Anthony Lawrence obit

Belated obit: Veteran TV writer Anthony Lawrence

 

He was not on the list.

Anthony Lawrence, a television writer who devised stories across multiple genres, died in February at 95, according to the Writers Guild of America in memoriam page.

His credits include nine episodes of the original Hawaii Five-O series, starting with the second season and running through the sixth.

On Five-O, Lawrence often penned stories that had unhappy endings. Among them was a two-part story, Three Dead Cows at Makapuu. In that story, an idealistic scientist — who has gone missing after working on the U.S.’s germ warfare program — decides the only way to get the world’s attention is to unleash a potent sample that will wipe out all life on Oahu.

Eventually, the scientist (Ed Flanders) changes his mind and sacrifices himself to prevent the catastrophe.

Another Lawrence-written Five-O episode, Death With Father, was directed by series star Jack Lord. The story concerned how the son of a former policeman had become a criminal. In the conclusion, the son blows up himself and his father.

Lawrence wrote for Western shows, including eight episodes of Bonanza. His output included three episodes that told the back story of each of the wives of Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene). The scribe also tackled science fiction (The Outer Limits), contemporary dramas (Slattery’s People), and medical dramas (Ben Casey, Dr. Kildare, Medical Center). He also had an Elvis Presley movie, Roustabout, on his resume.

Anthony Lawrence was born on May 12, 1928 in Hollywood, California, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for Hawaii Five-O (1968), Roustabout (1964) and The Sixth Sense (1972). He was married to Madeleine Smith-Lawrence and Nancy Lawrence. He died on February 6, 2024.

Lawrence did not think of himself as a writer of Westerns, so when he was hired to script a horse opera, he focused his writing on relationships and character. One day while on the set of Bonanza (1959), producer David Dortort told Lawrence he wanted to do a story on each of Ben's wives. The screenwriter enthusiastically replied, "Let me do it, I can kill off at least two of them!" Lawrence thought he would get thrown off the set for saying this, but instead was given the task of becoming the writer who scripted the stories with Ben and his wives, all three of whom died.

[on getting hired to write movies for Elvis Presley] My agent called me up and said, "Would you consider doing a movie for Elvis Presley?". And I said, "Who's Elvis Presley?". I had no idea at the time who he was; I had never heard of him. I wasn't a rock-'n'-roll fan in those years. I had grown up in the big-band era. I was a popular song enthusiast as well as a singer. I'd done some singing, and had some training as a saloon singer. So when I went down to meet [producer] Hal B. Wallis, I was a little bit overwhelmed because I'd never heard of Presley. I didn't know what I was getting into. As it turned out, I rewrote a script they had, which turned out to be Roustabout (1964), and then I did two others later on. Those were good, but I remember I was on a week-to-week [contract], and every week at the end of the week I'd pick up my pencils and go home because I figured I was going to be fired.

 

Writer

Slow Fade to Autumn

Short

from the novel byscreenplay & adaptation

2016

 

Dreamcatchers (2015)

Dreamcatchers

Short

Writer

2015

 

Marsha Warfield in The Marsha Warfield Show (1990)

The Marsha Warfield Show

5.3

TV Series

Writer (as Tony Lawrence, 1990)

1990–1991

 

Andrew Robinson in Liberace (1988)

Liberace

6.4

TV Movie

written by

1988

 

The Twilight Zone (1985)

The Twilight Zone

7.7

TV Series

written by (segment "Song of the Younger World")

1987

1 episode

 

Joan Fontaine, Melissa Sue Anderson, Lois Chiles, Nicollette Sheridan, Michael York, Steve Inwood, Linda Purl, and Paul Shenar in Dark Mansions (1986)

Dark Mansions

6.6

TV Movie

story

1986

 

Jamie Rose in Lady Blue (1985)

Lady Blue

6.5

TV Series

written by

1985–1986

3 episodes

 

Tony Lo Bianco and Lindsay Wagner in Jessie (1984)

