---
name: "Denis Lawson"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/denis-lawson"
fi1m_id: "denis-lawson"
imdb_id: "nm0493200"
tmdb_id: 47698
wikidata_id: "Q1187504"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "27 September 1947"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 82
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-10-07T14:54:37.050339+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Denis Lawson

## Identity

Denis Lawson

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/denis-lawson
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** denis-lawson
- **IMDb ID:** nm0493200
- **TMDB ID:** 47698
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1187504
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Lawson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1187504, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493200/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/47698

Actor. Born 27 September 1947 in Perthshire, Scotland, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 27 September 1947, Perthshire, Scotland, UK
- **Active:** 1977–2014
- **Also known as:** Denis Stamper Lawson
- **BAFTA Television Awards:** 1 BAFTA nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 82, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 88 (1), 1980s 84 (3), 2000s 75 (2), 2010s 84 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 85 to 73 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Action 3, Adventure 3, Science Fiction 3, Comedy 2, Crime 2
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,892m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Lawson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1187504, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493200/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/47698

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Local Hero*](https://film.one/film/local-hero.md) (86)
- **Tubi:** [*Criminal Justice*](https://film.one/tv/criminal-justice.md) (85)
- **BritBox:** [*Bleak House*](https://film.one/tv/bleak-house.md) (65)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Denis Lawson

> We value Denis Lawson for the briskness he brings to an ensemble. In *Local Hero*, he is funny without asking the rest of the cast to stand aside, and the film is better for it.

In *Local Hero* (1983), Denis Lawson's Gordon Urquhart seems to have more to get through than the people around him. His briskness gives Bill Forsyth's gentle comedy a useful push, and it is the quality we most value in Lawson: he can be funny without making a performance of being peculiar. Gordon is a hotelier and accountant, and Lawson makes that practical double duty sit comfortably amid the coastal oddness. We laughed at the contrast between his businesslike pace and the dreamier company he keeps.

The Wedge Antilles association runs from *Star Wars* (1977) through the original trilogy to a return in *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker* (2019). Yet the work around it is less easily grouped: West End musicals, television comedy, and the lead role of John Jarndyce in *Bleak House* (2005). *Mr Cinders* (1983) belongs to the same year as *Local Hero*, so the musical theatre work was no later change of direction. Treating him chiefly as a familiar pilot gives a poor account of what he does.

In Forsyth's ensemble, Lawson has neither to steady the whole film nor supply all its eccentricity. Peter Riegert's Mac MacIntyre provides the steadiness, while Burt Lancaster lets Felix Happer be comfortably silly. Lawson supplies a quicker tempo, and the three approaches give the same situation different comic possibilities. We can enjoy Gordon without feeling that the other actors are merely waiting for him to finish; they have room to make their own responses count.

*Local Hero* also shows how much this sort of performance depends on the film around it. Forsyth's fondness for eccentricity sometimes softens the questions raised by the coastal property deal, and Gordon's practicality cannot entirely counter that tendency. The gentle pace is worth accepting for the actors' company, though we would have liked the business itself to be questioned more firmly. Start here for Lawson, then try *Bleak House* for the larger role.

## Biography

Denis Stamper Lawson (born 27 September 1947) is a Scottish actor and director. He trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and began his career on stage in London's West End.

Lawson is known for playing Wedge Antilles in the original Star Wars trilogy (1977–1983) and reprising the role in *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker* (2019). He played Gordon Urquhart in the film *Local Hero* (1983) and John Jarndyce in the BBC miniseries *Bleak House* (2005), for which he received BAFTA and Primetime Emmy Award nominations. His other television work includes *Holby City* (2002–2004, 2019) and *New Tricks* (2012–2015). On stage he is a three-time Laurence Olivier Award nominee for Best Actor in a Musical, winning in 1983 for *Mr Cinders*.

