<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

Richard Lawson (b. Ricky Lee Lawson March 7, 1947) is an American actor born in Loma Linda, California. He is best known to genre fans for his roles as Ben Taylor in the miniseries V and the movie Poltergeist. Lawson made his uncredited film debut in Dirty Harry with Clint Eastwood. He followed that appearance with the 1973 horror feature Scream Blacula Scream. Other early roles include guest appearances on Shaft, Kojak and The Streets of San Francisco. In 1974, he made his second genre appearance in the zombie film Sugar Hill.

In 1975, Lawson starred in Black Fist as Leroy Fisk a streetfighter in LA. Other notable appearances include a guest spot on the short-lived scifi series The Fantastic Journey, the TV movie Buffalo Soldier and Pandora's Clock, recurring roles on Dynasty, MacGyver and All My Children, guest spots on Sister Sister, JAG, Touched by an Angel, The District, Dead Like Me, and the feature films How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Mars and Beyond, Guess Who and The Inevitable Undoing of Jay Brooks.

Personal Life

Lawson served in Vietnam. He has taught acting at The Beverly Hills Playhouse. He is the father of actress Bianca Lawson who appeared on Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Kendra.

Genre Roles

• 2004 Dead Like Me as William Garrett
• 2000 Mars and Beyond
• 1983 V as Dr. Ben Taylor
• 1982 Poltergeist (movie) as Ryan
• 1976 The Fantastic Journey
• 1974 Sugar Hill
• 1974 Scream Blacula Scream