Josh Lawson
{{Short description|Australian actor}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Josh Lawson
| image = Josh Lawson.jpg
| caption = Lawson at the Sydney premiere of Any Questions for Ben? in February 2012
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1997–present
| family = Ben Lawson (brother)
}}
Josh Lawson is an Australian actor best known for his role as Doug Guggenheim in House of Lies, Tate in Superstore and as Kano in the 2021 film Mortal Kombat.
Early life
Lawson grew up in Brisbane, and attended St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace.{{cite news|first=James|last=Wigney|title=Lawson's ballad about love mimics life|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/lawsons-ballad-about-falling-in-love/news-story/b43c7eda38646f566308f1d1ae18ccd0|newspaper=The Sunday Mail|publisher=News Limited|date=29 January 2012|access-date=15 May 2018}} He graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 2001. He also spent one year studying improvisation techniques in Los Angeles at The Second City, The Groundlings, ACME Comedy Theatre and I.O. West. His older brother is actor Ben Lawson.
In 2003 Lawson was awarded a Mike Walsh Fellowship.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mikewalsh.com.au/fellowships/|title = Mike Walsh O.B.E. - Official Website}}
Career
=Television=
Lawson has had guest-starring roles in such popular Australian television programs as Blue Heelers and Home & Away, and is known for his appearances on the improv comedy program Thank God You're Here and on the Australian drama Sea Patrol and comedy The Librarians. He also had a guest role in the comedy Wilfred and starred in several television commercials, including advertisements for Coca-Cola Cherry and Gold Class cinemas.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}
He portrayed Tate Staskiewicz, the pharmacist in the series' titular setting, on the sitcom Superstore for three seasons.
Lawson also hosted Wipeout Australia with James Brayshaw.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/james-brayshsaw-is-no-wipeout/story-e6freye0-1111118142722 |title=James Brayshsaw is no wipeout |publisher=Daily Telegraph|access-date=16 October 2013}}
Lawson played Ben in the American pilot Spaced and Shawn on Romantically Challenged for ABC. Since its inception in 2012, he has played management consultant Doug Guggenheim on Showtime's House of Lies.{{cite web|title=Josh Lawson|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493257/|publisher=IMDb|access-date=29 March 2012}}
In 2017, he played the title role in Hoges: The Paul Hogan Story.
=Film=
In 2006, Lawson made his feature film debut in BoyTown. He had the starring role in the 2012 Australian comedy film Any Questions for Ben?, created by Working Dog Productions.{{cite web|last=Schembri|first=Jim|title=Any Questions for Ben?|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/any-questions-for-ben-20120209-1rp05.html|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|access-date=17 February 2012|date=9 February 2012}} He also appeared alongside Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis in the 2012 comedy film The Campaign, as well as Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues and Crave.
His feature directing debut The Little Death which he also wrote and starred in, was released in 2014.
Lawson was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2018 for The Eleven O'Clock, a short film he wrote and starred in.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/01/oscar-nominations-2018-academy-award-nominees-1202266874/ |title= Oscar Nominations: 'The Shape of Water' Leads Way With 13 |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |date=23 January 2018 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=23 January 2018 }}
In 2018, Lawson portrayed "Dave Johnson" in the comedy pilot for the CBS series Here Comes the Neighborhood (later The Neighborhood), but was replaced by actor Max Greenfield before the series was picked up by the network.
