Wesley Lau

Wesley Lau

Biography and Film Career

Wesley Lau (1921–1984) was a versatile American actor best known for his role as Lt. Andy Anderson on the iconic TV series Perry Mason. Born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II before studying at Yale School of Drama and the Actors Studio.

Lau appeared in acclaimed films such as I Want to Live! and The Alamo, often portraying lawmen, soldiers, or authority figures. His acting style was marked by quiet intensity and restraint, earning him a reputation as a reliable and thoughtful performer.

Though he received no major awards, his work helped define the tone of mid-century television drama. Married with one daughter, Lau lived a private life and passed away in Los Angeles at 63 due to heart failure. His legacy endures in classic TV reruns and among fans of measured, character-driven performances.

Related

I Want to Live! - 1958

Wesley Lau (1921 – 1984)

A Quiet Force in Classic Hollywood

Wesley Lau was a dependable character actor whose steady presence graced American film and television throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Best known for his role as the principled and quietly intense Lt. Andy Anderson on the hit legal drama Perry Mason, Lau’s career was marked by professionalism, quiet charisma, and a deep dedication to his craft. Though never a marquee star, he became a familiar and respected figure to generations of television audiences.

Early Life and Education

Wesley Lau was born on June 18, 1921, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, a small city on the western shore of Lake Michigan. He was the son of Albert and Lillian Lau, and grew up during the turbulent years of the Great Depression. Though there are few detailed records of his childhood, it's clear that Lau developed a strong work ethic early in life—something that would carry him through both military service and the competitive world of acting.

After high school, Lau pursued higher education at the University of Wisconsin, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. His original intention was to become a writer, and he had a strong academic background in literature and the humanities. However, his interest gradually shifted to performance, and after completing his undergraduate studies, he took a bold step toward the arts.

Military Service and Turning to the Stage

Like many young men of his generation, Lau put his personal dreams on hold during World War II, serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces. The experience, while formative, did not derail his artistic ambitions. Upon returning home, he immersed himself in acting studies with renewed seriousness.

Lau studied at the prestigious Yale School of Drama, one of the finest institutions for theatrical training in the United States. He also trained at the Actors Studio in New York, where method acting and psychological realism were emphasized—skills that would lend subtlety and depth to his later screen roles.

Acting Career: A Steady Rise

Wesley Lau began his professional acting career in the 1950s, initially appearing in stage productions and gradually transitioning to television and film. He made his screen debut in small roles, often as soldiers, police officers, or government agents—characters that suited his reserved demeanor and strong sense of authority.

One of his earliest notable film appearances was in the war epic To Hell and Back (1955), based on the life of war hero Audie Murphy. In 1958, he appeared in I Want to Live!, a critically acclaimed drama starring Susan Hayward, where Lau played a supporting role that added to his growing resume.

His film work continued through the 1960s, with roles in The Alamo (1960), The Satan Bug (1965), and Charro! (1969), the latter a Western starring Elvis Presley. While never the leading man, Lau brought credibility and weight to each part he played.

But it was television that would bring him the most recognition. In 1961, he was cast as Lieutenant Andy Anderson on CBS’s hit legal drama Perry Mason, starring Raymond Burr. Anderson replaced Lt. Tragg (Ray Collins), who was written out due to Collins’s declining health. Lau’s portrayal of Anderson was serious, methodical, and respectful—a foil to Mason’s cerebral courtroom heroics. He appeared in 81 episodes between 1961 and 1965, earning a loyal fanbase and professional respect.

Outside Perry Mason, Lau was a prolific guest star, appearing on iconic series like The Twilight Zone, Mission: Impossible, Hawaii Five-O, The F.B.I., Mannix, Gunsmoke, and Bonanza. He became the kind of actor producers loved: reliable, prepared, and capable of delivering nuanced performances even with limited screen time.

Personal Life

Lau was known for keeping his personal life low-profile. He married Virginia L. Robinson in 1956, and the couple had one daughter. He rarely gave interviews or sought public attention outside of his professional work. Friends and colleagues described him as quiet, intelligent, and deeply committed to his craft. Acting was not a path to celebrity for Lau—it was a disciplined vocation.

Off-screen, Lau enjoyed reading and writing. His early aspirations as a writer never quite faded, and he occasionally worked on scripts and short stories, though few of these were published or produced. His intellectual background and artistic seriousness set him apart from many of his Hollywood peers.

Later Years and Death

As the 1970s progressed, Lau’s screen appearances became less frequent. He continued to take guest roles into the early 1980s, but he largely retired from acting and spent his final years in Los Angeles.