He has also directed stage productions, including *Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs* (1998–99) at the Hampstead Theatre, which starred his nephew Ewan McGregor.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, rottentomatoes.com.*

## On Fi1m (7)

- *Inside No. 9* (2014), Fi1m 84, as Gerald — [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md)
- *Criminal Justice* (2008), Fi1m 85, as Bill Faber — [page](https://film.one/tv/criminal-justice.md)
- *Bleak House* (2005), Fi1m 65, as John Jarndyce — [page](https://film.one/tv/bleak-house.md)
- *Local Hero* (1983), Fi1m 86, as Gordon Urquhart — [page](https://film.one/film/local-hero.md)
- *Return of the Jedi* (1983), Fi1m 75, as Wedge — [page](https://film.one/film/return-of-the-jedi.md)
- *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980), Fi1m 92, as Wedge Antilles — [page](https://film.one/film/the-empire-strikes-back.md)
- *Star Wars* (1977), Fi1m 88, as Red Two (Wedge Antilles) — [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars.md)

## Complete filmography (94)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Fortune* (2026), series, as Martin Worrall
- *Sister Boniface Mysteries* (2022), series, as Lincoln Leigh Varsey
- *Star Wars: Visions* (2021), series, as Wedge Antilles (voice)
- *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker* (2019), as Wedge Antilles — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker.md)
- *Somnium* (2019), as PAT 1
- *Burns in the USA* (2017), as Narrator
- *In Plain Sight* (2016), series, as Laurence Dowdell
- *Victoria* (2016), series, as Duke of Atholl
- *A Quiet Night In* (2014), as Gerald
- *Inside No. 9* (2014), series, as Gerald — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md)
- *The Machine* (2013), as Thomson
- *The Wee Man* (2013), as Willie Ferris
- *Father Brown* (2013), series, as Walter Sullivan
- *Broken* (2012), as Mr. Buckley
- *Them From That Thing* (2012), series, as Various
- *Death in Paradise* (2011), series, as Philip Marston
- *Perfect Sense* (2011), as Boss
- *Candy Cabs* (2011), series, as Kenny Ho
- *Marchlands* (2011), series, as Robert Bowen
- *The Lighthouse Stevensons* (2011), as Narrator - (Voice) · Production Assistant
- *The Beauty of Maps* (2010), series, as Narrator (Voice)
- *Above Their Station* (2010), as Chief Constable Keith Boone
- *Mister Eleven* (2009), series, as Len
- *Enid* (2009), as Kenneth Waters
- *Breaking the Mould* (2009), as Alexander Fleming
- *Law & Order: UK* (2009), series, as Philip Woodleigh
- *No Holds Bard* (2009), as Miekel
- *Criminal Justice* (2008), series, as Bill Faber — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/criminal-justice.md)
- *The Passion* (2008), series, as Annas
- *The Genius of Photography* (2007), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Jekyll* (2007), series, as Peter Syme
- *A New Body at Last* (2007), as Narrator
- *Robin Hood* (2006), series, Actor
- *The Thieving Headmistress* (2006), as Father Plunkett
- *Feel the Force* (2006), series, as Gordon Campbell
- *Sensitive Skin* (2005), series, as Al Jackson
- *Bleak House* (2005), series, as John Jarndyce — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/bleak-house.md)
- *Agatha Christie's Marple* (2004), series, as Leo Argyle
- *Hustle* (2004), series, as Benny
- *New Tricks* (2004), series, as Steve McAndrew
- *The Black Death* (2004), as Narrator
- *Lucky Jim* (2003), as Julius Gore-Urqhart
- *Solid Geometry* (2002), Writer, Director
- *Leonard* (2001), Actor
- *Other People's Children* (2000), series, as Tom
- *Bob Martin* (2000), series, as Greg
- *The Bass Player* (1999), Director, Writer
- *Holby City* (1999), series, as Tom Campbell-Gore
- *Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant* (1998), as Captain 'Dreadnought' Foster
- *Cold Feet* (1998), series, as Alexander Welcht
- *Hornblower* (1998), series, as Captain Foster
- *The Round Tower* (1998), series, as Arthur Brett
- *The Ambassador* (1998), series, Actor
- *A Royal Scandal* (1997), as Henry Brougham
- *Fried Crumbed Brains* (1996), Actor
- *Dalziel and Pascoe* (1996), series, as John Barron
- *Pie in the Sky* (1994), series, as Nick Spencer
- *Born Kicking* (1992), as Victor Grace
- *Natural Lies* (1992), series, as James Towne
- *Bejewelled* (1991), as Alistair
- *Die Kinder* (1990), series, as Film Boffin
- *Screen One* (1989), series, as Bernard, Victor Grace
- *One Way Out* (1989), as Bernard
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Frank
- *The Justice Game* (1989), series, as Dominic Rossi
- *The Zip* (1988), as Eric
- *Love After Lunch* (1987), as Miles Henderson
- *Sunday Premiere* (1986), series, as Miles
- *Dead Head* (1986), series, as Eddie Cass
- *Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV* (1985), series, Actor
- *The Chain* (1984), as Keith
- *The Kit Curran Radio Show* (1984), series, as Kit Curran
- *Bitter Cherry* (1983), Actor
- *Natural World* (1983), series, as Narrator
- *Return of the Jedi* (1983), as Wedge — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/return-of-the-jedi.md)
- *Local Hero* (1983), as Gordon Urquhart — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/local-hero.md)
- *Bergerac* (1981), series, as Giroux
- *The Flipside of Dominick Hide* (1980), as Felix
- *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980), as Wedge Antilles — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/the-empire-strikes-back.md)
- *Fearless Frank* (1978), Actor
- *The Girl Who Walked Quickly* (1978), as David Cooper
- *Armchair Thriller* (1978), series, as David Cooper
- *Holocaust 2000* (1977), as 2nd Journalist
- *BBC2 Play of the Week* (1977), series, as Professor Byron Smith / Ernest Dowson
- *The Man in the Iron Mask* (1977), as Claude
- *Star Wars* (1977), as Red Two (Wedge Antilles) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars.md)
- *Providence* (1977), as Dave Woodford
- *Plays for Britain* (1976), series, as Terrorist
- *The Paradise Run* (1976), as Terrorist
- *Jumping Bean Bag* (1976), as Snare
- *Survivors* (1975), series, as Norman
- *Seven Faces of Woman* (1974), series, as Jerome
- *The Merchant of Venice* (1973), as Launcelot Gobbo
- *Play for Today* (1970), series, as Felix, Snare

