Laurence Lau

Last updated

Laurence Lau
Born
Laurence Henry Lau

(1954-05-10) May 10, 1954 (age 69)
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Other namesLaurence Lau Jr.
Lawrence Law
OccupationActor
Spouse(s)Linda McCullough (1982–1984)
Karen Wallace (1975–1978)
Website www.laurencelau.com

Laurence Henry Lau (born May 10, 1954) is an American television and stage actor, best known for his roles in several soap operas.

Contents

Early life and education

Lau was born in Long Beach, California, and raised in Lake Oswego, Oregon. [1] He attended Columbia University and Brigham Young University. [2]

Career

One of his first roles was on the TV comedy/drama Eight Is Enough in 1980. He first became popular by playing the role of Greg Nelson on All My Children (1981–1986), [1] in which his character got involved with a girl from the other side of the tracks, Jenny Gardner (Kim Delaney). [2] [3] Other notable soap roles include NBC's Another World as Jamie Frame (1986–1990), [4] and ABC's One Life to Live as attorney Sam Rappaport (2001—2003), taking over from actor Kale Browne. [5] [6]

In 2007, Lau played Greeber in Scituate, [7] a play written by Martin Casella and directed by David Hilder, at TBG Arts Mainstage in New York City. Soap opera critic for Atlantic Canada's Breakfast Television Matthew Borden claimed that this role would solidify Laurence as a big time soap opera actor. On May 20, 2008, Lau returned to All My Children as Greg Nelson to catch up with old pals Jesse and Angie Hubbard and brother-in-law Tad Martin.

On August 17, 2008, Lau joined the cast of As the World Turns in the recurring role of Brian Wheatley. Following the end of his stint on ATWT, Lau booked the pilot Upstate, which filmed on location in Syracuse, New York. [8] However, the pilot was not picked up by a network in time for the next television season.

Lau also made appearances on primetime television shows including ABC's The Love Boat , CBS' The Waltons , [8] NBC's Frasier , and CBS' JAG and Diagnosis: Murder . [9]

Lau has also appeared on stage productions such as Arrivals, Spine, The Exonerated, The Goat, Becky's New Car, Scituate, [10] God of Carnage , [11] and Psycho Therapy. [10] [9] On stage he has played Steve Heidebrecht in the national tour of August: Osage County starring Estelle Parsons, as well as numerous roles Off-Broadway and at regional theaters throughout the U.S.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000Return to the Secret GardenTom Carter
2001The Penny PromiseGeorge Hampton
2002Jumping for JoyWill White
2004Family SolitaireBilly
2023The Ballad of a HustlerMr. Duke

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980 Paris Kevin FritzEpisode: "Fitz's Boys"
1980 Eight Is Enough LarryEpisode: "Generations"
1980 The Waltons Young G.I.Episode: "The Pledge"
1981 Happy Days PhilEpisode: "Bride and Gloom"
1981 The Best Little Girl in the World MarkTelevision film
1981 ABC Afterschool Special WallyEpisode: "Tough Girl"
1981–2009 All My Children Greg Nelson 39 episodes
1982 Fantasies Delivery BoyTelevision film
1982 The Love Boat Webb JonesEpisode: "The Man in the Iron Shorts"
1986–1989 Another World Jamie Frame 48 episodes
1998 Frasier StevenEpisode: "Where Every Bloke Knows Your Name"
1998 Mike Hammer, Private Eye DeputyEpisode: "A New Leaf: Part 2"
1998 Diagnosis: Murder Greg HutchensEpisode: "Dead in the Water"
1999 Brimstone Brad ArmstrongEpisode: "Lovers"
2000 Martial Law Warren HargroveEpisode: "Scorpio Rising"
2000 JAG Dr. Lawrence Gettis3 episodes
2001-2003 One Life to Live Sam RappaportEpisodes from May 8, 2001-April 9, 2003
2004 Law & Order Pancho DiamondEpisode: "The Dead Wives Club"
2005Franklin CharterLarry DrakeTelevision film
2008–2009 As the World Turns Brian Wheatley 29 episodes
2011 Too Big to Fail Greg Fleming Television film
2012GhoulReverend Moore
2013 Elementary Robert BaumannEpisode: "A Landmark Story"
2015The Bar Mitzvah ClubCecil's DadTelevision film
2018 Blue Bloods Wayne GreenEpisode: "Legacy"
2021 The Good Fight LawyerEpisode: "And the Clerk Had a Firm..."
2021 Harlem Kurt CurtisEpisode: "Winter Solstice"

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References

  1. 1 2 Muthler, Lana (April 21, 1985). "Laurence Lau". Williamsport Sunday Grit National Edition. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Wallace, Carol (February 20, 1984). "The Soaps' Purest Pair Takes a Valentine's Vow". People Magazine. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  3. ↑ Potts, Kim (January 21, 2010). "Greatest Soap Opera Supercouples". AOL TV. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Laurence Lau." Bluefield Daily Telegraph. March 17, 1989. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  5. ↑ Graves, Sell (April 15, 2001). "Lau returns to daytime". Syracuse Herald Journal. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Laurence Lau (ex-Sam, OLTL, 2001-03; ex-Jamie, AW, 1986-90; ex-Greg, AMC, 1981-86)". Soap Opera Digest. January 26, 2005. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  7. ↑ Scituate - Cast Archived September 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  8. 1 2 Seely, Hart (November 18, 2011). "Lights, camera, action: 'Upstate' TV show pilot filmed in Syracuse". The Post-Standard . Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  9. 1 2 "NYC's 5 Best Off-Broadway Shows". CBS New York. March 2, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  10. 1 2 "Angelica Page, Jeffrey Carlson To Lead PSYCHO THERAPY Off Broadway". Broadway World. Wisdom Digital Media. January 6, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  11. ↑ Vincent, Mal (September 20, 2011). "Promised 'God of Carnage' rumble lacks spark". The Virginian-Pilot . Archived from the original on November 22, 2011.
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