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.
Television series
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
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
"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
The Time Tunnel
"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), 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
Cannon
"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