On August 30, 1984, Wesley Lau died from heart failure at the age of 63. He passed away in Los Angeles, California, leaving behind his wife and daughter. He was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, a resting place for many of Hollywood’s finest.

Legacy

Though Wesley Lau never achieved the celebrity status of many of his contemporaries, he left behind a solid body of work that continues to be appreciated by classic television fans. His portrayal of Lt. Andy Anderson on Perry Mason remains his most enduring role—a testament to the kind of actor he was: thoughtful, dependable, and quietly excellent.

In an industry driven by ego and self-promotion, Wesley Lau was a consummate professional who let his work speak for itself. His legacy lives on in reruns, archives, and in the memory of those who value the kind of craftsmanship he brought to every performance.

How the Pery Mason Cast Died

Wesley Lau: An Actor of Quiet Authority and Subtle Craftsmanship

Wesley Lau was a classic character actor—never ostentatious, never theatrical, but always present. His performances were marked by a calm, steady authority, a sense of inner thoughtfulness, and an ability to say volumes with the subtlest gestures. In an era when television acting often veered toward the dramatic or declarative, Lau stood out for his measured realism and understated intensity.

Reserved Power

One of Lau’s defining traits was his economy of motion and expression. He rarely overplayed a moment. Instead, he allowed emotions to simmer just beneath the surface. His characters often came across as composed and analytical—detectives, government agents, military officers—men accustomed to being in control, but carrying an undercurrent of weariness or skepticism. He could deliver authority without arrogance, making him the ideal "second-in-command" or the man quietly pulling strings behind the scenes.

In his most famous role as Lt. Andy Anderson on Perry Mason, Lau’s restrained style was crucial. Rather than playing the typical hot-headed or adversarial police officer, he portrayed Anderson as meticulous, thoughtful, and morally grounded. He spoke deliberately, listened carefully, and always seemed to be weighing the implications of what was being said. That thoughtfulness made him feel like a real person—not just a role.

Internalization and Subtle Choices

Lau was a master of internal acting. He didn’t need big speeches or dramatic flair; he allowed his characters to exist from the inside out. His gaze, posture, or the inflection of a line could subtly alter the emotional temperature of a scene. This was particularly evident in his guest roles on shows like The Twilight Zone or Mission: Impossible, where even in limited screen time, he created characters with depth and complexity.

His voice—low, clear, slightly dry—helped anchor his performances. He often spoke with deliberate pacing, giving the impression that every word was selected with care. This quality lent itself naturally to roles that required intelligence and quiet authority, and directors used it to create contrast in ensemble casts.

Reliability and Versatility

Though often cast in serious roles, Lau had a versatility that allowed him to work across genres—Western, noir, legal drama, war films, even psychological thrillers. Yet even when the genres changed, Lau’s core qualities—discipline, restraint, realism—remained constant. He was the kind of actor who could slip into a story without distracting from it, yet leave a lasting impression.

He also possessed a writer’s sense of character structure—perhaps owing to his academic and literary background. He understood the role of silence, of subtle reaction, of building tension through posture or breath. He was never flashy, but always truthful.

Presence Without Ego

What truly distinguished Lau was his lack of theatrical ego. In ensemble casts, he never sought to dominate a scene. Instead, he elevated others—giving them space, anchoring scenes with his grounded presence. That’s why he was a favorite among directors: dependable, intelligent, always prepared.

In many ways, he embodied the ideal of the mid-century working actor—not a star in the traditional sense, but a craftsman who approached each role with integrity. His performances never screamed for attention; they simply stayed with you.

Conclusion

Wesley Lau’s acting style was built on discipline, subtlety, and authenticity. He was a performer who understood the power of silence, the complexity of calm, and the value of letting a character unfold naturally. In an age of bold personalities and fast-paced drama, Lau was a quiet force—a man who made his mark not by overpowering scenes, but by anchoring them.

His legacy is not one of fame, but of trust and respect—the kind earned by someone who consistently showed up, delivered truth, and left audiences thinking.

Recognition for Wesley Lau

Although Lau himself remained unawarded, several of his projects earned significant industry accolades:

• I Want to Live! (1958):
  The film received five awards and 15 nominations, including wins at the Golden Globes and Academy Award nominations for its lead actress, Susan Hayward
• Perry Mason (TV series, 1957–1966):
  The show garnered three awards and seven nominations, including Emmy attention for its writing, cinematography, and performances, though no awards were individually bestowed to Lau
• Homebodies (1974):
  This dark comedy received one nomination at independent film festivals .