Jessie

6.9

TV Series

teleplay

1984

1 episode

 

The Phoenix (1981)

The Phoenix

6.9

TV Series

created bywritten by

1981–1982

5 episodes

 

Kurt Russell in Elvis (1979)

Elvis

6.9

TV Movie

written by

1979

 

Peter Falk in Columbo (1971)

Columbo

8.3

TV Series

story by

1978

1 episode

 

John Savage and Gig Young in Gibbsville (1976)

Gibbsville

6.9

TV Series

written by

1977

1 episode

 

Rafferty (1977)

Rafferty

6.9

TV Series

story

1977

1 episode

 

The Streets of San Francisco (1972)

The Streets of San Francisco

7.3

TV Series

written by

1977

1 episode

 

Flight to Holocaust (1977)

Flight to Holocaust

5.8

TV Movie

teleplay

1977

 

Jack Klugman in Quincy, M.E. (1976)

Quincy, M.E.

7.3

TV Series

story (as Tony Lawrence)

1977

1 episode

 

Kurt Russell and Tim Matheson in The Quest (1976)

The Quest

7.1

TV Series

writer

1976

2 episodes

 

Stranded (1976)

Stranded

4.7

TV Movie

Writer

1976

 

Helen Hunt, Willie Aames, Pat Delaney, Martin Milner, and Eric Olson in Swiss Family Robinson (1975)

Swiss Family Robinson

6.4

TV Series

written by

1976

2 episodes

 

George Kennedy in The Blue Knight (1975)

The Blue Knight

6.9

TV Series

written by

1975

1 episode

 

Archer (1975)

Archer

5.6

TV Series

written by

1975

1 episode

 

William Shatner in Kodiak (1974)

Kodiak

7.4

TV Series

writer

1974

3 episodes

 

Planet of the Apes (1974)

Planet of the Apes

7.0

TV Series

teleplay bystory by

1974

1 episode

 

Raymond Burr and Barbara Sigel in Ironside (1967)

Ironside

6.9

TV Series

teleplaystory

1974

2 episodes

 

Doc Elliot (1973)

Doc Elliot

6.2

TV Series

writer

1974

1 episode

 

Kam Fong, Al Harrington, Jack Lord, and James MacArthur in Hawaii Five-O (1968)

Hawaii Five-O

7.4

TV Series

written byteleplayteleplay by ...

1969–1974

9 episodes

 

Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969)

Marcus Welby, M.D.

7.0

TV Series

written by

1973

1 episode

 

Circle of Fear (1972)

Circle of Fear

7.6

TV Series

writerwritten by

1972–1973

2 episodes

 

William Conrad in Cannon (1971)

Cannon

6.8

TV Series

written by

1973

1 episode

 

The Sixth Sense (1972)

The Sixth Sense

7.1

TV Series

created bystory bywritten by

1972

25 episodes

 

Jigsaw (1972)

Jigsaw

6.4

TV Series

writer

1972

1 episode

 

The Marshal of Madrid (1971)

The Marshal of Madrid

5.9

TV Movie

created by

1971

 

Glenn Ford, Edgar Buchanan, Victor Campos, Sandra Ego, Peter Ford, and Taylor Lacher in Cade's County (1971)

Cade's County

7.1

TV Series

written by

1971

1 episode

 

Michael Constantine, Lloyd Haynes, Denise Nicholas, and Karen Valentine in Room 222 (1969)

Room 222

7.7

TV Series

written by

1970–1971

3 episodes

 

Louise Latham, Stefanie Powers, and Chris Robinson in Sweet, Sweet Rachel (1971)

Sweet, Sweet Rachel

5.6

TV Movie

written by

1971

 

Gunsmoke (1955)

Gunsmoke

8.1

TV Series

written by

1971

1 episode

 

Men at Law (1970)

Men at Law

6.1

TV Series

Writer

1971

1 episode

 

