David Lawrence

Canadian - born actor, director, writer, producer, and improviser best known for his mockumentaries, poking fun at ‘bangers,’ a particular kind of Canadian working class male character that lives for beer and Heavy Metal. David Lawrence was born in Calgary. His mother, Maureen Lawrence (Helten), was a nurse and conservative political activist. His father, Jim Lawrence was a geologist. He received his improvisation training at The Loose Moose Theatre in Calgary founded by improv pioneer Keith Johnstone, and Lawrence first appeared in a Subway commercial and minor film roles including The Investigation, and Static. It was on the set of Static, Lawrence became acquainted with writer-director Michael Dowse and the two collaborated, along with his childhood friends Paul Spence and Gordon Skilling, to prepare an outline for the cult hit Fubar (2002) which Lawrence financed. After being rejected by the Toronto Film Festival, Fubar premiered at the Sundance film festival, and became a cult classic whose most famous line, " Just Give’r!" became a part of the official Canadian hoser lexicon. The phrase implies working hard, partying hard, and pushing through tough situations. The mockumentary also starred Lawrence as the bumbling anti-hero Terry Cahill, an original character Lawrence created and performed at the Loose Moose for many years prior, serving as a Paul Schaffer type on the late night variety show Hotnuts and Popcorn. Lawrence then busied himself for several years in the 2000’s as an actor, writer and improv performer, he regularly appeared as Terry. He starred opposite Leslie Nielsen in the Discovery Channel series Doctorology, had minor acting roles in It’s All Gone Pete Tong, the hockey comedy Goon, Freezer Burn the Invasion of Laxdale, and more. In 2010, they released Fubar II/ Fubar Balls to the Wall (2010), plus the television series Fubar Age of Computer (2017). In 2019, Lawrence acquired all rights to the Fubar franchise, and guest starred as Terry in the Trailer Park Boys, Jail, and in Crave’s The Trades. A spin off series, TNT Fubar, aired on Trailer Park Boys Plus. Lawrence is married to writer Immanuela Lawrence with two children, son Cory Lawrence and daughter Zoey Lawrence.