Ben Lawson

Ben Lawson (born 6 February 1980) is an Australian actor. From 2006 until 2008, he played Frazer Yeats in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. The role earned him a Logie Award nomination. Lawson has since appeared in several American television series, including The Deep End, Covert Affairs, and Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23. In 2011, he starred opposite Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher in the film No Strings Attached. From 2017 to 2018, he starred as Damien Rennett on the ABC political drama Designated Survivor. He also played baseball coach Rick Wlodimierzin in the second season of 13 Reasons Why, and Larry Hemsworth on The Good Place. Lawson portrays Lachlan Murdoch in the 2019 film Bombshell, alongside his brother Josh Lawson who played James Murdoch. He also starred in the Netflix series Firefly Lane (2021-2023).

Early life and education Ben Lawson was born on 6 February 1980 in Brisbane, Queensland. He was raised there, and attended St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace. His father Peter is a GP and his mother Dianne was a flight attendant and then a secretary. Their parents divorced when Lawson was seven. A number of screen appearances followed, in Time Trax (1993), The Adventures of Skippy (1993), The Wayne Manifesto (1997), Sabrina Down Under (1999), Chameleon II: Death Match (1999) and TwentyfourSeven (2022). Lawson departed Neighbours in April 2008. He then moved to Los Angeles in 2008. In August 2012, he landed a recurring role in the ABC sitcom Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 as Benjamin, a love interest for main character Chloe (Krysten Ritter). In 2017, Lawson starred in the short lived CBS drama Doubt opposite Laverne Cox. On The Talk, Cox said that Lawson was "an amazing actor".

Lawson played Larry Hemsworth, the fictional "hideous shame" of the Hemsworth family on The Good Place, and he and his brother Josh played Lachlan and James Murdoch respectively in the 2019 film Bombshell. In 2018, Lawson played high school coach Rick on the second season of the Netflix original series, 13 Reasons Why. In 2019, Lawson starred as Thomas 'Clay' Fox Jr. in Dolly Parton's Heartstrings, Netflix's anthology series about Dolly Parton. In 2021, Lawson starred in the Netflix series Firefly Lane opposite Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke.

In May 2024, Lawson was named for the Australian-Irish co-commission series Mix Tape. for Binge He also filmed the first series of Victoria drama series, Love Divided By Eleven for Stan.

Poetry During the 2020 Australian bushfires, Lawson wrote a poem titled To My Country, and a video of him reading it went viral on social media. In January 2021, the poem was turned into a book of the same name with illustrations by Bruce Whatley and proceeds from sales going to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.

In January 2021, he wrote a poem entitled The 26th of January about the history of Australia Day, using sarcasm to support the movement to change the date.

Personal life In March 2023, he became an American citizen.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1995 Silent Hunter Bud 2011 No Strings Attached Sam In Loco Parentis Richard Short film 2014 Glenn 2015 Now Add Honey Joshua Redlich 2016 Keep the Chocolates Man Short film 2019 Brandon Bombshell Lachlan Murdoch 2021 Everything I Ever Wanted to Tell My Daughter About Men Longfellow 2025 Anaconda TV MD - Brant Markham

Television Year Title Role Notes 1993 Time Trax 12-year-old Darien Episode: "A Stranger in Time" Christopher Episode: "Skippy and the Tiger" 1997 Mervyn Episode: "Wheels Within Wheels" 1999 Sabrina Down Under Waiter Television film Chameleon II: Death Match Tyler Kubica 2001 TwentyfourSeven Scott Episode: "It's My Life" 2006 Perfect Disaster Ken Episode: "Fire Storm" 2006–2008 Neighbours Frazer Yeats 188 episodesRole held: 12 October 2006 – 25 April 2008Nominated—Logie for Most Popular New Male Talent 2009 Ghostly Encounters Theatre Ghost Episode: "Buildings with History" 2010 Liam Priory Main role; 6 episodes 2011 Covert Affairs Dr. Scott Weiss 3 episodes 2012 Dr. Levenson Episode: "The Hoodie" 2012–2013 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 Benjamin Lovett 3 episodes 2013 Bones Martin Zand Episode: "The Fury in the Jury" Derek Episode: "How the Grinch Spent Xmas" 2014 Rake Craig 3 episodes Secrets & Lies Paul Murnane 3 episodes Love Child Colin Ryan 3 episodes 2 Broke Girls Tim Episode: "And the Wedding Cake Cake Cake" Jennifer Falls David Episode: "Triangle" Friends with Better Lives Doug Episode: "No More Mr. Nice Guy" Modern Family George Episode: "Won't You Be Our Neighbor" Mulaney Greg Episode: "In the Name of the Mother, and the Son, and the Holy Andre" 2016 iZombie Andy LeGare Episode: "Fifty Shades of Grey Matter" Angel from Hell Darren Jensen Episode: "Soulmates" Billions Mikey Episode: "Where the F*ck Is Donnie?" 2017 Grimm William Stillman Episode: "The Seven Year Itch" Doubt DA Peter Garrett 9 episodes 2017–2018 Designated Survivor Damian Rennett Main role (season 2); 17 episodes 2018 13 Reasons Why Coach Rick Wlodimierz Recurring role (season 2); 7 episodes Larry Hemsworth 3 episodes 2019 Dollface Oliver Episode: "F*** Buddy" Heartstrings Clay Fox Episode: "If I Had Wings" 2021 The Waltons' Homecoming John Walton Sr. TV movie The Moth Effect Host TV miniseries 2021–2023 Firefly Lane Johnny Ryan Main role; 26 episodes2025Mix TapeMichael TV series: 4 episodes 2026Dear LifeAndrew SchneiderTV series: 6 episodes