Josh Lawson is an Australian actor best known for his role as Doug Gugghenheim in House of Lies, Tate in Superstore and as Kano in the 2021 film Mortal Kombat.

Josh Lawson
Lawson at the Sydney premiere of Any Questions for Ben? in February 2012
OccupationActor
Years active1997–present
FamilyBen Lawson (brother)

Early life

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Lawson grew up in Brisbane, and attended St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace.[1] 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.[2]

Career

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Television

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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]

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.[3]

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.[4]

In 2017, he played the title role in Hoges: The Paul Hogan Story.

Film

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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.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7]

Other work

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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.[8]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
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
2010 The Wedding Party Steve
After the Credits Rude passenger Short film; also director and writer
2011 Pet Julian Short film
2012 Any Questions for Ben? Ben
The Campaign Tripp Huggins
Crave Aiden
Freeloaders Dave
2013 Free Birds Gus / Settler (voice)
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Kench Allenby
2014 Growing Up and Other Lies Jake
Border Protection Squad Emma
The Little Death Paul Also director and writer;
SXSW Audience Award for Narrative Spotlight
Thessaloniki International Film Festival Audience Award for Open Horizons
Nominated – Australian Writers' Guild Award for Feature Film – Original
Nominated – São Paulo International Film Festival Award for Best Feature Film
2016 The Eleven O'Clock Terry Phillips Short film; also producer and writer
AACTA Award for Best Short Fiction Film
LA Shorts Fest Award for Best Short Film
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film
2017 The Doppel Chain Thomas Short film
Becoming Bond George Lazenby Documentary
2019 Bombshell James Murdoch
2020 Holly Slept Over Noel
2021 Long Story Short Patrick Also director and writer
Mortal Kombat Kano
2023 True Spirit Roger Watson
2024 Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp Zane
2025 Mortal Kombat 2 Kano Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1997 The Wayne Manifesto Trevor 2 episodes
1998 Medivac Rob Episode: "Denial"
The Day of the Roses Mark Shuttler Miniseries; 2 episodes
2002 TwentyfourSeven Tony White 13 episodes
2004 Home and Away Felix Walters 3 episodes
2006 Blue Heelers 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 Thank God You're Here Various Characters 9 episodes
2007 Sea Patrol Toby "Chefo" Jones 13 episodes
The Librarians Lachie Davis 6 episodes
2007–2009 Chandon Pictures Carmichael Chandon 11 episodes
2009 Wipeout Australia Himself (Presenter) 8 episodes
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 House of Lies Doug Guggenheim 58 episodes
2014 Kinne Guest Cast 6 episodes
2015–2018 Superstore Tate Staskiewicz Recurring role
2016 Wrecked Eric Episode: "The Adventures of Beth and Lamar"
2017 Hoges: The Paul Hogan Story Paul Hogan Miniseries; 2 episodes
2018 Welcome to the Neighborhood Dave Unaired pilot (replaced by Max Greenfield)
2021 Have You Been Paying Attention? Himself 1 episode
2022 Cobra Kai Owen 1 episode
2023 Would I Lie To You? Australia Himself 1 episode
2024 St. Denis Medical Dr. Bruce Main role (upcoming)
Year Title Role Notes
2013 Rocket Dog Bob (voice) Short film

References

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  1. ^ Wigney, James (29 January 2012). "Lawson's ballad about love mimics life". The Sunday Mail. News Limited. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Mike Walsh O.B.E. - Official Website".
  3. ^ "James Brayshsaw is no wipeout". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  4. ^ "Josh Lawson". IMDb. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  5. ^ Schembri, Jim (9 February 2012). "Any Questions for Ben?". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  6. ^ Hipes, Patrick (23 January 2018). "Oscar Nominations: 'The Shape of Water' Leads Way With 13". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  7. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (26 August 2019). "Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee and Josh Lawson Join 'Mortal Kombat' At New Line". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  8. ^ Roach, Mel (2 May 2013). "Rocket Dog". YouTube. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021.
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