Awareness: One-on-One with actor Richard Lawson

Awareness: One-on-One with actor Richard Lawson
Published: Apr. 15, 2025 at 11:01 PM EDT

ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) - With a career spanning over 50 years in Hollywood, Richard Lawson has seen it all, such as the ups, downs, no’s, and yes.

So, how does he navigate it all? He tells Billie Jean Shaw his secret in this week’s episode of Awareness.

“I wasn’t drawn to it as much as I was pulled to it”

As a child, Lawson had dreams of becoming a lawyer.

After serving in Vietnam, he attended a junior college and was “pulled” into acting by a teacher who noticed his booming voice. From there, his love for acting was developed.

‘Who killed my wife?!’

Lawson gained new fans due to his recurring role as Norman Bellarie in Tyler Perry’s “Beauty In The Black,” on Netflix.

His iconic line, “Who killed my wife?” has led Norman to take drastic measures to find who killed the love of his life, painting him as a villain to many.

But Lawson says his character is the exact opposite of that.

“The Artist’s Roadmap”

An actor, a teacher, a mentor: Lawson said those roles in his life have launched him to a successful 50-plus year career in Hollywood, and now he’s lifting as he climbs.

Lawson recently released his first book, which serves as guidance to an aspiring actor looking to elevate their career in a competitive industry.

“The Artist’s Roadmap” can be purchased here.,

If you have a story idea for Awareness, Billie Jean Shaw would love to hear from you. Email billiejean.shaw@wistv.com or contact her on her Facebook and Instagram pages.

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