Martin West (born Martin Weixelbaum; August 28, 1937 – December 31, 2019), was an American actor of film and television, best known for playing Lawson in John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) and the lead role in Freckles (1960). Martin West (born Martin Weixelbaum; August 28, 1937 – December 31, 2019), was an American actor of film and television, best known for playing Lawson in John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) and the lead role in Freckles (1960).