Richard Lawson Studios (RLS) was founded in Los Angeles California in 2005 by veteran actor Richard Lawson. RLS uses a complete approach that includes traditional scene study, exercises, audition classes, and combines them with on-camera instruction, filmmaking, and business administration to form a whole, comprehensive course of study. The approach is based upon moment-to-moment spontaneous work, inspired by imagination, passion, and purpose. The studio is located at the WACO (“Where Art Can Occur”) Theater Center (also co-founded by Richard Lawson and Ms. Tina Knowles-Lawson) at 5144 Lankershim Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91601.
Richard Lawson has had a long and distinguished career as an actor and master teacher that spans 6 decades. His first professional job was in the national company of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Charles Gordone, No Place to Be Somebody. Some of the more notable performances in the years to follow included Drama Critics Awards for his work in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at the Los Angeles Theater Center (LATC) and Streamers directed by Milton Katselas at the Westwood Playhouse.
Other memorable experiences included productions of Fool For Love at LATC, Checkmates at the Westwood Playhouse, a New York Shakespeare production of The Mighty Gents, a New York Manhattan Theater Company world premiere of The Talented 10th, the American premiere of Hapgood at the Doolittle Theatre in Los Angeles, Visions And Lovers at the Skylight Theater, and The Exonerated at the Actors’ Gang Theater in Los Angeles. Some of his selected films include Steven Spielberg’s Poltergeist, Walter Hill’s Streets Of Fire, Stick with Burt Reynolds, The Main Event with Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal, Coming Home with Jane Fonda and Jon Voight, Audrey Rose with Anthony Hopkins and Marsha Mason, Wag The Dog, starring Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, starring Whoopi Goldberg and Angela Bassett, Guess Who, starring Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher, and For Colored Girls, directed by Tyler Perry.
He co-starred in Angry Boys, starring Chris Lilley on HBO. He was also a series regular on The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, Dynasty, and Chicago Story. Notable movies-of-the-week include The Jericho Mile, The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story, Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI, Pandora’s Clock, and Jackie’s Back. He is fondly remembered as Lucas Barnes on All My Children.
As an acting and teaching protégé of one the finest and most respected acting teachers in the world, Milton Katselas, Richard honed his skills and sharpened his abilities. Recognizing a hole in the teaching model, he went on to create one of the most cutting edge schools in existence – the Richard Lawson Studios (RLS).
RLS uses motivational and cutting-edge computer technology to impart Richard’s 46+ years as a successful actor, teacher, public speaker, and drug counselor for the National Basketball Association to empower artists and professionals to achieve their dreams. On the other side of the coin, he uses time-tested acting techniques to empower non-artists, job seekers, and regular people to achieve their dreams.
For more information on Richard, visit https://richard.richardlawson.net/
