Wesley Lau

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.

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

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), 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

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

Feature-length films

I Want to Live! (1958), Henry L. Graham

The Alamo (1960), Emil Sande

The Foxes (1961)

The Venetian Affair (1967), Neill Carlson

Ride to Hangman's Tree (1967), Sheriff Gordon

Panic in the City (1968), Police Lt. Brady

Journey to Shiloh (1968), Col. Boykin

Crosscurrent (1971), Inspector Poole

No Place to Run (1972), Bill Ryan

Skyjacked (1972), Stanley Morris

Call to Danger (1973), Police Sergeant

Incident on a Dark Street (1973), John Pine

Homebodies (1974), Construction Foreman

Cry Panic (1974), Joe Red

Lepke (1975), First Detective (also as a writer)