Eriq La Salle

American actor, director, and writer

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Eriq La Salle

La Salle in 1998

Born|

Erik Ki La Salle

(1962-07-23) July 23, 1962 (age 62)

Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.

Education|

* Juilliard School
* New York University (BFA)

Occupation(s)| Actor, director, writer, producer
Years active| 1985–present

Erik Ki La Salle (born July 23, 1962), professionally known as Eriq La Salle, is an American actor, director, writer and producer. La Salle is known for his performance as Dr. Peter Benton in the NBC medical drama ER (1994–2002; 2008–2009) which earned him three NAACP Image Awards and nominations for a Golden Globe Award and three Primetime Emmy Awards.

## Early life

[edit]

La Salle, one of four children, was born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, by his mother, Ada Haynes.[1] He is an alumnus of Weaver High School and the Artists Collective, Inc. in Hartford. He attended the Juilliard School's Drama Division for two years as a member of Group 13 (1980–1984),[2] then attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Graduate Acting Program[3] in 1984.[4][5]

## Career

[edit]

At the time of his graduation from NYU, La Salle was cast in Joseph Papp's Shakespeare in the Park production of Henry V.[3] Soon after, he found continuous acting work on Broadway, off-Broadway, and on several daytime TV dramas including One Life to Live, where he played the reporter Mike Rivers.

In 1988, La Salle co-starred as Darryl Jenks in the Eddie Murphy movie Coming to America.

In 1994, the medical drama ER premiered on NBC with La Salle starring as Dr. Peter Benton. He held the role until leaving during the eighth season. He returned to ER for three episodes during its 15th and final season, including an uncredited appearance as himself in the opening of "Heal Thyself" to tell the audience of the death of the show's creator Michael Crichton. During season 15, he returned to direct an episode.[6]

On January 31, 2003, he made a cameo appearance in Biker Boyz as Slick Will, a mechanic. He played a Jamaican gangster in the independent film Johnny Was[7] opposite Vinnie Jones, Samantha Mumba, Lennox Lewis, and Roger Daltrey. La Salle lived in Belfast, for four weeks while filming the movie, which he supported at the premiere of the film during the 2006 American Black Film Festival in Miami.

La Salle starred in the Hallmark Channel original movie, Relative Stranger, which premiered on March 14, 2009. Also in the movie were Cicely Tyson and La Salle's former ER castmates Michael Michele (Dr. Cleo Finch) and Michael Beach (Al Boulet).

In 2010, La Salle played the United Nations Secretary General in the series finale of 24, and guest-starred in an episode of Covert Affairs in August of the same year. In 2011, he played two recurring roles: first as a Caribbean community leader who rallied against the product Rasta Monsta in HBO's How to Make it in America, the second as the neuropsychiatrist E-Mo in CBS' A Gifted Man.

In 1996, La Salle began his directorial career with his debut in the HBO made-for-TV movie Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault, starring Don Cheadle, James Earl Jones and Forest Whitaker. Shortly after that, La Salle directed the pilot for Soul Food: The Series on Showtime.

In 2002, he produced the feature film The Salton Sea. That same year, he produced, directed and starred in the movie Crazy as Hell. In 2003 he wrote, directed and starred in "Memphis", an episode of The Twilight Zone. He directed the 2012 Hallmark Channel movie Playing Father, and multiple episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,[8] CSI: NY, Ringer, and NBC’s spinoff Law & Order: Organized Crime.

La Salle's first novel, Laws of Depravity, was published in 2012.[9]

In 2015, La Salle returned to television with a role in Under the Dome's third season, after directing one episode of the second season. He also directed an episode in the third season. He both acted in and directed episodes of CSI: Cyber. He performed in other series, such as The Night Shift and Madam Secretary.[10]

In 2016, La Salle directed the episode "Wingman" in the Fox series Lucifer and the episode "Black and Blue" of TNT's Murder in the First. He co-starred as Will Munson in the 2017 superhero film Logan.[11] La Salle also directed and produced multiple episodes of Chicago P.D. throughout its many seasons.

## Filmography

[edit]

### Film

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1985  | Rappin' | Ice  |
Cut and Run | Fargas  |
Out of the Darkness | Bobby  | Television film
1986  | Where Are the Children? | Deputy Bernie Miles  |
1987  | Five Corners | Samuel Kemp  |
1988  | What Price Victory | Trumayne James  | Television film
Coming to America | Darryl Jenks  |
1989  | Magic Moments | Dancing Guy  | Television film
When We Were Young | Virgil Hawkins  | Television film
1990  | Jacob's Ladder | Frank  |
Hammer, Slammer, & Slade | Jack Spade  | Television film
1991  | Eyes of a Witness | Mchumbo  | Television film
1993  | Empty Cradle | Detective Knoll  | Television film
1994  | Color of Night | Anderson  |
Drop Squad | Bruford Jamison Jr  |
1996  | Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault | Diego  |
1999  | Mind Prey | Lucas Davenport  | Television film
2002  | One Hour Photo | Det. James Van Der Zee  |
Crazy as Hell | Barnett  |
2003  | Biker Boyz | Tariq 'Slick Will'  | Uncredited
2005  | The Seat Filler | Alonso Grant  | Uncredited
Inside Out | Doctor Peoples  |
Conviction | Peter Seidman  |
2006  | Johnny Was | Julius  |
2009  | Relative Stranger | Walter Clemons  | Television film
MegaFault | Charley 'Boomer' Baxter  | Television film
2017  | Logan | Will Munson  |

