Wesley Lau


Wesley Lau was an American film and television actor, and occasional screenwriter.

Early life

Wesley Lau was born and raised
in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. His parents were Albert and Agnes Lau. He graduated from Central High School in 1939.
Lau studied playwriting at the University of Wisconsin, taking time off to serve in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II. He received a Master of Arts degree at Yale Drama School, later continuing his studies at The Actors Studio in New York. Although his goal was to be a writer, he ended up acting simply because he found more jobs as an actor than as a playwright when he arrived in New York City seeking work.

Career

Lau was probably best known for playing Lt. Andy Anderson in the TV series Perry Mason. He appeared frequently during the latter part of the show's run, especially during times when longtime series regular Ray Collins, who played Lt. Arthur Tragg, was absent. Collins died in 1965 before the series ended its run. Lau first appeared on Perry Mason as defendant Amory Fallon in "The Case of the Impatient Partner" in September 1961. Less than a month later, he made the first of 81 appearances as Lt. Anderson, a role which ran from "The Case of the Malicious Mariner," the fourth episode of the fifth season, through "The Case of the Mischievous Doll," the last episode of the eighth season.
Other shows in which Lau made appearances included Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Gunsmoke, Mike Hammer, Johnny Ringo, Have Gun – Will Travel, Peter Gunn, The Twilight Zone, The Time Tunnel, The Big Valley, Mission: Impossible, Cannon, Wagon Train, and The Six Million Dollar Man. He would reunite with Raymond Burr, who played the title role in the Perry Mason series, in an episode of Ironside called "In the Forests of the Night".
He also appeared in motion pictures, including the 1960 John Wayne film The Alamo.

Death

Lau died of heart failure on August 30, 1984, aged 63, and is buried at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills Cemetery, Los Angeles.

Acting roles

Television series

  • The Web, "A Time For Dying"
  • Studio One, "Crime at Blossom's"
  • Armstrong Circle Theatre, "Night Court", Mr. Miller
  • Omnibus, "Lee at Gettysburg", Major General John B. Hood
  • The Silent Service, "The Harder at Woleai", Commander Samuel D. Dealey
  • Steve Canyon, "Operation Crash Landing", Sergeant Bowman
  • Lawman, "The Badge", Rick Andrews
  • Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, "Peace Bond", Johnny Conrad
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents
  • Flight
  • Jane Wyman Presents
  • The DuPont Show with June Allyson, "The Girl", Joseph Dunn
  • Pony Express, "The Peace Offering", Hager
  • Whirlybirds, "Mr. Jinx", James
  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, "A Diamond for Carla", Jery Wilson
  • Goodyear Theatre, "Story Without a Moral", Captain Rheinhold
  • Peter Gunn
  • Have Gun – Will Travel
  • Gunsmoke
  • Black Saddle
  • Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond
  • Michael Shayne, "Murder in Wonderland", Jerry Latimer
  • The Law and Mr. Jones, "Christmas Is a Legal Holiday", Roger Forester
  • The Untouchables, "Kiss of Death Girl", Whitey Barrows
  • The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, "He's My Brother", Dave Dray
  • Tales of Wells Fargo
  • Shotgun Slade, "Backtrack", Jeb
  • M Squad, "A Grenade for a Summer's Evening", Harry
  • Law of the Plainsman, "Stella", Staff Meeker
  • Johnny Ringo, "Uncertain Vengeance", Red Crale
  • The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor, "The Trap", Carl Ryan
  • Mr. Lucky, "The Two Million Dollar Window", Slate
  • Johnny Midnight, "An Old-Fashioned Frame", Connor
  • Adventures in Paradise, "Vendetta", Paul Moore
  • The Tall Man, "Ladies of the Town", Jason Cleary
  • Coronado 9, "But the Patient Died", Dr. David Travis
  • Wagon Train, "The Christopher Hale Story", Stevens
  • Outlaws, "The Bill Doolin Story", Sam Evans
  • Shirley Temple Theatre, "Rebel Gun", Sheriff Westram*The Twilight Zone
  • Perry Mason, Lieutenant Andy Anderson ; S5Ep2 Amory Fallon
  • Combat!, "Soldier of Fortune", Lieutenant Meyer
  • The Big Valley, "Earthquake!", Ralph Snyder
  • Bonanza
  • The Time Tunnel
  • Laredo
  • Garrison's Gorillas, "Banker's Hours", Colonel Karl Vogel
  • Run for Your Life, "A Choice of Evils", Phil Carson
  • The Virginian
  • Land of the Giants, "The Creed", Policeman #1
  • Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, "The Mystery of Edward Sims", Mr. Parker
  • The Mod Squad
  • Longstreet, "One in the Reality Column", Defense Attorney
  • Mission: Impossible
  • Cannon
  • Ironside, "In the Forests of the Night", Thompkins
  • Chase, "Gang War"
  • The Magician
  • The Six Million Dollar Man, "Lost Love", Emil
  • Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls, Man with Dog

    Feature-length films

  • I Want to Live! - Henry L. Graham
  • The Alamo - Emil Sande
  • The Venetian Affair - Neill Carlson
  • Panic in the City - Police Lieutenant Brady
  • Journey to Shiloh - Colonel Boykin
  • The Sweet Ride - Gene Bronson
  • Zabriskie Point - Company Executive
  • Skyjacked - Stanley Morris
  • Incident on a Dark Street - John Pine
  • Lepke - First Detective