Denis Lawson

Photo from BBC

Denis Lawson was born on September 27, 1947 in Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland, where his parents ran/owned the Crieff Watchmakers shop, he has an older sister (Ewan McGregor's mom).  In the early 70's Lawson was a bit of a theatrical hippie, which is one of the aspects of Lawson that his nephew, Ewan, remembers most...the flares, the furry waistcoat...the whole bit.  Lawson enjoyed watching the comedy of Jerry Lewis, Danny Kaye and the Marx Brothers and feels that they are still his greatest influences for comedic acting.

Lawson studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Scotland, with Ian McDiarmid, and made his way to London, through a production of the musical Hair in Amsterdam, continuing his pursuit of acting.  Part of his training was years of jazz and tap dance which made him perfect for the title role in Pal Joey on stage.

Lawson is best known in England as a musical comedy star but his talents push far beyond comedic and musical entertainment.

Lawson has a son, Jamie, from a relationship with actress British actress Diane Fletcher.  He was married to noted British actress, Sheila Gish (Rachel Ellenstein in Highlander), in 2004, they met in 1984 while filming An Uncertain Feeling, she had two daughters from a previous relationship, actress Lou Gish and actress Kay Curram.  Lawson and Gish shared a home in Chalk Farm, England until Ms. Gish died in March of 2005.

 

 

 

Film

Joy-Rider~2002  - Tommy

Base Player, The~2001 - short film (17 1/2 minutes)

Fabulous Bagel Boys, The~2001 - Morris Rose

Corvellini fritti impanati~1996

RoboVampire~1993

Bitter Cherry~1985

Chain, The~1985 - Keith (see Actor Connections - Film)

Local Hero~1983- Gordon Urquhart

Star Wars-EP VI-Return of the Jedi~1983 - Wedge Antilles-Red Leader

Star Wars EP V-The Empire Strikes Back - Wedge Antilles Rogue 3

Providence~1977 - Dave Woodford

Star Wars~1977 - Wedge Antilles Red 2

 

Film Director

Solid Geometry~2002  (see Actor Connections - Film)

Bass Player,The~2000 

 

Film Writer

Solid Geometry~2002  (see Actor Connections - Film)
Bass Player, The~2000

 

TV 

Jekyll~2007 - Peter Syme

Ordeal by Innocence~2007 -

Daziel and Pascoe~1996 - John Barron in The Cave Woman: Parts 1 & 2 (#11.1 & 2) 9/3 & 4/06

The Thieving Headmistress~2006 - Father Plunkett

Sensitive Skin~2006 - Al Jackson

Daziel and Pascoe~1996 - mid-Yorkshire Chief Constable (#?) 9/3/06

The Thieving Headmistress~2006 - Father Plunkett

Bleak House~2005 - John Jarndyce (see Actor Connections - TV)

World's Worst Century, The~2004 - Narrator

Richard & Judy~2001 - Himself - 1/19/04

Breakfast~2000 - Himself/guest 1/19/04

South Bank Show, The~1978 - Himself in Ewan McGregor (#26.25) 9/21/03

Lucky Jim~2002   - Julius Gore-Urqhart

Real Hughie Green, The~2001 - Narrator

New Found Land: Leonard~2001/2 - Leonard

Real Hughie Green, The~2001  - Narrator

Liberace: Too Much of a Good Thing Is Wonderful~2000  (voice) - Narrator

Bob Martin~2000  series - Greg

Other People's Children~2000  series - Tom

Bob Martin~2000 - 

Holby City~1999 - Dr. Tom Campbell-Gore (# 100), Tom Campbell-Gore: Cardio-Thoracic Consultant Surgeon  (2002-2004)

Cold Feet (UK)~1999 - Alexander Welcht - (#104)

Round Tower, The~1998  Arthur Brett

Horatio Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant~1998  -Captain Foster in The Duchess and the Devil 

      The  Wrong  War / The Fire Ships / The Duel (1999 USA)

Ambassador, The~1998   - John Stone

Round Tower, The~1998  - 

Ambassador, The~1998

Royal Scandal, A~1996  - Henry Brougham

Tales From the Crypt~1989 - Frank in Smoke Wrings (#7.9) 6/2/96

Boon~1986 - James Marian in Bully Boys (#5.6) 10/30/90

Natural Lies~1992  mini-series - Towne

Born Kicking~1992  - Victor Grace

Bejewelled~1991  - Alistair

The Justice Game~1989 - 

One Way Out~1989  - Bernard

Love After Lunch~1989  series - Miles

Dead Head~1985  mini-series - Eddie Cass

That Uncertain Feeling~1985 - mini-series  as John Aneurin Lewis

Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV~1985 Philip (# 1.5) 2/8/85

Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV~1985  Philip (# 1.2) 1/18/85

Dead Head~1985 -  Eddie Cass (see Actor Connections - TV)

Kit Curran Radio Show, The~1984 - Kit Curran

Time Watch~1982 - Narrator

Bergerac~1981 - Giroux in Miracle Every Week (#2.7) 2/20/83

Flipside of Dominick Hide, The~1980  - Felix

Survivors~1975 - Norman in Future Hour, The (#1.10) 1975

El C.I.D~  - in My Brother's Keeper

Justice Game II: The Lady From Rome~ - Dominic Rossi

Justice Game~1989  - Dominic Rossi

Rock Follies of 1977~1977  series - Ken Church

Man in the Iron Mask, The~1976  - Claude

Rock Follies~1976  series - Ken Church

Merchant of Venice, The~1973 - Launcelot Gobbo

 