In August 2019, Lawson was cast in the Mortal Kombat reboot as Kano.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/lewis-tan-jessica-mcnamee-josh-lawson-mortal-kombat-new-line-1202704502/|title=Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee and Josh Lawson Join 'Mortal Kombat' At New Line|first=Dino-Ray|last=Ramos|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=26 August 2019|access-date=27 August 2019}}
=Other work=
During 2006 and 2007, Lawson was a regular guest co-host on the Australian radio comedy show Get This which aired on Triple M. In 2013, he voiced the role of Bob in the Cartoon Hangover short film Rocket Dog.{{cite web|last=Roach|first=Mel|title=Rocket Dog|website=YouTube |date=2 May 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9WYRTCoOsA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/M9WYRTCoOsA |archive-date=19 December 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| rowspan="3"|2006
| Hey Stranger | Caller | Short film |
| Charmed Robbery
| Customer | Short film |
| BoyTown
| Andy | |
| 2007
| $quid | Chris | Short film |
| 2009
| Law and Order: Really Special Victims Unit | The pianist | Short film; also writer |
| rowspan="2"|2010
| {{sortname|The|Wedding Party|nolink=1}} | Steve | |
| After the Credits
| Rude passenger | Short film; also director and writer |
| 2011
| Pet | Julian | Short film |
| rowspan="4"|2012
| Ben | |
| {{sortname|The|Campaign|dab=film}}
| Tripp Huggins | |
| Crave
| Aiden | |
| Freeloaders
| Dave | |
| rowspan="2"|2013
| Gus / Settler (voice) | |
| Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
| Kench Allenby | |
| rowspan="3"|2014
| Jake | |
| Border Protection Squad
| Emma | |
| The Little Death
| Paul | Also director and writer; |
| 2016
| Terry Phillips | Short film; also producer and writer |
| rowspan="2"|2017
| The Doppel Chain | Thomas | Short film |
| Becoming Bond
| Documentary |
| 2019
| |
| 2020
| Noel | |
| rowspan="2"|2021
| Patrick | Also director and writer |
| Mortal Kombat
| Kano | |
| 2023
| Roger Watson | |
| 2024
| Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp | Zane | |
| 2025
| style="background:#FFFFCC;"| Mortal Kombat 2 | Kano | Post-production |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! style="width:20em;"| Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 1997
| {{sortname|The|Wayne Manifesto}} | Trevor | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|1998
| Medivac | Rob | Episode: "Denial" |
| {{sortname|The|Day of the Roses}}
| Mark Shuttler | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 2002
| Tony White | 13 episodes |
| 2004
| Felix Walters | 3 episodes |
| rowspan="3"|2006
| David Murray | 5 episodes |
| All Saints
| Nick Bagnall | Episode: "Tough Love" |
| Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King
| ER Doctor | Episode: "Autopsy Room Four" |
| 2006–2009
| Himself | 9 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2007
| Toby "Chefo" Jones | 13 episodes |
| {{sortname|The|Librarians|dab=2007 TV series}}
| Lachie Davis | 6 episodes |
| 2007–2009
| Carmichael Chandon | 11 episodes |
| 2009
| Himself (Presenter) | 8 episodes |
| rowspan="3"|2010
| Wilfred | Spencer | Episode: "The Dog Father" |
| Hawke
| Grant Nihill | Television film |
| Romantically Challenged
| Shawn Goldwater | 6 episodes |
| 2011
| Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away | Michael Sullivan | Television film |
| 2012
| Lowdown | Mark Hardy | Episode: "A Bollywood Ending" |
| 2012–2016
| Doug Guggenheim | 58 episodes |
| 2014
| Kinne | Guest Cast | 6 episodes |
| 2015–2018
| Tate Staskiewicz | Recurring role |
| 2016
| Wrecked | Eric | Episode: "The Adventures of Beth and Lamar" |
| 2017
| Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 2018
| Dave | Unaired pilot (replaced by Max Greenfield) |
| 2021
| Have You Been Paying Attention? | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2022
| Owen | 1 episode |
| 2023
| Would I Lie To You? Australia | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2024–present
| Dr. Bruce | Main role |
=Web=
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 2013
| Bob (voice) | Short film |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0493257}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawson, Josh}}
Category:20th-century Australian male actors
Category:21st-century Australian male actors
Category:Australian expatriate male actors in the United States
Category:Australian male child actors
Category:Australian male comedians
Category:Australian male film actors
Category:Australian male soap opera actors
Category:Male actors from Brisbane
Category:National Institute of Dramatic Art alumni
Category:People educated at St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace