Quick Facts
Biography
Wesley Lau (June 18, 1921 – August 30, 1984) was an American film and television actor.
Early life
Wesley Lau was born and raised in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.A World War II veteran of the United States Army Air Corps, Lau studied playwriting at the University of Wisconsin and received a Master of Arts degree at Yale Drama School, later continuing his studies at The Actors Studio in New York.
He took time off from college at one point to serve in World War II as part of the air corps. Although his goal in life 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
During his acting career, Lau was probably best known as Lt. Andy Anderson in the 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 fourth episode ("The Case of the Malicious Mariner") of the fifth season (1961–1962) through the last episode ("The Case of the Mischievous Doll") of the eighth season (1964–1965).
Other shows in which Lau made appearances include Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Gunsmoke, Have Gun-Will Travel, Peter Gunn, The Twilight Zone, The Time Tunnel, The Big Valley, Mission: Impossible, Cannon, and The Six Million Dollar Man. He would reunite with Raymond Burr in an episode of Ironside called "In the Forests of the Night".
Lau also appeared in motion pictures including the 1960 John Wayne film The Alamo.
Death
Lau died of heart failure on August 30, 1984 and is buried at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Acting roles
Television series
- The Web, "A Time For Dying" (1953)
- Studio One, "Crime at Blossom's" (1953)
- Armstrong Circle Theatre, "Night Court" (1957), Mr. Miller
- Omnibus, "Lee at Gettysburg" (1957), Maj. Gen. John B. Hood
- Steve Canyon "Operation Crash Landing" (1958), Sgt. Bowman
- Lawman, "The Badge" (1958), Rick Andrews
- Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, "Peace Bond" (1958), Johnny Conrad
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents
- "Mrs. Herman and Mrs. Fenimore" (1958), Police Detective
- "And the Desert Shall Blossom" (1958), Tex, the Deputy
- "The Dart" (1958)
- "Destination Normandy" (1958)
- "Typhoon Chasers" (1958)
- "He Came for the Money" (1958), Clay
- "Day of Glory" (1958), Commander Von Schoss
- The DuPont Show with June Allyson, "The Girl" (1959), Joseph Dunn
- Pony Express, "The Peace Offering" (1959), Hager
- Whirlybirds, "Mr. Jinx" (1959), James
- Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, "A Diamond for Carla" (1959), Jery Wilson
- Goodyear Theatre, "Story Without a Moral" (1959), Captain Rheinhold
- Peter Gunn
- "Kill from Nowhere" (1959), Joe Scully
- "The Death Frame" (1960),Eddie Carson
- "Sons of Aaron Murdock" (1959), Lew Murdock
- "Saturday Night" (1960), Stub
- "Miguel's Daughter" (1959), Ab
- "Young Love" (1959), Rod Allison
- "The Blacksmith" (1960), Willy
- "Client: Tagger" (1959), Jesse Britt
- "Burden of Guilt" (1960), Trip Harris
- "The Haunted U-Boat" (1959), Lt. Schneider
- "The Mask" (1960), Lt. Harold Wilenski
- Michael Shayne, "Murder in Wonderland" (1960), Jerry Latimer
- The Law and Mr. Jones, "Christmas Is a Legal Holiday" (1960), Roger Forester
- The Untouchables, "Kiss of Death Girl" (1960), Whitey Barrows
- The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, "He's My Brother" (1960), Dave Dray
- Tales of Wells Fargo
- "Leading Citizen" (1960), Morgan Bates
- "The English Woman" (1960), Hank
- The Chevy Mystery Show, "Trial by Fury" (1960), Lt. Crane
- Shotgun Slade, "Backtrack" (1960), Jeb
- M Squad, "A Grenade for a Summer's Evening" (1960), Harry
- Law of the Plainsman, "Stella" (1960), Staff Meeker
- Johnny Ringo, "Uncertain Vengeance" (1960), Red Crale
- The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor, "The Trap" (1960), Carl Ryan
- Mr. Lucky, "The Two Million Dollar Window" (1960), Slate
- Johnny Midnight, "An Old-Fashioned Frame" (1960), Connor
- Adventures in Paradise, "Vendetta" (1961), Paul Moore
- The Tall Man, "Ladies of the Town" (1961), Jason Cleary
- Coronado 9, "But the Patient Died" (1961), Dr. David Travis
- Wagon Train, "The Christopher Hale Story" (1961), Stevens
- Outlaws, "The Bill Doolin Story" (1961), Sam Evans
- The Blue Angels, "Alien Entry" (1961), Vic Lavet
- Shirley Temple Theatre, "Rebel Gun" (1961), Sheriff Westram
- The Twilight Zone
- "The Fugitive" (1962), Man
- "Twenty Two" (1961), Airline Agent
- Perry Mason (1961–1965), Lt. Andy Anderson (69 episodes)
- Combat!, "Soldier of Fortune" (1965), Lt. Meyer
- The Big Valley, "Earthquake!" (1965), Ralph Snyder
- Bonanza
- "Desert Justice" (1960), Dave Walker
- "Her Brother's Keeper" (1966), Carl Armory
- "Revenge of the Gods" (1966), M/Sgt. Jiggs
- "One Way to the Moon" (1966), M/Sgt. Jiggs
- "Rendezvous with Yesterday" (1966), M/Sgt. Jiggs
- "Chase Through Time" (1967), M/Sgt. Jiggs
- "The Calico Kid" (1966) Jacobus Carson
- "The Seventh Day" (1967) Reverend Egan Thomas
- Garrison's Gorillas, "Banker's Hours" (1967), Col. Karl Vogel
- Run for Your Life, "A Choice of Evils" (1967), Phil Carson
- The Virginian
- "Nobody Said Hello" (1966), Matt McLain
- "The Gentle Tamers" (1968), Hoyt
- "Vengeance Trail" (1967), Sheriff Ben Morris
- Land of the Giants, "The Creed" (1968), Policeman #1
- Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, "The Mystery of Edward Sims" (1968), Mr. Parker
- The Mod Squad
- "Willie Poor Boy" (1969), Dr. Albee
- "The Poisoned Mind" (1971), Dr. Maggio
- Longstreet, "One in the Reality Column" (1971), Defense Attorney
- Mission: Impossible
- "Doomsday" (1969), Dr. Thorgen
- "My Friend, My Enemy" (1970), Karl Maur
- "The Field" (1971) (writer)
- "Double Dead" (1972), Jim Thompson
- "Hear No Evil" (1972), Ray Norman
- "Valley of the Damned" (1973), Lt. Harry Wharton
- Ironside, "In the Forests of the Night" (1973), Thompkins
- Chase, "Gang War" (1973)
- The Magician
- "Ovation for Murder" (1973), Captain Gottschalk
- "The Illusion of the Curious Counterfeit: Part 2" (1974), Captain Gottschalk
- "Shattered Image" (1974), Captain Gottschalk
- The Six Million Dollar Man, "Lost Love" (1975), Emil
- Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls (1981), Man with Dog (final film role)
Feature-length films
- I Want to Live! (1958) - Henry L. Graham
- The Alamo (1960) - Emil Sande
- The Foxes (1961, TV Movie)
- The Venetian Affair (1967) - Neill Carlson
- Ride to Hangman's Tree (1967) - Sheriff Gordon (uncredited)
- Panic in the City (1968) - Police Lt. Brady
- Journey to Shiloh (1968) - Col. Boykin
- The Sweet Ride (1968) - Gene Bronson (uncredited)
- Zabriskie Point (1970) - Company Executive (uncredited)
- Crosscurrent (1971, TV Movie) - Inspector Poole
- Skyjacked (1972) - Stanley Morris
- No Place to Run (1972, TV Movie) - Bill Ryan
- Call to Danger (1973, TV Movie) - Police Sergeant
- Incident on a Dark Street (1973, TV Movie) - John Pine
- Cry Panic (1974, TV Movie) - Joe Red
- Homebodies (1974) - Construction Foreman
- Lepke (1975) - First Detective (also as a writer)