ACTOR
Richard Lawson
Known for Grey's Anatomy · MacGyver · Magnum, P.I.
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.
Snapshot 2026-10-15
- Born
- Mar 7, 1947
- Birthplace
- Loma Linda, California, USA
- Known For
- Acting
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.
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Known For
TV
Grey's AnatomyBill Pierce · 2005
★ 8.2
★ 8.2
TV
MacGyverJesse Colton · 1985
★ 7.7
★ 7.7
TV
Magnum, P.I.Gerald Calvin · 1980
★ 7.3
★ 7.3
TV
Numb3rsClay Porter, Sr. (uncredited) · 2005
★ 7.0
★ 7.0
TV
JAGDan Craig · 1995
★ 7.3
★ 7.3
TV
Beauty in BlackNorman · 2024
★ 8.4
★ 8.4
TV
Touched by an AngelNicholas Freeman · 1994
★ 7.2
★ 7.2
TV
DynastyNick Kimball · 1981
★ 6.5
★ 6.5
Filmography
Movies
Dirty HarryHomosexual (uncredited)
1971
Scream Blacula ScreamWillis Daniels
1973
Sugar HillValentine
1974
CrossfireOfficer Ken Dillard
1975
Audrey RosePoliceman #1
1977
Black FistLeroy Fisk
1977
Coming HomePat
1978
CharlestonJames Harris
1979
The Main EventHector Mantilla
1979
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love StoryGene Davis
1980
The Jericho MileR.C. Stiles
1980
PoltergeistRyan
1982
Streets of FireOfficer Ed Price
1984
StickCornell
1985
Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBIAdam Prentice
1986
Under the InfluenceDr. Duran
1986
Double Your PleasureDash
1989
The ForgottenSgt. Frank " Doc " McDermott
1989
Wag the DogYoung Man / CIA
1997
How Stella Got Her Groove BackJack
1998
Jackie's Back!Milkman Summers (Jackie's Ex-Husband #1)
1999
JusticeGus
1999
Blue Hill AvenueUncle Rob
2003
Maniac MageeMr. Beale
2003
Christmas at Water's EdgeMr. Turner
2004
Guess WhoMarcus
2005
The Last StandWinston
2006
They Are Here: The Real World of the PoltergeistsSelf
2007
Love for SaleUncle Mac
2008
For Colored GirlsFrank
2010
A Royal Family ChristmasLeighton Royal
2015
A Royal Family Holiday
2015
LemonadeSelf (home footage)
2016
Shotguns and Six Strings: Making a Rock N Roll FableSelf
2017
Always a BridesmaidCarlton Blakeston Sr.
2019
Beyoncé Presents: Making The GiftSelf
2019
From Zero to I Love YouRon Logsdon
2019
Horror Noire: A History of Black HorrorSelf
2019
A Holiday ChanceGarvin
2021
North HollywoodAdolf's Dad
2021
Not AloneDr. James Clay
2021
Black TerrorTalk Show Host
2023Black TerrorDirector
2023Black TerrorExecutive Producer
2023
CHAAW: Chapter 1Chief of Police
2023
Tyler Perry's Divorce in the BlackClarence
2024
Will I See You Again?
2024
Aftershock: The Nicole P. Bell StoryAl Sharpton
2025Television
Medical Center1 eps
1969
All in the FamilyAngry Black Man · 1 eps
1971
The Streets of San Francisco1 eps
1972
Kojak1st Suspect · 1 eps
1973
Good Times1 eps
1974
The Fantastic JourneyBarker · 1 eps
1977
What Really Happened to the Class of '65?1 eps
1977
The White ShadowDavid Mackey · 1 eps
1978
Magnum, P.I.Gerald Calvin · 1 eps
1980
DynastyNick Kimball · 11 eps
1981
Chicago StoryDetective O.Z. Tate · 13 eps
1982
Remington SteeleMonroe Henderson · 1 eps
1982
St. ElsewhereThe Messiah · 1 eps
1982
T. J. HookerOfficer David McNeil · 1 eps
1982
Hardcastle and McCormick1 eps
1983
VDr Ben Taylor · 2 eps
1983
The Cosby ShowMr. Bostic · 1 eps
1984
MacGyverJesse Colton · 3 eps
1985
The Comedy FactoryDr. Julius Pepper · 1 eps
1985
The Days and Nights of Molly DoddDet. Nathaniel Hawthorne · 21 eps
1987
Wiseguy1 eps
1987
Father Dowling Mysteries1 eps
1989
Saved by the Bell: The New ClassJudge Thurston Jones · 1 eps
1993
Sister, SisterVictor Sims · 5 eps
1994
Touched by an AngelNicholas Freeman · 1 eps
1994
JAGDan Craig · 1 eps
1995
The Parent 'Hood1 eps
1995
MoeshaMarlon James · 1 eps
1996
Pandora's ClockDaniel Robb · 2 eps
1996GN
Good News2 eps
1997
L.A. DoctorsGary Miller · 1 eps
1998
Family LawChuck · 1 eps
1999
Judging AmyThomas Horne · 1 eps
1999
Soul FoodRev. Bobby Baxter · 1 eps
2000
Strong MedicineAlton Clayborne · 1 eps
2000
The DistrictRichard Gray · 2 eps
2000
The Bernie Mac ShowBishop · 1 eps
2001
The DivisionLaBon · 1 eps
2001FT
For the PeopleClay Portman · 1 eps
2002
Half & HalfBen · 1 eps
2002
All of Us2 eps
2003
Dead Like MeWilliam Garrett · 1 eps
2003
Grey's AnatomyBill Pierce · 3 eps
2005
Numb3rsClay Porter, Sr. (uncredited) · 1 eps
2005
StitchersAdmiral Decker · 2 eps
2015
Saints & SinnersPastor Evan Johnson · 8 eps
2016
mixed-ishLynwood · 1 eps
2019
Carl Weber's The Black HamptonsMoses Britton · 8 eps
2022
SherriSelf - Guest · 1 eps
2022
Beauty in BlackNorman · 40 eps
2024Photos
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