AustLit

Born near Glen Innes (NSW) on 21 December, Joe Lawman made his professional variety theatre debut in Brisbane with Rahilly Brown's Sunshine Kiddies (as a clog dancer). In the late 1920s, while still in his teens, he appeared on Harry Clay's Sydney suburban circuit, where he was noticed by Alfred Frith. The comedian recommended Lawman to Hugh D. McIntosh, and following his engagement in Melbourne as Ginger Dolittle in Babes in the Wood (Playhouse, beginning 26 December), he was offered a place in the Tivoli Follies Australian production of Kenneth Duffield's London revue Pot Luck (1930). The following year Lawman, joined Nat Phillips's company.Over the next year or so he partnered Phillips either as a duo (Stiffy and Joe) or in the trio Stiffy, Syd and Joe (with Syd Beck).

Briefly married to variety performer Stella Lamond - the couple had one daughter, Toni Lamond - Lawman later married Tivoli soubrette Joy Robbins. He became a popular comedian on the Tivoli circuit during the Second World War, and also appeared in a number of pantomime dame roles. Lawman and Robbins travelled to the United Kingdom in 1945 and remained there for almost ten years.