Person

Richard Lawson

Acting · 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.

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  Grey's Anatomy

  Bill Pierce

• 

  JAG

  Dan Craig

• 

  MacGyver

  Jesse Colton

• 

  Beauty in Black

  Norman

• 

  Numb3rs

  Clay Porter, Sr. (uncredited)

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  Magnum, P.I.

  Gerald Calvin

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  Strong Medicine

  Alton Clayborne

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  Sherri

  Self - Guest

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  St. Elsewhere

  The Messiah

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  The Cosby Show

  Mr. Bostic

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