* John Lawrence; Actor

John Lawrence, who appeared on stage, in films and on television, has died at a Northridge hospital. He was 60.

Lawrence, of North Hills and a longtime Valley resident, died Saturday of heart failure, said his wife Kay Lawrence.

Born in New York City, Lawrence began acting while earning a bachelor’s degree in business at Temple University in Philadelphia. He appeared in the off-Broadway plays “The Threepenny Opera” and “Children of Darkness” and on television shows “Playhouse 90” and “Omnibus” before coming to California in 1958.

Lawrence, who as a character actor often played villains, appeared in several films including “The Manchurian Candidate” (1962), “The Arrangement” (1969) and most recently, “They Live” (1988). He also appeared in television’s “L.A. Law” and in various commercials. In the 1980s, he acted in plays and guest lectured at Cal Sate Northridge.

Lawrence was past chairman of the San Fernando Valley Fair Housing Council’s speakers bureau, past board of managers member of the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Center, past advisory council member at James Monroe High School in North Hills and recently was active with a Screen Actors Guild Foundation elementary school reading program.

In addition to his wife of 34 years, Lawrence is survived by his sons, Jeremy Lawrence of North Hollywood and Joshua Lawrence of San Diego; daughters Jennifer Lawrence of Berkeley and Jessica Moore of Northridge; and five grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled at 4 p.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church of Encino, 4963 Balboa Blvd., of which Lawrence was a member. Praiswater Funeral Home in Van Nuys is handling the arrangements. Donations may be made in Lawrence’s name to the SAG Foundation, Dales Scholarship Fund, 7065 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028, or to the Mary Magdelene Project in care of First Presbyterian Church of Encino.