Muleskinner

Issue date: 10/12/06 Section: Features

side job- Tony Lawson, UCM alum, has been an extra is Hollywood hits, such as "Glory Road," "The Dukes of Hazard" and the recently released "All the King's Men." Lawson has been in approximately 18 films and television shows since he began doing extra work.

Who is Tony Lawson? The answer is simple, he's one of us. Lawson was in the same place we are now as students here at UCM. He graduated in 1985, but despite the years that have passed, he's still a Mule at heart.

He left Warrensburg with a degree in parks and recreation administration as well as a minor in mass communication.
However, like many graduates, Lawson's chosen path didn't follow either of those subjects. After graduating, he became interested in real estate appraising. He continued his education and eventually became an apprentice. He now has two full-time employees and three part-time employees, with two locations in New Mexico and Louisiana, where he now lives with his wife and three children.

Something else caught Lawson's attention. Posters and advertisements for casting calls were everywhere in Louisiana.
A particular radio spot called for extras dressed in a 1960s look. Just for fun, Lawson along with his brother and his son went to the casting call. The call turned out to be for the successful movie "Glory Road."

The director felt Lawson had a great look and gave him a role as a reporter in the crowd. The director told him to act like he was asking questions and to scribble on a note pad.
"I figured I could handle that," Lawson said.

After working on "Glory Road", Lawson continued to find casting calls that interested him. Over the last two years he has been a part of approximately 18 films and television spots, making anywhere from $5.50 to $5.75 an hour.

However his favorite role came in the recent "Dukes of Hazzard" movie. Lawson spent three days on the set in the role of campus security.

"Usually, the featured extras aren't allowed to talk to the main actors," Lawson said.

Featured extras are those who have scenes directly with the main characters and may have a line.

"'Dukes of Hazzard was different', we actually got a chance to have a good time with the actors," Lawson said. "Johnny Knoxville was a great guy, and he even brought his daughter to the set and played catch with us guys."

You might wonder which part of Dukes of Hazzard was Lawson's favorite.

Lawson answered that question in light speed.
"I grew up with Dukes of Hazzard the television show, so I always wanted my own General Lee. As a security guard, we actually filmed scenes where we chased the General Lee in golf carts! I had a blast," Lawson said.

So why does a married father of three choose to spend some of his free time acting?

"When you die you just hope that someone reading your eulogy might find something you did in your life interesting. That's what makes being in these movies fun," Lawson said.

You can see Lawson as an extra in the new film "All the Kings Men", starring Sean Penn, which was filmed in Louisiana, Lawson's current residence.

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