## Gallery

- ![Scottish actor Denis Lawson at the 2006 Crieff Highland Games.](https://film.one/media/person/59738/gallery-27382da62250.jpg) Scottish actor Denis Lawson at the 2006 Crieff Highland Games. — Rick's_Picks', CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/DenisLawson2006.jpg/1280px-DenisLawson2006.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Denis Lawson](https://film.one/media/person/59738/gallery-0aa8a76f02be.jpg) Denis Lawson — Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Denis_Lawson_at_Fan_Expo_Anaheim_2026.jpg/1280px-Denis_Lawson_at_Fan_Expo_Anaheim_2026.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Crieff Highland Games 2006](https://film.one/media/person/59738/gallery-b38283514ffb.jpg) Crieff Highland Games 2006 — Richard Findlay from Edinburgh, Scotland, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Denis_Lawson_cropped.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Denis Lawson](https://film.one/media/person/59738/gallery-eafcd95db368.jpg) Denis Lawson — Image via TMDB
- ![Denis Lawson](https://film.one/media/person/59738/gallery-fae5ff98897d.jpg) Denis Lawson — Image via TMDB
- ![Denis Lawson](https://film.one/media/person/59738/gallery-76f774b01d8f.jpg) Denis Lawson — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### BAFTA Television Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2006: Best Actor (nominated), for *Bleak House*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2006: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (nominated), for *Masterpiece*

### Other awards — 1 won, 2 nominated

- Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical 2009: Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical (nominated)
- Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical 1983: Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical (won)
- Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical 1980: Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical (nominated)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/denis-lawson