Wesley Lau

Wesley Lau (June 18, 1921 – August 30, 1984) was an American actor, occasional screenwriter, and Broadway performer born and raised in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to parents Albert and Agnes (née Feldner) Lau. He graduated from Central High School in 1939 and went on to study playwriting at the University of Wisconsin, interrupting his education to serve in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He subsequently earned a Master of Arts degree from Yale Drama School and continued his training at The Actors Studio in New York City. Though his original ambition was to work as a writer, Lau found greater employment opportunities as an actor upon arriving in New York and pursued that path professionally.

His Broadway career included an appearance in 1956 in the drama Too Late the Phalarope. His work in film included a role in the 1960 John Wayne production The Alamo.

Lau became most widely recognized for his recurring television role as Lt. Andy Anderson on the long-running series Perry Mason. He first appeared on the show in September 1961, playing defendant Amory Fallon in the episode "The Case of the Impatient Partner." Within a month he debuted as Lt. Anderson in "The Case of the Malicious Mariner," the fourth episode of the fifth season, and went on to make 81 appearances in that role through "The Case of the Mischievous Doll," the final episode of the eighth season in 1964–1965. Lau appeared with particular frequency during periods when series regular Ray Collins, who portrayed Lt. Arthur Tragg, was absent; Collins died in 1965 before the series concluded. Lau later reunited with Perry Mason star Raymond Burr in an episode of Burr's subsequent series Ironside titled "In the Forests of the Night."

Beyond Perry Mason, Lau made guest appearances on numerous television programs, including Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Gunsmoke, Mike Hammer, Johnny Ringo, Have Gun – Will Travel, Peter Gunn, The Twilight Zone, The Time Tunnel, The Big Valley, Mission: Impossible, Cannon, Wagon Train, and The Six Million Dollar Man.

Lau died of heart failure on August 30, 1984, at the age of 63. He is buried at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.