorce in the Black

Tyler Perry's Divorce in the Black

Movie • 2024

Clarence

Charleston

Charleston

Movie • 1979

James Harris

How Stella Got Her Groove Back

How Stella Got Her Groove Back

Movie • 1998

Jack

Beyoncé Presents: Making The Gift

Beyoncé Presents: Making The Gift

Movie • 2019

Self

Black Terror

Black Terror

Movie

Talk Show Host

The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story

The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story

Movie • 1980

Gene Davis

Dirty Harry

Dirty Harry

Movie • 1971

Homosexual (uncredited)

Will I See You Again?

Will I See You Again?

Movie • 2024

A Royal Family Christmas

A Royal Family Christmas

Movie • 2015

Leighton Royal

A Royal Family Holiday

A Royal Family Holiday

Movie • 2015

Lemonade

Lemonade

Movie • 2016

Self (home footage)

Streets of Fire

Streets of Fire

Movie • 1984

Officer Ed Price

Coming Home

Coming Home

Movie • 1978

Pat

Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI

Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI

Movie • 1986

Adam Prentice

Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror

Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror

Movie • 2019

Self

Always a Bridesmaid

Always a Bridesmaid

Movie • 2019

Carlton Blakeston Sr.

From Zero to I Love You

From Zero to I Love You

Movie • 2019

Ron Logsdon

North Hollywood

North Hollywood

Movie • 2021

Adolf's Dad

They Are Here: The Real World of the Poltergeists

They Are Here: The Real World of the Poltergeists

Movie • 2007

Himself

Shotguns and Six Strings: Making a Rock N Roll Fable

Shotguns and Six Strings: Making a Rock N Roll Fable

Movie • 2017

Self

The Last Stand

The Last Stand

Movie • 2006

Winston

Love for Sale

Love for Sale

Movie • 2008

Uncle Mac

Guess Who

Guess Who

Movie • 2005

Marcus

Maniac Magee

Maniac Magee

Movie • 2003

Mr. Beale

Jackie's Back!

Jackie's Back!

Movie • 1999

Milkman Summers (Jackie's Ex-Husband #1)

Aftershock: The Nicole P. Bell Story

Aftershock: The Nicole P. Bell Story

Movie • 2025

Al Sharpton

St. Elsewhere

St. Elsewhere

TV • 1982

The Messiah

Good Times

Good Times

TV • 1974

Father Dowling Mysteries

Father Dowling Mysteries

TV • 1989

Hardcastle and McCormick

Hardcastle and McCormick

TV • 1983

Saved by the Bell: The New Class

Saved by the Bell: The New Class

TV • 1993

Judge Thurston Jones

Numb3rs

Numb3rs

TV • 2005

Clay Porter, Sr. (uncredited)

Remington Steele

Remington Steele

TV • 1982

Monroe Henderson

Half & Half

Half & Half

TV • 2002

Ben

The District

The District

TV • 2000

Richard Gray

All of Us

All of Us

TV • 2003

The Division

The Division

TV • 2001

LaBon

Judging Amy

Judging Amy

TV • 1999

Thomas Horne

Touched by an Angel

Touched by an Angel

TV • 1994

Nicholas Freeman

The Bernie Mac Show

The Bernie Mac Show

TV • 2001

Bishop

L.A. Doctors

L.A. Doctors

TV • 1998

Gary Miller

The Cosby Show

The Cosby Show

TV • 1984

Mr. Bostic

All in the Family

All in the Family

TV • 1971

Angry Black Man

The Streets of San Francisco

The Streets of San Francisco

TV • 1972

Sister, Sister

Sister, Sister

TV • 1994

Victor Sims

Dynasty

Dynasty

TV • 1981

Nick Kimball

Soul Food

Soul Food

TV • 2000

Rev. Bobby Baxter

MacGyver

MacGyver

TV • 1985

Jesse Colton

The Parent 'Hood

The Parent 'Hood

TV • 1995

Moesha

Moesha

TV • 1996

Marlon James

Kojak

Kojak

TV • 1973

1st Suspect

Medical Center

Medical Center

TV • 1969

JAG

JAG

TV • 1995

Sgt. Dan Craig

Wiseguy

Wiseguy

TV • 1987

Chicago Story

Chicago Story

TV • 1982

Detective O.Z. Tate

Good News

Good News

TV • 1997

The White Shadow

The White Shadow

TV • 1978

David Mackey

Family Law

Family Law

TV • 1999

Chuck

The Fantastic Journey

The Fantastic Journey

TV • 1977

Barker

V

V

TV • 1983

Dr Ben Taylor

What Really Happened to the Class of '65?

What Really Happened to the Class of '65?

TV • 1977

Dead Like Me

Dead Like Me

TV • 2003

William Garrett

Saints & Sinners

Saints & Sinners

TV • 2016

Pastor Evan Johnson

Stitchers

Stitchers

TV • 2015

Admiral Decker

Pandora's Clock

Pandora's Clock

TV • 1996

Daniel Robb

The Black Hamptons

The Black Hamptons

TV • 2022

Moses Britton

Grey's Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy

TV • 2005

Bill Pierce

The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd

The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd

TV • 1987

Det. Nathaniel Hawthorne

Beauty in Black

Beauty in Black

TV • 2024

Norman

T. J. Hooker

T. J. Hooker

TV • 1982

Officer David McNeil

mixed-ish

mixed-ish

TV • 2019

Lynwood

Strong Medicine

Strong Medicine

TV • 2000

Alton Clayborne

The Comedy Factory

The Comedy Factory

TV • 1985

Dr. Julius Pepper

Sherri

Sherri

TV • 2022

Self - Guest

Magnum, P.I.

Magnum, P.I.

TV • 1980

Gerald Calvin

For the People

For the People

TV • 2002

Clay Portman