Wesley Lau (June 18, 1921August 30, 1984) 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 ( Feldner) 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 (1961–1962), through "The Case of the Mischievous Doll," the last episode of the eighth season (1964–1965).
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.Obituary, sheboyganpress.com. May 13, 2016. Accessed October 19, 2022.
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), Major General John B. Hood The Silent Service, "The Harder at Woleai" (1958), Commander Samuel D. Dealey Steve Canyon, "Operation Crash Landing" (1958), Sergeant Bowman Lawman, "The Badge" (1958), Rick Andrews Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, "Peace Bond" (1958), Johnny Conrad Alfred Hitchcock Presents Season 4 Episode 11: "And the Desert Shall Blossom" (1958) as Deputy Tex Season 4 Episode 12: "Mrs. Herman and Mrs. Fenimore" (1958) as Police Detective Season 5 Episode 4: "Coyote Moon" (1959) as Harry
Flight "The Dart" (1958) "Destination Normandy" (1958) "Typhoon Chasers" (1958)
Jane Wyman Presents "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
Have Gun – Will Travel "Sons of Aaron Murdock" (1959), Lew Murdock "Saturday Night" (1960), Stub
Gunsmoke "Miguel's Daughter" (1959), Ab "Young Love" (1959), Rod Allison "The Blacksmith" (1960), Willy
Black Saddle "Client: Tagger" (1959), Jesse Britt "Burden of Guilt" (1960), Trip Harris
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond "The Haunted U-Boat" (1959), Lieutenant 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 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 "The Maud Frazer Story" (1961), Cavalry Soldier Outlaws, "The Bill Doolin Story" (1961), Sam Evans Shirley Temple Theatre, "Rebel Gun" (1961), Sheriff Westram* The Twilight Zone "The Fugitive" (1962), Man "Twenty Two" (1961), Airline Agent
Perry Mason (1961–1965), Lieutenant Andy Anderson (69 episodes); S5Ep2 Amory Fallon (1 episode) Combat!, "Soldier of Fortune" (1965), Lieutenant Meyer The Big Valley, "Earthquake!" (1965), Ralph Snyder Bonanza "Desert Justice" (1960), Dave Walker "Her Brother's Keeper" (1966), Carl Armory
The Time Tunnel "End of the World" (1966), M/Sgt. Jiggs "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
Laredo "The Calico Kid" (1966) Jacobus Carson "The Seventh Day" (1967) Reverend Egan Thomas
Garrison's Gorillas, "Banker's Hours" (1967), Colonel 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
Cannon "Hear No Evil" (1972), Ray Norman "Valley of the Damned" (1973), Lieutenant 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 Venetian Affair (1967) - Neill Carlson Panic in the City (1968) - Police Lieutenant Brady Journey to Shiloh (1968) - Colonel Boykin The Sweet Ride (1968) - Gene Bronson (uncredited) Zabriskie Point (1970) - Company Executive (uncredited) Skyjacked (1972) - Stanley Morris Incident on a Dark Street (1973, TV Movie) - John Pine Lepke (1975) - First Detective (also as a writer)
References
External links