Wesley Lau


Wesley Lau 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. 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 of the fifth season through the last episode of the eighth season.
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, , Cannon, Wagon Train, 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