# Dave Lawson
**Dave Lawson** is an Australian performer and writer best known for playing Scott Byrnes in the Working Dog and ABC comedy series *Utopia* across all five of its seasons[1](https://libertyartistmgt.com.au/creative/dave-lawson/). He works across television, film, radio and web series as an actor, host, comedian, and writer[2](https://funnyinfailure.libsyn.com/012-passion-and-positivity-dave-lawson). The name also refers to several other people in entertainment, including a British-born art department professional credited on *True Detective*, *[Saltburn](https://www.edgepedia.org/saltburn-film)* and *Slow Horses*[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6662930/), an American commercial and game-trailer director affiliated with The Mill[4](https://www.david-lawson.net/about), and David Lawson Jr., an American producer with the filmmaking group Rustic Films[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1558152/news/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Australian; born in Australia[6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/84502/dave-lawson) |
| Signature role | Scott Byrnes in *Utopia* (2014–2023), a starring role across 40 episodes[6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/84502/dave-lawson) |
| Own show | Creator, host and writer of *Dave's Shed Show*, an online series for Roadshow Films and a live show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival[1](https://libertyartistmgt.com.au/creative/dave-lawson/) |
| Film credits | *Peter Rabbit* 1 and 2, *Oddball*, *The Mule*, *I Love You Too*[1](https://libertyartistmgt.com.au/creative/dave-lawson/) |
| Recognition | Nominations for Best Actor at the Rio Webfest Awards and Best Supporting Actor at the NYC Webfest Awards for the web series *Bruce*[1](https://libertyartistmgt.com.au/creative/dave-lawson/) |
| Early work | Children's television hosting on Nickelodeon programs including *Camp Orange* and *S'Arvo*, and the Toyota memorable moments advertising series[2](https://funnyinfailure.libsyn.com/012-passion-and-positivity-dave-lawson) |
## Utopia and acting career
Lawson's most prominent role is Scott Byrnes in *[Utopia](https://www.edgepedia.org/utopia-australian-tv-series)*, the Working Dog production for the ABC that satirizes a government infrastructure authority. He appeared as a series regular from the first episode in August 2014 through the fifth-season finale in July 2023, totaling 40 episodes[6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/84502/dave-lawson). In a 2023 interview on 774 ABC Melbourne, he said that, having never worked in an office, playing a CBD office worker had been "so much fun", and that walking around the city wearing a work lanyard made him feel like people saw him as a go-getter[7](https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/melbourne-saturdaymornings/dave-lawson/102606144).
His television credits beyond *Utopia* include guest roles as Trevor Lehmann in *[The Newsreader](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-newsreader)*, Frazer in three episodes of *Wentworth*, Freddy Miles in *Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries*, Adam Steadman in *Newton's Law*, and appearances in *Why Are You Like This*, *Get Krack!n*, *The InBESTigators*, *True Story with Hamish & Andy*, *Open Slather*, *Time of Our Lives*, *It's a Date*, *INXS: Never Tear Us Apart*, *Problems*, *Howzat*, *Sleuth 101*, *Last Man Standing* and *Blue Heelers*[1](https://libertyartistmgt.com.au/creative/dave-lawson/) • [6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/84502/dave-lawson). His film work includes [Will Gluck](https://www.edgepedia.org/will-gluck)'s *[Peter Rabbit](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-rabbit-film)* and its sequel, *Oddball*, *The Mule* and *I Love You Too*[1](https://libertyartistmgt.com.au/creative/dave-lawson/).
## Hosting and comedy
Before his acting career took hold, Lawson worked in children's television and radio. He hosted [Nickelodeon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nickelodeon) programs including *Camp Orange* and *S'Arvo*, appeared in the Toyota memorable moments advertising series, and has been described as a TV and radio personality as well as a comedian[2](https://funnyinfailure.libsyn.com/012-passion-and-positivity-dave-lawson).
He created, hosts and writes *Dave's Shed Show*, which ran both as an online series for Roadshow Films and as a live theatrical show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival; guests on the web version have included [Stephen Curry](https://www.edgepedia.org/stephen-curry), Hamish Blake, [Andy Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/andy-lee-comedian), Ryan Shelton, Peter Helliar, and John Safran[1](https://libertyartistmgt.com.au/creative/dave-lawson/) • [2](https://funnyinfailure.libsyn.com/012-passion-and-positivity-dave-lawson).
## Writing
Lawson's writing credits include the web series *The Caravan* for Endemol, the comedy series *Open Slather* for Princess Pictures, and the short film *Bonny Doon* for Essential Media. He is also the creator and writer of an animated series in development with Princess Pictures[1](https://libertyartistmgt.com.au/creative/dave-lawson/).
## Early career
Lawson studied advertising at RMIT in the late 1990s. A classmate's mother worked as a talent agent, which helped him break the usual catch-22 of needing an agent to get work; his first audition was for a chocolate milk commercial called "Gary", and he took the job[8](https://tinselandtapshoes.com/2015/01/25/interview-with-dave-lawson/). In a 2019 podcast interview he discussed imposter syndrome, fear of failure, and the importance of passion and positivity in his career[2](https://funnyinfailure.libsyn.com/012-passion-and-positivity-dave-lawson).
## References
1. [Dave Lawson bio, Liberty Artist Management](https://libertyartistmgt.com.au/creative/dave-lawson/)
2. [Funny In Failure #012: Dave Lawson – Passion and Positivity](https://funnyinfailure.libsyn.com/012-passion-and-positivity-dave-lawson)
3. [Dave Lawson (XI), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6662930/)
4. [About – David Lawson, director](https://www.david-lawson.net/about)
5. [Dave Lawson – News, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1558152/news/)
6. [Dave Lawson, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/84502/dave-lawson)
7. [Utopia's Dave Lawson on his character Scott, ABC listen](https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/melbourne-saturdaymornings/dave-lawson/102606144)
8. [Interview: Actor Dave Lawson, Tinsel and Tap Shoes](https://tinselandtapshoes.com/2015/01/25/interview-with-dave-lawson/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Television presenters and hosts › Comedy and variety hosts*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 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