Lawson was born
Wilfrid Lawson Worsnop in
Bradford,
West Riding of Yorkshire. He was educated at
Hanson Boys' Grammar School, Bradford, and entered the theatre in his late teens, appearing on both the British and American stage throughout his career. He made his film début in
East Lynne on the Western Front (1931) and appeared in supporting roles until he took the lead in
The Terror (1938). In arguably his most celebrated film role, he played dustman-turned-lecturer Alfred P. Doolittle in the film version of
George Bernard Shaw's
Pygmalion (1938), alongside
Leslie Howard and
Wendy Hiller. He also had memorable leading roles in
Pastor Hall (1940), as a German village clergyman who denounces the new Nazi regime in 1934;
Tower of Terror (1941) as the wild-eyed maniacal lighthouse keeper Wolfe Kristen; and the title role in
The Great Mr. Handel (1942), a biopic of the 18th century composer, all three showing his broad range. He also made a number of films in the United States, beginning with
Ladies in Love (1936) and including
John Ford's
The Long Voyage Home (1940) alongside
John Wayne. His last leading role was in
The Turners of Prospect Road (1947). As a result of bouts of alcoholism, Lawson became difficult to work with, and throughout the 1950s his roles became increasingly small—even uncredited in some cases. Despite this he still gave memorable performances such as Prince Andrei Bolkonsky's father in
King Vidor's
War and Peace (1956), Ed in
Hell Drivers (1957) and Uncle Nat in
Room at the Top (1958), filmed in Lawson's home town of Bradford. The 1960s saw something of a career resurgence, beginning with his turn as Black George in
Tony Richardson's
Tom Jones (1963) and culminating in two of his most notable latter day performances: the decrepit butler Peacock in
The Wrong Box and the Dormouse in
Jonathan Miller's television adaptation of
Alice in Wonderland (both 1966). That same year saw his death, in London, from a heart attack. His brother was the supporting player Gerald Lawson (born Bernard Worsnop, 30 April 1897 – 6 December 1973) and a nephew was actor
Bernard Fox (born Bernard Lawson, 11 May 1927 – 14 December 2016). ==Theatre==