Louis Gossett Jr., Richard Ely, Alex Henteloff, and Hilarie Thompson in The Young Rebels (1970)

The Young Rebels

7.7

TV Series

written by

1970

1 episode

 

Medical Center (1969)

Medical Center

7.1

TV Series

written by

1970

3 episodes

 

Peggy Lipton, Michael Cole, and Clarence Williams III in Mod Squad (1968)

Mod Squad

7.0

TV Series

written by

1969

1 episode

 

Don Murray and Otis Young in The Outcasts (1968)

The Outcasts

7.5

TV Series

written by

1968–1969

2 episodes

 

The Felony Squad (1966)

The Felony Squad

7.4

TV Series

teleplaystory

1968

1 episode

 

The Rat Patrol (1966)

The Rat Patrol

7.4

TV Series

written byteleplaywriter

1966–1967

5 episodes

 

Elvis Presley, Dodie Marshall, and Pat Priest in Easy Come, Easy Go (1967)

Easy Come, Easy Go

5.3

written by

1967

 

Barbara Hershey, Michael Anderson Jr., Tammy Locke, Keith Schultz, and Kevin Schultz in The Monroes (1966)

The Monroes

7.8

TV Series

writer

1966

1 episode

 

Elvis Presley in Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966)

Paradise, Hawaiian Style

5.5

screenplay by

1966

 

The Long, Hot Summer (1965)

The Long, Hot Summer

8.0

TV Series

writer

1965–1966

3 episodes

 

David Janssen in The Fugitive (1963)

The Fugitive

8.1

TV Series

written by

1966

1 episode

 

Dr. Kildare (1961)

Dr. Kildare

7.0

TV Series

teleplaystorywritten by

1962–1964

2 episodes

 

Elvis Presley in Roustabout (1964)

Roustabout

6.0

screenplay

1964

 

Richard Crenna and Maxine Stuart in Slattery's People (1964)

Slattery's People

8.0

TV Series

written by

1964

1 episode

 

Ben Casey (1961)

Ben Casey

7.1

TV Series

written by

1963–1964

3 episodes

 

The Outer Limits (1963)

The Outer Limits

8.2

TV Series

written by

1963–1964

2 episodes

 

Bonanza (1959)

Bonanza

7.3

TV Series

written byteleplay bystory by

1960–1963

8 episodes

 

Richard Boone in Have Gun - Will Travel (1957)

Have Gun - Will Travel

8.4

TV Series

teleplaystory (as Tony Lawrence, as Tony Lawrence)

1962

1 episode

 

Naked City (1958)

Naked City

8.2

TV Series

teleplaystory

1962

1 episode

 

George Maharis and Martin Milner in Route 66 (1960)

Route 66

7.7

TV Series

written by

1962

1 episode

 

Dale Robertson in Tales of Wells Fargo (1957)

Tales of Wells Fargo

7.9

TV Series

written by

1961–1962

2 episodes

 

Gunfight at Black Horse Canyon (1961)

Gunfight at Black Horse Canyon

5.4

TV Movie

written by

1961

 

Victor Jory in Manhunt (1959)

Manhunt

7.3

TV Series

written by (as Tony Lawrence)

1960

1 episode

 

This Man Dawson (1959)

This Man Dawson

7.2

TV Series

written by

1959–1960

3 episodes

 

The Case of the Dangerous Robin (1960)

The Case of the Dangerous Robin

7.8

TV Series

written by

1960

1 episode

 

Death Valley Days (1952)

Death Valley Days

7.5

TV Series

Writer

1960

1 episode

 

Lock Up (1959)

Lock Up

7.4

TV Series

writer

1959

1 episode

 

Producer

Slow Fade to Autumn

Short

executive producer

2016

 

The Twilight Zone (1985)

The Twilight Zone

7.7

TV Series

supervising producer

1986–1987

11 episodes

 

Jamie Rose in Lady Blue (1985)

Lady Blue

6.5

TV Series

producer

1985–1986

14 episodes

 

