Lawrence Mandley's life story began in Springfield, Illinois, where he was born, and later took shape in Chicago, where he grew up. His earliest foray into the world of entertainment came in the form of a school talent show, a performance that would set the tone for his future endeavors. At the tender age of 7, Lawrence took to the stage, donning a wide-brimmed straw hat and sitting center stage as two 8th grade girls in calypso attire danced around him. The song, "Tequila", was the perfect vehicle for Lawrence's unique brand of showmanship, and his rendition of the song's title word, mouthed with gusto, brought the house down. This early taste of applause would ignite a fire within him, a flame that would continue to burn brightly throughout his life.
As Lawrence entered his late teens and early twenties, he began to hone his craft by singing with various vocal groups around Chicago. Although he met with limited success, he refused to let his passion for music fade, and instead, he made the bold decision to relocate to Los Angeles. It was in the City of Angels that Lawrence would go on to work as a messenger, a job that would lead to a chance encounter with none other than the legendary Cary Grant. As Lawrence gazed down at his packages, attempting to determine his first stop, a voice boomed from above, "What floor?" Looking up, he was met with the suave gaze of the iconic actor. What does one say to Cary Grant, you might ask? In this particular instance, Lawrence replied, "9 please. Thank you."
Lawrence's career would go on to span multiple mediums, including commercials, television shows, and film. He has appeared in a wide range of productions, including Shameless, How I Met Your Mother, Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Lost, Flash Forward, Mad About You, ER, Brothers & Sisters, and recurring roles on Seinfeld and Zeke & Luther. For his stage work, he was awarded the Drama-Logue Award for Best Actor for his role in the play Fanon's People.
Lawrence's film credits include For A Good Time, Call..., Midnight In The Garden Of Good & Evil, and White Man's Burden. In addition, he has made appearances in four Angel Business Time videos, playing the role of Captain Mahoney, and showcasing his comedic chops on Funny or Die.
A source of immense pride for Lawrence is the time he spent working with the late MK Lewis. Not only did he have the privilege of teaching scene study classes in MK's Santa Monica studios, but he also traveled to Germany three times to work with him at the Internationale Filmschule Koln. This experience not only honed his craft but also allowed him to forge a lasting bond with his mentor.
