
Born David Charles Lawrence in Worthing, West Sussex, England, he migrated with his family to New Zealand in 1946, settling in New Plymouth before moving to Wellington in 1948. Lawrence spent most of his life in New Zealand, but also worked extensively in Australia. He was a renowned jazz and rock drummer, playing drums in many bands, including Max Merritt & The Meteors, Quincy Conserve, Blerta, and The Crocodiles. His last recording was with Bernie McGann, Larry Gales and Jonathan Crayford on "Jazz at the St. James" in 1989. In the early 1970s, Lawrence founded Blerta ("Bruno Lawrence's Electric Revelation and Travelling Apparition"). The multi and theatrical co-operative toured New Zealand and in parts of Australia. Blerta saw him performing alongside many people he would work with later as an actor, including director Geoff Murphy, and actors Martyn Sanderson and Ian Watkin.

Frontline
TV • 1994

The Quiet Earth
MOVIE • 1985

The Great Bookie Robbery
TV • 1986

Jack Be Nimble
MOVIE • 1993

Utu
MOVIE • 1984

Battletruck
MOVIE • 1982

Spotswood
MOVIE • 1992

Smash Palace
MOVIE • 1981

Initiation
MOVIE • 1987

The Rainbow Warrior
MOVIE • 1997

Race for the Yankee Zephyr
MOVIE • 1981

The Delinquents
MOVIE • 1989

An Indecent Obsession
MOVIE • 1985

The Rainbow Warrior Conspiracy
MOVIE • 1988

Carry Me Back
MOVIE • 1982

Rikky and Pete
MOVIE • 1988

Beyond Reasonable Doubt
MOVIE • 1980

Death Warmed Up
MOVIE • 1984