The Phoenix (1981)

The Phoenix

6.9

TV Series

producer

1981

1 episode

 

Kurt Russell in Elvis (1979)

Elvis

6.9

TV Movie

producer

1979

 

Actor

Dreamcatchers (2015)

Dreamcatchers

Short

Bud

2015

 

Anthony Lawrence in Entanglement (2014)

Entanglement

Short

Nate

2014

 

Pat Crawford Brown in Hi, Lillian (2012)

Hi, Lillian

8.5

Short

Grandpa at Meeting

2012

 

Fake Stacy (2003)

Fake Stacy

8.3

Short

Hipster

2003

 

Dean Fredericks in Steve Canyon (1958)

Steve Canyon

7.2

TV Series

Ticket Taker

1959

1 episode

 

Jack Webb in Dragnet (1951)

Dragnet

7.5

TV Series

Herman Dillon (as Mitchell Lawrence)

1953–1959

5 episodes

 

John McIntire in Wagon Train (1957)

Wagon Train

7.6

TV Series

Man

1958

1 episode

 

Lee Marvin in M Squad (1957)

M Squad

8.1

TV Series

Henchman BosackVictim's Boyfriend

1957

2 episodes

 

Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre (1955)

Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre

7.4

TV Series

JackieStranger

1957

2 episodes

 

Hal Baylor, Hans Conried, and Chuck Hicks in Schlitz Playhouse (1951)

Schlitz Playhouse

7.6

TV Series

1957

1 episode

 

Playhouse 90 (1956)

Playhouse 90

8.3

TV Series

(uncredited)

1956

1 episode

 

The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial (1955)

The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial

6.9

TV Series

Sharpe (as Tony Lawrence)

1956

1 episode

 

Studio 57 (1954)

Studio 57

7.3

TV Series

(as Mitchell Lawrence)

1956

1 episode

 

Death Valley Days (1952)

Death Valley Days

7.5

TV Series

Don Juan Castro (as Mitchell Lawrence)

1956

1 episode

 

Charlton Heston, Edward G. Robinson, Anne Baxter, Yul Brynner, John Carradine, Yvonne De Carlo, John Derek, and Vincent Price in The Ten Commandments (1956)

The Ten Commandments

7.9

Slave (uncredited)

1956

 

Tony Curtis, Arthur Kennedy, and Colleen Miller in The Rawhide Years (1956)

The Rawhide Years

6.2

Hotel Clerk (uncredited)

1956

 

Lee Aaker, James Brown, and Rin Tin Tin II in The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (1954)

The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin

7.0

TV Series

Don Cortez (as Mitchell Lawrence)

1955

1 episode

 

Audie Murphy and Mari Blanchard in Destry (1954)

Destry

6.6

Professor (as Mitchell Lawrence)

1954

 

Robert Mitchum and Marilyn Monroe in River of No Return (1954)

River of No Return

6.6

Young Punk (uncredited)

1954

 

Additional Crew

Jamie Rose in Lady Blue (1985)

Lady Blue

6.5

TV Series

creative consultant

1985

1 episode

 

Tony Lo Bianco and Lindsay Wagner in Jessie (1984)

Jessie

6.9

TV Series

creative consultant

1984

5 episodes

 

The Sixth Sense (1972)

The Sixth Sense

7.1

TV Series

executive story consultant

1972

13 episodes

 

Director

Dreamcatchers (2015)

Dreamcatchers

Short

Director

2015

 

Camera and Electrical Department

Miss Leslie's Dolls (1972)

Miss Leslie's Dolls

5.0

key grip

1972

 

Script and Continuity Department

Richard Crenna and Maxine Stuart in Slattery's People (1964)

Slattery's People

8.0

TV Series

script

1964

1 episode

 

Self

Sunset Over Mulholland Drive (2019)

Sunset Over Mulholland Drive

7.2

Self (as Tony Lawrence)

2019