Charles Lawrence
Dror Mohar (sound designer), Charles Lawrence (filmmaker/actor), Madeleine Sackler (filmmaker), courtesy of Madeleine Sackler, by way of IndieWire.
Charles Lawrence leaves behind a great legacy, one of inspiration, perseverance, bravery, and compassion. Actor, filmmaker, singer, as well as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Charles will be missed dearly. He touched and inspired so many lives—not only of people who knew him personally, but also of thousands of men, women, and children who saw his vibrancy and authenticity on screen.
Charles was revolutionary. He was among the group of thirteen men at Pendleton Correctional Facility in Indiana who co-directed “It’s a Hard Truth Ain’t It,” an HBO documentary that was nominated for an Emmy. As the first film co-directed by people behind bars that was released by a large network and nominated for a major award, this work of art was groundbreaking. A combination of interviews and animated recreation, “It’s a Hard Truth Ain’t It” amplifies and humanizes the stories of incarcerated men, whose voices are too often silenced. In addition to his role in “It’s a Hard Truth Ain’t It,” Charles acted in “O.G.,” a 2019 drama, also filmed and directed at Pendleton. Filmed inside of Pendleton and starring many of its incarcerated men, “O.G.” provides an intimate, raw picture of our country’s prison system.
Jeffrey Wright and Charles Lawrence on the set of “O.G.,” courtesy of Jeffrey Wright’s Instagram.
Jeffrey Wright, who starred in “O.G.,” maintained a relationship with Charles and the other men he worked alongside throughout the filming process. In an Instagram tribute for Charles, he wrote: “Charles Lawrence left an impression on me…. Hard cat, no question. No self pity - at least not in public. But soft too.” Len Amato, the former President of HBO Films, praised Charles’s skill and presence as the character Patrick in “O.G.,” saying, “The power of Charles Lawrence in ‘O.G.’ is amazing. His presence, authenticity, and integrity on screen transcend every moment he appears. He will be missed.”
Charles maintained his presence, authenticity, and integrity off screen as well, as Madeleine Sackler, the director of “O.G.” and co-director of “It’s a Hard Truth Ain’t It,” emphasizes in her piece commemorating him. The two met at Madeleine’s documentary filmmaking workshop. She recalls how at their first meeting, Charles “had this big smile. He was warm, curious, and honest to the point of directness that I found refreshing, and he remained that way every time I saw him, worked with him, and talked with him for the next five years.”
Initially, Charles was nervous about acting. He had a pair of black wraparound sunglasses which he wore “rain or shine.” These glasses were the subject of great negotiation; Madeleine and Charles “talked about taking them off constantly.” Madeleine felt that by removing his glasses, Charles could become more vulnerable, more comfortable expressing his great “depth of feeling and emotion.” Finally, Charles removed his sunglasses. When Madeleine remarked that he had “kind eyes,” Charles seemed amazed, saying that people always described his eyes as “scary,” as those of a “thug.” Madeleine and the others disagreed fervently. At the last shooting, Charles didn’t wear his glasses; instead, he sported “a huge grin.” “There you go, Madeleine,” he said.
Jeffrey Wright and Charles Lawrence on the set of “O.G.,” courtesy of Jeffrey Wright’s Instagram.
Charles also had a deep, beautiful voice, which he used not only in acting, but also in singing for the choir. Upbeat and passionate, he also wrote in all caps. When Madeleine corresponded with him during the beginning of the pandemic, Charles joked: “TOILET PAPER! WE HAVE ‘PLENTY’ OF THAT HERE.” This email, however, was the last message that Charles would send to Madeleine. Two weeks later, Charles, who had a preexisting kidney condition, passed away from COVID-19. He was on a ventilator for a day before he succumbed to the virus. According to Madeleine, “he wasn’t even allowed to speak to his wife from the hospital before he passed away.”
