Philip Lawrence was born in Winnfield, Louisiana and attended Weston High School near Jonesboro, Louisiana. He holds degrees in psychology and law from the University of Louisiana Monroe and Tulane University. He is a combat veteran of the Gulf War and studied acting at the Stella Alder Studio of Acting and Theater in Los Angeles. He is best known for playing the role of Dr. Maloney in the film Beasts of the Southern Wild which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, the Camera d'Or at the Cannes International Film Festival, and was nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture.