AustLit

Film/television director, producer screenwriter, script editor, actor and teacher.

Denny Lawrence's career has seen him involved in theatre, film, and television in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the U.S.A. After undertaking a two year diploma course at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA, 1979-71) he worked on both the theatrical stage and in television, with his guest roles in the latter medium including Matlock Police (1971), Number 96 (1972), Frank and Francesca (1973). In 1974 Lawrence travelled to New York City where he studied acting and script analysis at the Stella Adler Studios. After returning to Australia he continued to work as an actor, appearing in such series as Scattergood: Friend to All (1975), while studying television directing and writing as part of a three year diploma course at the Film Television and Radio School. In 1985 he also undertook an intensive course in Producing and Directing in Television Comedy (under Duncan Wood) which was run jointly by the ABC and BBC for a select group of film and theatre professionals.

From the early 1980s Lawrence began to turn to scriptwriting and directing. His directing career in the 1980s saw him oversee more than 50 episodes of Sons and Daughters (1982-83) and The Last Resort (1988), as well as such productions as Bodyline (1984 mini-series), Palace of Dreams (1985 mini-series), Army Wives (1986 telemovie) and Afraid to Dance (1989 film). The 1980s also saw him write or collaborate on screenplays for Goodbye Paradise (1983), Bodyline (1984), The Coca-Cola Kid (1985), Emouh Ruo (1985 film), Palace of Dreams (1985) and Warm Nights on a Slow Moving Train (1988).

During the 1990s Lawrence directed episodes for British police drama The Bill (1991), Snowy River: The McGregor Saga (1993), A Country Practice (1994), State Coroner (1998) and the 1995 feature film Rainbow's End. Lawrence's television credits as director since 2000 have included Tales from the Madhouse (2000), Something in the Air (2000-01), Blue Heelers (2002), MDA (2002), and the 2005 feature A Divided Heart.

In 1998 Lawrence later undertook a course at AFTRS which allowed him to convert his diploma into a Bachelor of Arts. He also later converted his NIDA diploma into a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts (2008). This has allowed him in later years to pursue a largely pedagogical career, His teaching experiences have included: the Actor's Centre (London), Australian Film Television and Radio School (Sydney), Boston University (USA), the Canadian Film Center (Canada), the National Institute of Dramatic Art (Sydney), Victoria College of the Arts Melbourne). As of 2010 he is Executive Director of Television and Acting and Directing Studies, Kanbar UGFTV, Tisch School of the Arts (New York).

Among Denny Lawrence's career achievements are two Writers' Guild Awards and two AFI Awards. He has also been nominated for a variety of other awards, including an International Emmy in 2005 (Best Television Drama Series).