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
Poltergeist
(1982)
Ryan
Dirty Harry
(1971)
Homosexual (uncredited)
Guess Who
(2005)
Marcus
Streets of Fire
(1984)
Officer Ed Price
Wag the Dog
(1997)
Young Man / CIA
Coming Home
(1978)
Pat
Audrey Rose
(1977)
Policeman #1
Lemonade
(2016)
Self (home footage)
Stick
(1985)
Cornell
How Stella Got Her Groove Back
(1998)
Jack
North Hollywood
(2021)
Adolf's Dad
Sugar Hill
(1974)
Valentine
The Main Event
(1979)
Hector Mantilla
For Colored Girls
(2010)
Frank
Scream Blacula Scream
(1973)
Willis Daniels
Full Filmography
Acting
Dirty Harry
(1971)
Homosexual (uncredited)
Scream Blacula Scream
(1973)
Willis Daniels
Sugar Hill
(1974)
Valentine
Crossfire
(1975)
Officer Ken Dillard
Black Fist
(1977)
Leroy Fisk
Audrey Rose
(1977)
Policeman #1
Coming Home
(1978)
Pat
The Main Event
(1979)
Hector Mantilla
Charleston
(1979)
James Harris
The Jericho Mile
(1980)
R.C. Stiles
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story
(1980)
Gene Davis
Leadfoot
(1982)
Officer Venchek
Poltergeist
(1982)
Ryan
Streets of Fire
(1984)
Officer Ed Price
Stick
(1985)
Cornell
Under the Influence
(1986)
Dr. Duran
Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI
(1986)
Adam Prentice
Double Your Pleasure
(1989)
Dash
The Forgotten
(1989)
Sgt. Frank " Doc " McDermott
Wag the Dog
(1997)
Young Man / CIA
How Stella Got Her Groove Back
(1998)
Jack
Justice
(1999)
Gus
Jackie's Back!
(1999)
Milkman Summers (Jackie's Ex-Husband #1)
Blue Hill Avenue
(2001)
Uncle Rob
Maniac Magee
(2003)
Mr. Beale
Christmas at Water's Edge
(2004)
Mr. Turner
Guess Who
(2005)
Marcus
The Last Stand
(2006)
Winston
They Are Here: The Real World of the Poltergeists
(2007)
Himself
Love for Sale
(2008)
Uncle Mac
For Colored Girls
(2010)
Frank
A Royal Family Christmas
(2015)
Leighton Royal
A Royal Family Holiday
(2015)
Lemonade
(2016)
Self (home footage)
Shotguns and Six Strings: Making a Rock N Roll Fable
(2017)
Himself
Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror
(2019)
Self
Always a Bridesmaid
(2019)
Carlton Blakeston Sr.
From Zero to I Love You
(2019)
Ron Logsdon
Beyoncé Presents: Making The Gift
(2019)
Self
A Holiday Chance
(2021)
Garvin
Not Alone
(2021)
Dr. James Clay
North Hollywood
(2021)
Adolf's Dad
CHAAW: Chapter 1
(2023)
Chief of Police