Charles and his wife, Sanya Lawrence, had a beautiful bond. Nick Paumgarten, a writer from The New Yorker who spent time on the set of “O.G.,” recalls a heartwarming interaction between the couple at the premier of the film. At the premier, Charles and a few others who acted in “O.G.” FaceTimed from Pendleton. Charles asked, “Is my wife there?” Sanya was; though she could see him, he could not see her. Charles waved; Sanya called out to him. As the conversation ended, Charles “leaned in toward the camera, looming large, and made a gesture as though to give her a hug.”
Many of the men at Pendleton who had worked with Charles on film projects reached out to Madeleine after Charles’s passing. They gave her memories of Charles, which they wanted to pass on to Sanya.
One fellow actor, Quentis, said: “I have tears in my eyes, emotions of frustration rise. My Brudda [Charles] did not have a death sentence or life without parole. So upon becoming detrimentally ill, he and all should be shown some compassion (let go). Bro turned his life around, made a real transformation from hate in the streets to church and love and peace. And that’s what truly matters.”
Another who spoke was Franklin, a COVID-19 survivor. “The changes he made in life,” Franklin recalled, “were admirable and will be remembered and celebrated forever. What happened to Charles was wrong and something needs to be done about it. As people we need to come together and make the necessary and profound changes the world needs. So situations like Charles don’t happen again.”
RuShawn, who was also in “It’s a Hard Truth Ain’t It,” said that Charles “encouraged [him] to be bigger than myself.”
Al’Jonan, co-director of the documentary and a poet, gathered more memories of Charles from countless others and compiled them into a poem, “When I Think of Chuck.” Below are some excerpts; read the beautiful ode in full here.
When I think of Chuck –– I’ll be forever mindful of how we embraced each other for support, to discover ways through the fog and the despair that distorts…We both agreed, that people need to look within themselves for change, Chuck was truly a cultivator, of every type of grain…
When I think of Chuck –– I think about us training dogs and a moment we had, when he asked me for help and I was surprised he asked…it boosted my confidence because he affirmed my worth, he recognized my potential and caused it to emerge…
When I think of Chuck –– I consider tough love and twenty years of memories, he was known as “Big Chuck” to most, but God knows he was a dear friend to me…Death separated the threads and unstitched the fabrics of what we built, but he will always be a part of my destiny, what I accomplish along this journey, is, his dream fulfilled…
When I think of Chuck –– he was bold and genuine in his own skin, he picked you up when he gave out hugs, but his true strength came from within…when someone like Chuck can be vulnerable and reveal the love he has for his wife, causes a hope to arise in you, because he made it all, seem alright…
Charles, Chuck, Sir Charles, we will miss you.
Charles is survived by his loving family: his wife Sanya Lawrence, his daughter JuDasha Sheets, his son Charles Lawrence Jr., and his new grandson, Shavon Jr. He is remembered by them and everyone whose lives he touched—both personally and on screen—through film and song. We mourn the passing of a truly creative, inspirational man, who fearlessly shared his passion and story with the world. Charles Lawrence will be dearly missed.
This memorial was written by MOL team member Frances Keohane with information from reporting by Madeleine Sackler in IndieWire, Nick Paumgarten of The New Yorker, and Omar Sanchez of Entertainment Weekly.
To support the effort to protect people in prison from COVID-19, view the JustLeadership Campaign, launched with the help of Charles’s wife, Sanya.
Messages and Memories
“It all started in 2005 at Pendleton correctional facility where I met Chuck at through a mutual associate of ours and needless to say, we became best friends then roommates through the thinking for a change program.
One thing I can say about Chuck he had this charisma about him, he could light up a room with his smile or with his positive energy he had about himself. One thing about Chuck he was the type of person that what’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong he never played favorite with nobody that is why I had the upmost respect for him. He was well liked by every race at Pendleton. I shared a small circle with Chuck and his cousin Bay Bay Freeman and two of his friends Johnson Bey and Parker Bey. They accepted me with no hesitation and that said a lot I felt honored to share that circle with them. Chuck will forever hold a special place in my life for the man he was…love you Big Bro until we meet again!!!!!”
- Joseph Fox