Commercials

Pedigree (dog food)~2003

 

Theater

Sensitive Skin~2006 -

A Love Letter to Dan: A Tribute to Dan Crawford~2006 - reader (Kingshead Theatre, Islington, UK) (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

An Enchanted Evening~1999  - guest star/performer in an all-star tribute to West End musicals (Theatre Royal,  London, UK)

Lust~1995 - Horner (Walnut Theatre, Philadelphia, PA)

Lust~1993  - Horner (John Houseman Theater and West End, UK)

Oleanna~1993 - John (Duke of York, )

Valpone~1989/90 - Mosca (Almeida Theatre, London, UK) (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

The Film Society~1988 - (Hampstead Theatre, )

The Importance of Being Earnest~1987 - (Royalty Theatre, )

Ashes~1986 - (Bush Theatre, )

Lend Me A Tenor~1986  - Max (Globe Theater, London, UK)

Have You Met Miss Jones?~ - 

Lucky Chance, The~1984 - (Royal Court Theatre, London,UK)

Mr. Cinders~1982/3 - Mr. Jim Cinders (Jim Lancaster)  ...sings "Spread a Little Happiness" (King's Head Theatre Club, London; Fortune Theatre, London, UK)

Pal Joey~1980 -  (Half Moon Theatre; Albery 81 Theatre, London, UK) (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

Greenish Man, The~1979 - Patrick (Bush Theatre, London, UK) (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

Censored Scenes from King Kong~1978 - (Open Space Theatre, )

The Dog Ran Away~1977 - (Hampstead Theatre, )

50 Words~1975/6 - several parts (King's Head Theatre Club, London; Embassy Club, )

She Stoops To Conquer~1974 - (Ashcroft Theatre, Croyden/Cambridge, UK) (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

Candida~1974 - (The Palace Theatre, Watford, UK)

Fears and Miseries of the Third Reich~1974 - (Nuffield Theatre, Southampton, UK)

Aunt Sally or The Triumph Over Death~1973 - (Arts Theatre, Cambridge Theatre Company, Cambridge, UK)  (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

Jack and the Beanstalk~1973/4 - (Arts Theatre, Cambridge Theatre Company, Cambridge, UK)

Twelfth Night~1973/4 - Feste, Olivia's clown (Ashcroft Theatre, Croyden, UK) (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

England's Ireland~1972 - (Royal Court Theatre, )

Flowers~1971 - 

Metamorphosis~1969 - (Round House Theatre, ; Hampstead Theatre Club, )

???~1969 - *two man show*

Hair~ - (tour Amsterdam/Oslo)

Sarah B. Divine~ - (Jeanetta Cochrane Theatre, London, UK)

Blow Job~ - (Portable Theatre Group, )

The Royal Hunt of the Sun~ - Felipillo

Jill & Jack~ - 

Mrs. Grabowski's Academy~ - (Royal Court Theatre, )

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat~ - (Leeds Playhouse, )

Kidnapped for Christmas~ - (Shaw Theatre, )

We Can't Pay, We Won't Pay~ - (Half Moon Theatre, London, UK)

Cool Million~ - (Half Moon Theatre, London, UK)

Romeo and Juliet~ - Romeo

Leatherhead~ - (Half Moon Theatre; Albery Theatre, London, UK)

The Enemy Within~ - (Thorndike Theatre; Half Moon Theatre; Albery Theatre, London, UK)

 

Theater Director

The Anniversary~2005 - (Garrick Theatre, London, UK)

Burning Issues~2000 (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

A Solitary Vice~2000

Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs~1999  1/20 - 3/13/1999 (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

 

Radio

BBC Jazz Awards 2002~2002 - presenter for  Best Album: Brian Kellock Trio – Live At Henry's 7/21/02

Sweet Tooth~1987 - George

Kit Carson Radio Show~1984 - Kit Carson (see Actor Connections - Radio)

 

Audio Books

Star Wars: Heir To The Empire~1991  - narrator/reader

 

Video Games

Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron 2~2001 (voice) -  Wedge Antilles

 

Awards and Nominations:

BAFTA

Nom 2006 Best Actor for Bleak House

Barrymore Awards:

Rec'd 1995 Outstanding Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for Lust (Walnut Theatre)

Emmy Awards: (Thanks to Jo!)

Nom 2006 Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for Bleak House

Olivier Award (Society of West End Theatres SWET Award):

Rec'd 1984 Best Actor of the Year in a Musical  for Mr. Cinders

Rec'd 1983 Best Actor in a Musical for Mr. Cinders

Nom 1980 Best Actor of the Year in a Musical for Pal Joey

 

Miscellany

Vice Patron of The Actors Centre in London, UK.

 

Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama - Hall of Fame member

 

Glasgow Film Theatre (Glasgow, Scotland) has seat DO81 dedicated to him and his nephew Ewan McGregor:  "For Ewan McGregor and Denis Lawson. Talent without frontiers"

 

Was a teacher of Actors Cut and Actors Cut 2 at the Actors Centre in London, UK.

 

During his filming of Horatio Hornblower , they had to be at sea for 12 hours a day...Lawson said that he was sick nearly all of the time.

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