Richard Lawson

Acting • 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.

Known For

8.2

Grey's Anatomy

2005

7.7

MacGyver

1985

8.5

Beauty in Black

2024

7.2

Poltergeist

1982

7.0

Sister, Sister

1994

6.9

Streets of Fire

1984

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Filmography

2025
Aftershock: The Nicole P. Bell StoryFilm
Al Sharpton
2024
Beauty in BlackTV
Norman • 40 episodes
★ 8.5
2024
Tyler Perry's Divorce in the BlackFilm
Clarence
★ 7.2
2024
Will I See You Again?Film
2023
CHAAW: Chapter 1Film
Chief of Police
2023
Black TerrorFilm
Talk Show Host
2022
SherriTV
Self - Guest • 1 episodes
★ 2.6
2022
Carl Weber's The Black HamptonsTV
Moses Britton • 8 episodes
★ 6.8
2021
North HollywoodFilm
Adolf's Dad
★ 5.4
2021
A Holiday ChanceFilm
Garvin
★ 8.7
2021
Not AloneFilm
Dr. James Clay
★ 5.3
2019
mixed-ishTV
Lynwood • 1 episodes
★ 7.1
2019
Horror Noire: A History of Black HorrorFilm
Self
★ 6.7
2019
From Zero to I Love YouFilm
Ron Logsdon
★ 5.1
2019
Always a BridesmaidFilm
Carlton Blakeston Sr.
★ 6.8
2019
Beyoncé Presents: Making The GiftFilm
Self
★ 7.8
2017
Shotguns and Six Strings: Making a Rock N Roll FableFilm
Self
2016
LemonadeFilm
Self (home footage)
★ 8.4
2016
Saints & SinnersTV
Pastor Evan Johnson • 8 episodes
★ 8.0
2015
StitchersTV
Admiral Decker • 2 episodes
★ 6.8
2015
A Royal Family ChristmasFilm
Leighton Royal
★ 4.0
2015
A Royal Family HolidayFilm
★ 5.0
2010
For Colored GirlsFilm
Frank
★ 6.7
2008
Love for SaleFilm
Uncle Mac
★ 6.0
2007
They Are Here: The Real World of the PoltergeistsFilm
Self
2006
The Last StandFilm
Winston
★ 4.1
2005
Grey's AnatomyTV
Bill Pierce • 3 episodes
★ 8.2
2005
Numb3rsTV
Clay Porter, Sr. (uncredited) • 1 episodes
★ 7.0
2005
Guess WhoFilm
Marcus
★ 6.1
2004
Christmas at Water's EdgeFilm
Mr. Turner
★ 7.2
2003
Dead Like MeTV
William Garrett • 1 episodes
★ 7.6
2003
All of UsTV
★ 7.1
2003
Blue Hill AvenueFilm
Uncle Rob
★ 6.7
2003
Maniac MageeFilm
Mr. Beale
★ 8.0
2002
Half & HalfTV
Ben • 1 episodes
★ 8.3
2002
For the PeopleTV
Clay Portman • 1 episodes
★ 10.0
2001
The Bernie Mac ShowTV
Bishop • 1 episodes
★ 6.7
2001
The DivisionTV
LaBon • 1 episodes
★ 7.1
2000
Strong MedicineTV
Alton Clayborne • 1 episodes
★ 7.4
2000
The DistrictTV
Richard Gray • 2 episodes
★ 6.9
2000
Soul FoodTV
Rev. Bobby Baxter • 1 episodes
★ 7.2
1999
Judging AmyTV
Thomas Horne • 1 episodes
★ 7.5
1999
Family LawTV
Chuck • 1 episodes
★ 8.1
1999
Jackie's Back!Film
Milkman Summers (Jackie's Ex-Husband #1)
★ 6.9
1999
JusticeFilm
Gus
★ 4.8
1998
How Stella Got Her Groove BackFilm
Jack
★ 5.8
1998
L.A. DoctorsTV
Gary Miller • 1 episodes
★ 8.5
1997
Wag the DogFilm
Young Man / CIA
★ 6.9
1997
Good NewsTV
★ 7.0
1996
MoeshaTV
Marlon James • 1 episodes
★ 6.9
1996
Pandora's ClockTV
Daniel Robb • 2 episodes
★ 5.7
1995
JAGTV
Dan Craig • 1 episodes
★ 7.3
1995
The Parent 'HoodTV
★ 7.2
1994
Touched by an AngelTV
Nicholas Freeman • 1 episodes
★ 7.2
1994
Sister, SisterTV
Victor Sims • 5 episodes
★ 7.0
1993
Saved by the Bell: The New ClassTV
Judge Thurston Jones • 1 episodes
★ 5.8
1989
Father Dowling MysteriesTV
★ 7.4
1989
Double Your PleasureFilm
Dash
★ 6.2
1989
The ForgottenFilm
Sgt. Frank " Doc " McDermott
★ 5.8
1987
WiseguyTV
★ 6.6
1987
The Days and Nights of Molly DoddTV
Det. Nathaniel Hawthorne • 21 episodes
★ 6.8
1986
Under the InfluenceFilm
Dr. Duran
★ 5.9
1986
Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBIFilm
Adam Prentice
★ 6.5
1985
MacGyverTV
Jesse Colton • 3 episodes
★ 7.7
1985
StickFilm
Cornell
★ 5.4
1985
The Comedy FactoryTV
Dr. Julius Pepper • 1 episodes
1984
The Cosby ShowTV
Mr. Bostic • 1 episodes
★ 7.0
1984
Streets of FireFilm
Officer Ed Price
★ 6.9
1983
VTV
Dr Ben Taylor • 2 episodes
★ 7.8
1983
Hardcastle and McCormickTV
★ 6.5
1982
PoltergeistFilm
Ryan
★ 7.2
1982
Remington SteeleTV
Monroe Henderson • 1 episodes
★ 7.1
1982
St. ElsewhereTV
The Messiah • 1 episodes
★ 5.7
1982
T. J. HookerTV
Officer David McNeil • 1 episodes
★ 6.5
1982
Chicago StoryTV
Detective O.Z. Tate • 13 episodes
★ 7.5
1981
DynastyTV
Nick Kimball • 11 episodes
★ 6.5
1980
Magnum, P.I.TV
Gerald Calvin • 1 episodes
★ 7.3
1980
The Jericho MileFilm
R.C. Stiles
★ 6.1
1980
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love StoryFilm
Gene Davis
1979
The Main EventFilm
Hector Mantilla
★ 5.3
1979
CharlestonFilm
James Harris
★ 8.0
1978
Coming HomeFilm
Pat
★ 7.0
1978
The White ShadowTV
David Mackey • 1 episodes
★ 7.1
1977
Audrey RoseFilm
Policeman #1
★ 5.7
1977
The Fantastic JourneyTV
Barker • 1 episodes
★ 6.2
1977
Black FistFilm
Leroy Fisk
★ 4.3
1977
What Really Happened to the Class of '65?TV
★ 6.0
1975
CrossfireFilm
Officer Ken Dillard
★ 8.0
1974
Good TimesTV
★ 8.0
1974
Sugar HillFilm
Valentine
★ 5.8
1973
KojakTV
1st Suspect • 1 episodes
★ 7.3
1973
Scream Blacula ScreamFilm
Willis Daniels
★ 5.9
1972
The Streets of San FranciscoTV
★ 7.1
1971
Dirty HarryFilm
Homosexual (uncredited)
★ 7.5
1971
All in the FamilyTV
Angry Black Man • 1 episodes
★ 7.8
1969
Medical CenterTV
★ 6.4