Why The Scammer Owen From Cobra Kai Season 5 Episode 1 Looks So Familiar
As a karate student of Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) knows all about Mr. Miyagi's wisdom. That includes keeping calm under pressure and picking one's fights carefully. Perhaps learning those lessons is why he stopped himself from laying waste to a group of scammers in the first episode of "Cobra Kai" Season 5. At the same time, these aren't your regular scammers, as their leader, Owen, also happens to be very charming and likable. Well, he is until he bumps into Johnny (William Zabka) later on.
Of course, it's easy to appreciate questionable characters when they're played by charismatic actors like Josh Lawson. The 41-year-old actor is a veteran of film and television who made a name for himself on Australian TV shows such as "Blue Heelers" and "Home and Away" before moving onto international projects (per IMDb).
These days, Lawson will be a familiar face to many pop culture enthusiasts all over the world. With that in mind, let's revisit some of his most memorable performances on the screen.
House of Lies saw Josh Lawson skewer corporate America
It's a dog-eat-dog world out there, and this was especially true on Showtime's "House of Lies." The comedy series, which aired from 2012 until 2016, revolved around a group of management consultants who used their charm, cunning, and other talents to close huge deals for their company.
The series boasted an all-star cast that included Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell, both of whom appeared in every episode. Josh Lawson was one of the only other performers to star alongside them in every installment, playing the consultant Doug Guggenheim.
While most of the characters on "House of Lies" had cutthroat sensibilities, they were caring and compassionate behind the scenes. While speaking to Collider, Lawson said that the cast and crew were so close that they even had their own language while working on the series.
Josh Lawson chewed the scenery in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
Josh Lawson has a history of collaborating with Will Ferrell. They first worked together on 2012's "The Campaign," in which the Australian actor played a district attorney named Tripp Huggins. That said, his performance in "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" is arguably even more memorable.
In the movie, Lawson plays a character by the name of Kench Allenby, the head honcho of Global News Network. He's over-the-top and his accent is difficult to decipher as writer-director Adam McKay gave the actor some creative freedom to build his character. So, he decided to sport a blonde wig and base his persona on the most powerful Australian men of the 1980s.
"[Kench is] definitely taking the most outrageous qualities of all these tycoons that we know and ramping it up a little bit," Lawson told The Sydney Morning Herald, noting that Paul Hogan and Greg Norman inspired his character's quirks.
Josh Lawson played a chemist on Superstore
Fans of workplace comedies will probably recognize Josh Lawson from NBC's critically acclaimed sitcom "Superstore," which he was a part of during the show's first three seasons. The series centers around the lives of the employees who work at the store Cloud 9, though Amy (America Ferrera) is arguably the most notable character of the bunch.
Naturally, Amy crosses paths with Tate and they even agree to go on a date, which she regrets afterward. In one notable scene, he asks her out again in front of her colleagues and gets turned down, prompting him to compare himself to a naughty plaything and throw a hissy fit. It's one of many moments that portray the character as an inappropriate, self-centered doofus.
Basically, Tate is a moron who only thinks about himself. As the store's chemist, he makes more money than everyone else, despite frequently failing at his job. Furthermore, he's highly egotistical and judgemental, which rubs most of his employees wrong.
Josh Lawson flexed his muscles in Mortal Kombat
Josh Lawson is arguably most known for comedies, but there's more to the actor's oeuvre than laughter-inducing projects. In 2021, he played Kano in Simon McQuoid's "Mortal Kombat" reboot, a role that allowed him to flex his acting chops.
Granted, Lawson does provide most of the film's comic relief moments, but he's a menacing presence throughout and frequently at odds with the heroes of Earthrealm. He's an obnoxious character in many ways, but it was evident that Lawson was having a great time. Plus, he got to throw down and take part in some spectacularly violent fight sequences.
Furthermore, the actor relished the opportunity to play an antagonist in "Mortal Kombat." While speaking to ComicBook.com, he revealed that Kano allowed him to push the boundaries of good taste and act in ways he never would regularly. "Kano does not have that filter," Lawson said. "He is self-serving, he is greedy, he's opportunistic, and there's something fun about getting permission to do that."