From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedAnderson Lawler (May 5, 1902 – April 6, 1959) was an American film and stage actor and producer, who had a career lasting from the 1920s through the 1950s. He began on Broadway, before moving to featured and supporting roles in Hollywood over a ten-year career at the very beginning of the talking picture era. After the end of his acting career, Lawler would move to the production end of the film industry, as well as becoming a producer of legitimate theater in the late 1940s and 1950s.Life and careerLawler was born Sidney Lawler on May 5, 1902 in Russellville, Alabama to Earnest H. and Dona C. Lawler. Prior to 1927, Lawler would move to New York City, and change his professional name to Anderson. In 1927 he would have a featured role in the Broadway production Her First Affaire, which premiered at the Nora Bayes Theatre in August 1927. In 1929 he would move to Los Angeles, where he would begin his career in the film industry. His first role would be in 1929s River of Romance. While in Hollywood, he appeared in almost thirty films during this time, mostly in supporting roles, before moving behind the scenes in 1939. Aside from his professional career, he was also popular with many Hollywood luminaries, such as William Haines, George Cukor, Gary Cooper and Katharine Hepburn. Lawler was a homosexual, although he was frequently linked with women. In 1935 he accompanied Kay Francis on a trip to Europe, ostensibly sent by the studios to keep her out of trouble. At one point, Walter Winchell started a rumor that the two were engaged.He produced the 1946 film, Somewhere in the Night, which was directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and starred John Hodiak, Nancy Guild, and Lloyd Nolan. Lee Strasberg adapted the screenplay, and was an assistant director on the project. Shortly after this, both Lawler and Strasberg were transferred to the New York office of Twentieth Century-Fox. Lawler and Strasberg had a close friendship, Lawler becoming the Godfather of Strasbergs daughter, Susan Strasberg. In New York, Lawler worked in Foxs talent department, but he also began a second career as a producer of legitimate theater. At least one of those plays, Oh Men, Oh Women, would be turned into a film by Fox in 1957. On April 6, 1959, Lawler would die suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart attack.
Lonely Drunk (uncredited)
Film 1932
Alex Howard
Film 1931
Police Car 29 Driver (uncredited)
Film 1938
Reporter (uncredited)
Film 1937
Tim 'Tombstone' Terry
Film 1933
Tom Stribbling
Film 1929
Joe Page
Film 1938
Mr. Siebert
Film 1933
Doctor
Film 1930
Joe Patterson
Film 1929
Pvt. Abbott
Film 1938
Monteray Tavern Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Film 1937
Gigolo
Film 1932
Horace Baldwin
Film 1930
Wounded Soldier in Hospital (uncredited)
Film 1931
Mr. Bounty
Film 1938
Constable Burgoon
Film 1938
Alexander L. Torey
Film 1937
Buck McGovern
Film 1937
Allan Fitzhugh
Film 1939
Tate
Film 1933
Convict
Film 1938
F.R. Dawson
Film 1938
Alec
Film 1931
Peter
Film 1934
Higgins - Federal Agent (uncredited)
Film 1935
First Production Manager (uncredited)
Film 1937
Joe Hammond
Film 1932
Tom Rountree
Film 1934
Charlie (uncredited)
Film 1932