# Ben Lawson
**Ben Lawson** (born 1980) is an Australian actor and writer known for playing Frazer Yeats on the soap opera *Neighbours* and Johnny Ryan on the Netflix series *Firefly Lane*, and for portraying [Lachlan Murdoch](https://www.edgepedia.org/lachlan-murdoch) in [Jay Roach](https://www.edgepedia.org/jay-roach)'s film *Bombshell* (2019).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493159) • [2](https://www.auroraartists.com/ben-lawson.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1980, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493159) |
| Training | Graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Sydney[2](https://www.auroraartists.com/ben-lawson.html) |
| Breakthrough role | Frazer Yeats on *Neighbours*, 2006–2008, 277 episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493159) |
| Leading US television role | Johnny Ryan on *Firefly Lane* (Netflix), 2021–2023, 26 episodes[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/26921/ben-lawson) |
| Film | Sam in *No Strings Attached* (2011); Lachlan Murdoch in *Bombshell* (2019); Brant Markham in *Anaconda* (2025)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493159) |
| Writing | *To My Country* (Allen and Unwin, 2020), illustrated by Bruce Whatley, with proceeds to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital[2](https://www.auroraartists.com/ben-lawson.html) |
## Early life and training
Lawson was born in Brisbane, Queensland, and was the middle child in a family of five boys.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493159) • [4](https://www.perfectblend.net/neighbourhood/pro/lawson-ben.htm) He trained at Sydney's National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and worked extensively in theater throughout Sydney and Melbourne before moving into screen work.[2](https://www.auroraartists.com/ben-lawson.html)
## Neighbours and move to the United States
**Frazer Yeats.** Lawson won the role of the mysterious gambler Frazer Yeats on *Neighbours* and began filming in July 2006, alongside Natalie Saleeba, Nicky Whelan, and Christian Clark. The character became popular with viewers through his dry humor and on-and-off relationship with his housemate Rosie.[4](https://www.perfectblend.net/neighbourhood/pro/lawson-ben.htm) He played the role from 2006 to 2008 across 277 episodes.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493159) In an interview after leaving the show, Lawson said he had always wanted to pursue a career in the United States and that it was time to try.[5](https://perfectblend.net/features/interview-lawson.htm)
After relocating, he built a career in guest and recurring roles on American television, including *Bones*, *Covert Affairs*, *Modern Family*, *The Deep End*, *2 Broke Girls*, *Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23*, *Mulaney*, *Doubt*, *Grimm*, *Billions*, *iZombie*, and *Designated Survivor*.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ben-lawson/) • [7](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ben-lawson/credits/3000029229/) On *The Good Place* he played Larry, a comic fake [Hemsworth](https://www.edgepedia.org/hemsworth) brother.[8](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/firefly-lane-cast?inapp=trueOs)
## Film and leading television roles
Lawson's film work includes the romantic comedy *No Strings Attached* (2011) opposite [Natalie Portman](https://www.edgepedia.org/natalie-portman) and [Ashton Kutcher](https://www.edgepedia.org/ashton-kutcher), and *Bombshell* (2019), Jay Roach's film about the downfall of [Roger Ailes](https://www.edgepedia.org/roger-ailes) at Fox News, in which he played Lachlan Murdoch.[2](https://www.auroraartists.com/ben-lawson.html) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493159)
**Firefly Lane.** From 2021 to 2023 Lawson played Johnny Ryan, the male lead opposite [Katherine Heigl](https://www.edgepedia.org/katherine-heigl) and [Sarah Chalke](https://www.edgepedia.org/sarah-chalke), in the Netflix adaptation of [Kristin Hannah](https://www.edgepedia.org/kristin-hannah)'s novel. Johnny meets Kate and Tully in the newsroom of the local station KPOC, marries Kate, and is divorcing her when the story reaches the 2000s.[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/26921/ben-lawson) • [8](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/firefly-lane-cast?inapp=trueOs) He appeared in 26 episodes across the series' two seasons.[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/26921/ben-lawson)
He also played John Walton Sr. in *The Waltons: Homecoming* (2021), a CW television movie.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493159) • [9](https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/96adf345-588d-41a5-938c-839bec303d22/-/inline/no/Dear%2520Life_Press%2520Kit.pdf) More recent credits include Michael in the series *[Mix Tape](https://www.edgepedia.org/mix-tape-miniseries)* (2025, 4 episodes), Brant Markham in *Anaconda* (2025), and Andrew Schneider in *Dear Life* (2026, 6 episodes).[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/26921/ben-lawson) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493159)
## Writing
In 2020, the publisher Allen and Unwin released Lawson's hardcover book *To My Country*, illustrated by Bruce Whatley. He wrote it in response to the Australian bushfires, with all proceeds going to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.[2](https://www.auroraartists.com/ben-lawson.html) His agency profile states that he is developing an original television series.[2](https://www.auroraartists.com/ben-lawson.html)
## Other people named Ben Lawson
The name is shared by several unrelated figures. A Ben Lawson (Ben Dawson on Apple Music) is a folk musician whose releases include *Beneath the Sound of Hope* (2026) and the *Anxiety* EP (2026).[10](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ben-dawson/1804440803) A different Ben Lawson is a Missouri-born director and writer who graduated from [Missouri State University](https://www.edgepedia.org/missouri-state-university) in 1997 with a BFA in [Photography](https://www.edgepedia.org/photography) and wrote and directed the short *Sorrow's Way* (2021).[11](https://filmfreeway.com/BenLawson) A Ben Lawson is a Boston-based data scientist with an MS in Computer Science from [Boston University](https://www.edgepedia.org/boston-university) who worked at WarnerMedia Applied Analytics.[12](https://b.enlawson.com/resume.pdf) IMDb also lists separate minor actors under the name.[13](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2786100/)
## References
1. [Ben Lawson (I), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493159)
2. [Ben Lawson, Aurora Artists agency profile](https://www.auroraartists.com/ben-lawson.html)
3. [Ben Lawson, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/26921/ben-lawson)
4. [Ben Lawson, Neighbours: The Perfect Blend](https://www.perfectblend.net/neighbourhood/pro/lawson-ben.htm)
5. [Interview: Ben Lawson, Neighbours: The Perfect Blend](https://perfectblend.net/features/interview-lawson.htm)
6. [Ben Lawson, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ben-lawson/)
7. [Ben Lawson List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ben-lawson/credits/3000029229/)
8. [The 'Firefly Lane' Cast: Who's Who, Netflix Tudum](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/firefly-lane-cast?inapp=trueOs)
9. [Dear Life press kit](https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/96adf345-588d-41a5-938c-839bec303d22/-/inline/no/Dear%2520Life_Press%2520Kit.pdf)
10. [Ben Dawson, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ben-dawson/1804440803)
11. [Ben Lawson, FilmFreeway](https://filmfreeway.com/BenLawson)
12. [Ben Lawson resume](https://b.enlawson.com/resume.pdf)
13. [Ben Lawson (III), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2786100/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Soap operas and continuing serials › British and Australasian soaps and characters › Australasian soap actors and production people*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license