Actor. He was known as, "The actor with the perfect voice." He was best known for playing the character roles of traders, chauffeurs, press agents, defending counsels, dukes, and historical figures, in crime films, thriller films, comedy films, and dramatic films. He will be best remembered for playing the role of the 'Duke of York' in the classic historical film, "Nell Gwyn" (1934). The film which was directed by Herbert Wilcox, which was written for the screen by Miles Malleson, and which also starred Anna Neagle, Cedric Hardwicke, Jeanne De Casalis, Muriel George, Moore Marriott, Helena Pickard, Abraham Sofaer, and Esme Percy, tells the story of King Charles II who first meets actress Nell Gwyn after seeing her do a turn at Drury Lane. They soon become close, the King preferring her feisty irreverent company to that of the aristocratic French Duchess of Portsmouth. Nell becomes his most loyal subject, while ever-ready to take the Duchess down a peg. But the actress can never hope to be fully accepted by the King's circle despite his constant attention. He was born one of five children as John Lawrence Anderson to Charles Joseph Anderson (1863-), and his wife Anna Gertrude Barrett Anderson (1861-), in Hampstead, England, in 1893, but the exact date is currently unknown. He was educated locally and he began his acting career at the age of seventeen with a walking-on part at the famous Globe Theatre in London, England. He then appeared in several stage productions of plays in the West End of London, England, including, "The Quitter," "Death At Court Lady," "Stop Press," and "Dinner At Eight," before appearing at the Liverpool Repertory Theatre from 1913 to 1914. He then saw military service while serving his country during World War I, but returned to acting following the war. During this time he also made the transition from appearing on the stage to appearing in films. He made his actual film debut playing the role of 'Kenneth' in the classic historical adventure, "The Tavern King" (1920). The film which was directed by Maurice Elvey, which was written for the screen by Sinclair Hill, which was based on the novel by Rafael Sabatini, and which also starred Ellie Norwood, Madge Stuart, Cecil Humphreys, Teddy Arundell, Charles Croker-King, Clifford Heatherley, Booth Conway, and J.E. Wickes, tells the story of a Royalist and his unknown son who seek vengeance on his murdered wife's brothers. Besides, playing the role of 'Kenneth' in the classic historical adventure, "The Tavern King" (1920), and playing the role of the 'Duke of York' in the classic historical film, "Nell Gwyn" (1934), his many other film credits include, "Innocent" (1921), "The Beryl Coronet" (1921), "Bluff" (1921), "The Recoil" (1922), "The Actors' Squad" (1927), "Threads" (1932), "The Stickpin" (1933), "Mayfair Girl" (1933), "The Right To Live" (1933), "The Fire Raisers" (1934), "The Murder Party" (1934), "Money Mad" (1934), "The Case For The Crown" (1934), "Expert's Opinion" (1935), "Marry The Girl" (1935), "Living Dangerously" (1936), "Royal Eagle" (1936), "Man Of Affairs" (1936), "You're In The Army Now" (1937), "Let's Make A Night Of It" (1937), "Make-Up" (1937), and "Gangway" (1937). During this time he also continued on appearing on the stage in several stage productions of such plays as, 'Mervyn Jones, a modern young man' in "Advertising April" (1923- ), "The Cenci" (1922-1923), "Edward II" (November 18, 1923, to November 19, 1923), "Saint Joan" (1923-1924), "Hamlet" (1925-1926), as 'Brandon,' and 'Earl of Surrey,' in "Henry VIII" (1925-1926), as 'A Messenger From The Palace' in "Oedipus Tyrannos" (January 10, 1926, to ), "Picnic" (April 20, 1927, to ), as 'Giacomo' in "The Cenci" (1926-1927), as 'Peter Standish' in "Berkeley Square" (October 6, 1926, to March 5, 1927), as 'Philip Luttrell' in "The White Chateau" (March 29, 1927, to May 1927), as 'Reddish I' in "Prize Giving At Woodside House School" (February 17, 1929, to ), as 'Sir John Lawson, K.C.' in "The Silent Witness" (April 30, 1930, to October 18, 1930), as 'Louis XV' in "The Dubarry" (April 14, 1932, to ), "Stop Press" (1934-1935), as 'Bishop Gardiner' in "Mary Tudor" (November 18, 1935, to April 18, 1936), "Royal Eagle" (1936-1937), and "Black Limelight" (1936-1937). He also played the role of 'Romeo' in "Romeo And Juliet," 'the Unexpected Visitor' in "The Last Hour," 'Brother Martin' in "Saint Joan," and 'Angel Clare' in "Tess Of The D'Urbervilles." During his impressive stage career, he also appeared at or worked with the likes of St. James's Theatre in London, England, Streatham Hill Theatre in London, England, Golders Green Hippodrome in Golders Green, England, Adelphi Theatre in London, England, His Majesty's Theatre in Haymarket, London, England, (now His Majesty's Theatre in Haymarket, London, England), the Comedy Theatre in London, England, (now Harold Pinter Theatre in London, England), St. Martin's Theatre in London, England, the Everyman Theatre in London, England, Carr, Massey and Wade, the Queen's Theatre, (Shaftesbury Ave), in London, England, (now Sondheim Theatre, in London, England), the Empire Theatre in London, England, the Arts Theatre in London, England, the Scala Theatre in London, England, the Lyceum Theatre in London, England, the New Theatre (now Noël Coward Theatre), in London, England, the Regent Theatre in London, England, and the Criterion Theatre in London, England, Margaret Rawlings, John Robinson, Ethel Coleridge, George Merritt, Buena Bent, Bernard Merefield, Campbell Gullan, Sybil Thorndike, Frank Cellier, Elizabeth Pollock, Gwladys Gaynor, Ashton Pearse, and Lewis Casson, among many others. His last film role was playing 'The Duke of Frith' in the musical film drama "Magyar Melody" (1939). The film which was written for the screen by Guy Bolton, Eric Maschwitz, and Fred Thompson, which was produced by William Mollison, also starred Jerry Verno, Ivor Watt, Anne Allan, Roger Tréville, and Arthur Margetson. During his acting career, he also used the name Laurence Anderson. He had also played in the stage production of the play, "Magyar Melody" (1939), at His Majesty's Theatre in Haymarket, London, England, although he had been in poor health he insisted on continuing even the night before his death. He passed away following a long illness in London, England, on March 28, 1939, at the age of about 45 or 46. Following his death, he was buried in Hendon Cemetery and Crematorium in Hendon, England. He was married to Beatrice Gwendoline Topping Anderson (1899-), in Kington, Radnorshire, Wales, in 1918. The couple had one child together, Michael Joseph Anderson (1920-2018), who became an actor and director. He was also the nephew of the actress Mary Anderson (1859-1940), aka Madame de Navarro, and the grandson of actor Lawrence Barrett (1838-1891).