Lawrence is former professional Boxer & retired Police Detective. He was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, but grew up in the New Jersey town of Edison. He went to Edison High School. He pursued a career as a boxer and then became a police officer. Lawrence took up acting in 2003, after his wife suggested it would give him something to do rather than sit around the house. He holds a Master's of Arts degree from Liberty Univeristy, and has extensive experience as a homicide and crime scene investigator. (1997 Graduate of the National Homicide Investigation Academy).