Notable Movies with Wesley Lau

1958

• I Want to Live! (Henry L. Graham)
  A harrowing real-life drama about convicted murderer Barbara Graham (Susan Hayward), chronicling her life on death row and the legal battle for her life. Lau portrays prison official Henry Graham.

1960

• The Alamo (Emil Sande)
  Epic retelling of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo with John Wayne leading the stand against Mexican forces. Lau plays Emil Sande, a supporting Texan soldier.

1967

• The Ride to Hangman’s Tree (Sheriff Gordon)
  A Western featuring truckers unwittingly transporting a dangerous criminal. Lau appears as Sheriff Gordon.
• The Venetian Affair (Neill Carlson)
  A Cold War thriller involving murder and espionage. Lau plays Neill Carlson, part of the tangled conspiracy.

1968

• The Sweet Ride (Gene Bronson)
  Youthful Los Angeles drifters living for fast cars and romance; Lau portrays Gene Bronson.
• Journey to Shiloh (Colonel Boykin)
  Coming-of-age Civil War drama following young men bearing burdens on a 19th-century campaign; Lau plays Col. Boykin.
• Panic in the City (Lt. Brady)
  A detective uncovers a plot to unleash a radioactive bomb; Lau plays Lt. Brady.

1970

• Zabriskie Point (Company Executive; uncredited)
  A cult countercultural film by Michelangelo Antonioni exploring disillusionment in 1970 America; Lau makes a brief uncredited appearance.

1972

• Skyjacked (Stanley Morris)
  A tense airplane hijacking thriller starring Charlton Heston; Lau portrays passenger Stanley Morris.

1974

• Homebodies (Construction Foreman)
  A dark comedy about elderly tenants who defend their building from developers. Lau plays the on-site foreman.
• Cry Panic (Joe Red)
  A small-town suspense story where unsettling events unearth a potential serial killer. Lau appears as Joe Red.

1975

• Lepke (First Detective; also writes screenplay)
  Based on the life of gangster Louis “Lepke” Buchalter. Lau both co-writes and acts as a detective pursuing the criminal.

1981

• Jacqueline Susann’s Valley of the Dolls (Man with Dog)
  A TV adaptation of the bestselling novel following three women navigating fame, love, and addictions. Lau has a brief walk-on role.

TV Series with Wesley Lau

Early Career (1952–1958)

• 1952: Studio One (“Crime at Blossom’s”), This Is the Life, Omnibus (“Lee at Gettysburg”)
• 1953–1954: Debuted in Studio One, General Electric Theater, and the likes—establishing his stage-to-screen transition
• 1955–1958: Appeared in anthology and adventure shows such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Gunsmoke, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Jane Wyman Presents, Whirlybirds, Peter Gunn, Lawman, U.S. Marshal, and Flight

1959–1960: Busy Guest-Spot Phase

• 1959: Roles in Pony Express, Mr. Lucky, Shotgun Slade, The DuPont Show, Peter Gunn, One Step Beyond, Have Gun – Will Travel, Black Saddle, Bonanza, The Untouchables, Alfred Hitchcock Presents
• 1960: Guest-starred in Michael Shayne, The Law and Mr. Jones, The Untouchables, Tales of Wells Fargo, M Squad, Johnny Ringo, Mr. Lucky, Adventures in Paradise, and Gunsmoke

1961: Breakthrough & Perry Mason Debut

• Guest roles: The Tall Man, Coronado 9, Wagon Train, Outlaws, Shirley Temple Theatre, Adventures in Paradise, The Twilight Zone
• September 1961: First appears in Perry Mason as Amory Fallon, soon becoming Lt. Andy Anderson in Season 5

1962–1965: Perry Mason Mainstay

• Recurs in 81 episodes of Perry Mason as Lt. Anderson from 1961–65
• Also appears in The Twilight Zone, Combat!, The Big Valley (1965)

1966–1967: Sci‑Fi & Westerns

• 1966: Recurring role as Master Sgt. Jiggs in The Time Tunnel (5 episodes), plus appearances on Bonanza, Laredo, The Virginian
• 1967: One‑episode roles on Laredo, Garrison’s Gorillas, Run for Your Life, and as a guest on Ironside

1968–1972: Genre Variety & Exciting Roles

• Guest spots: The Virginian, Land of the Giants, The Mod Squad, Longstreet
• Mission: Impossible appearances (1969–1972), including one as writer for an episode

1973–1975: Law & Order‑Style Shows

• Roles in Cannon, Ironside, Chase, The Magician, Harry O, Call to Danger, The Six Million Dollar Man

1981: Career Wrap-Up

• Final screen appearance in Jacqueline Susann’s Valley of the Dolls (TV movie), credited as “Man with Dog”