CR 026: John W. Lawson on ‘Daruma,’ Disability, and the Importance of Authentic Representation

The actor, advocate, and double amputee discusses how his latest role differs from those he’s played in the past.

John W. Lawson

Nearly 38 years ago, John W. Lawson’s life was upended when the then 30-year-old actor, singer, and pianist lost both hands in an accident. Despite having extensive training in the arts, Lawson says it was difficult as a double amputee to find work. “I remember being in the hospital in Chapel Hill,” he says. “I [spent] six months recovering, and I said, ‘I’m a trained actor, trained musician. There have to be plenty of jobs out there for actors with no hands.’ Little did I know that statement would lead me into a career of advocacy for people with disabilities, in front of and behind the camera, for over 35 years now.”

Though he’s amassed numerous film and television credits, Lawson’s role in the recently released indie film Daruma is the most significant. In the film, he plays Robert, a cantankerous war veteran who embarks on a road trip with his neighbor—an unemployed, day-drinking quadriplegic, Patrick (played by Tobias Forrest)—in order to transport Patrick’s 4-year-o…