### Television

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1986  | Spenser: For Hire | Jeffrey Miller  | Episode 1.19: "Angel of Desolation"
One Life to Live | Mike Rivers  | 1 episode
ABC Afterschool Special | Charlie  | Episode 15.3: "Teen Father"
1987  | Another World | Charles Thompson  | 1 episode
Mariah |  | Episode 1.1: "Equations"
Vietnam War Story II | K.C.  | Episode 1.1: "The Mine"
Leg Work | Goro Asato  | Episode 1.8: "Mystery Woman"
1988  | Knightwatch | Derek D.  | Episode 1.3: "Codes"
1989  | Gideon Oliver | Ezra  | Episode 1.4: "By the Waters of Babylon"
1990  | B.L. Stryker | Mark Hastings Jr  | Episode 2.3: "Winner Takes All"
A Different World | Prof. Paul Mann  | Episode 3.13: "The Power of the Pen"
1991  | L.A. Law | Kenny Webster  | Episode 5.19: "Speak, Lawyers, for Me"
Screenplay | Eric  | Episode 6.5: "Murder in Oakland"
1992  | Quantum Leap | Bobby Lee  | Episode 4.15: "A Song for the Soul"
The Human Factor | Michael Stoven  | 5 episodes
1994  | Under Suspicion | Det. LeBlanc  | Episode 1.1: "Pilot"
1994–2002, 2009  | ER | Dr. Peter Benton | 171 episodes
1998  | Adventures from the Book of Virtues | King Menelaus  | Episode 2.2: "Determination"
The Larry Sanders Show | Himself  | Episode 6.7: "Beverly's Secret"
2003  | The Twilight Zone | Ray Ellison  | Episode: "Memphis"
The System | Andrew Evans  | 9 episodes
2006  | Without a Trace | Aaron Gibbs  | Episode 5.6: "The Calm Before"
2010  | 24 | UN Secretary General  | 2 episodes
Covert Affairs | Christopher McAuley  | Episode 1.5: "In the Light"
2011  | How to Make It in America | Everton Thompson  | 3 episodes
2011–2012  | A Gifted Man | Evan 'E-Mo' Morris  | 5 episodes
2012  | Blackout | George Lumas  | 3 episodes
2013  | We Need Help | Police Officer  |
2014, 2015  | Under the Dome | Hektor Martin  | 5 episodes

### As director or producer

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1996  | Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault | Director  | Film
Psalms from the Underground | Short film
1999  | Mind Prey | Producer  | Television film
2000  | Soul Food | Director  | Episode 1.1: "The More Things Change"
2002  | The Salton Sea | Producer  | Film
Crazy as Hell | Director and producer  | Film
2003  | The Twilight Zone | Director  | Episode: "Memphis"
2007  | Without a Trace | Episode 5.15: "Desert Springs"
2007, 2008  | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | 2 episodes
2009  | ER | Episode 15.15: "Family Man"
Old Skool | Executive producer  | Television special
2010  | CSI: NY | Director  | Episode 6.17: "Pot of Gold"
2011, 2012  | Ringer | 2 episodes
2012  | A Gifted Man | Episode 1.14: "In Case of Co-Dependants"
2013  | Playing Father | Television film
2014  | Crisis | Episode 1.11: "Best Laid Plans"
Madam Secretary | Episode 1.5: "Blame Canada"
2014, 2015  | The Night Shift | 5 episodes
Under the Dome | 2 episodes
2015, 2016  | CSI: Cyber | 3 episodes
2015  | The Messengers | Episode 1.5: "Eye in the Sky"
Rosewood | Episode 1.4: "Vitamins and Vandals"
Battle Creek | Episode 1.9: "Gingerbread Man"
2016  | Lucifer | Episode 1.7: "Wingman"
Once Upon a Time | Episode 5.18: "Ruby Slippers"
Murder in the First | Episode 3.3: "Black and Blue"
2016–2021  | Chicago P.D. | Director, executive producer and co-executive producer  |
2016, 2017  | Chicago Med | Director  | 2 episodes
2017  | Chicago Justice | Episode: 1.6: "Dead Meat"
APB | Episode 1.8: "Fueling Fires"
The Quad | Episode 1.8: "#TheCagedBirdSings"
Training Day | Episode 1.13: "Elegy: Part 2"
The Librarians | Episode 4.2: "And the Steal of Fortune"
2021  | Law & Order: Organized Crime | Episode #5: "An Inferior Product"
2022, 2024  | Law & Order | 2 episodes
2024  | FBI | Episode: "Momental"

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Year  | Association  | Category  | Work  | Result

|
|
|
|

1995  | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | ER | Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated
1996  | Magnolia Stage Award | Best Supporting Actor  | Won
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards  | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series  | Won
1997  | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Nominated
NAACP Image Awards  | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series  | Nominated
Online Film & Television Association  | Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series  | Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards  | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series  | Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards  | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series  | Won
Viewers for Quality Television | Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series  | Nominated
1998  | NAACP Image Awards  | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series  | Nominated
Online Film & Television Association  | Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series  | Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards  | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series  | Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards  | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series  | Won
1999  | NAACP Image Awards  | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series  | Won
Online Film & Television Association  | Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series  | Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards  | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series  | Won
2000  | NAACP Image Awards  | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series  | Won
Screen Actors Guild Awards  | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series  | Nominated
2001  | NAACP Image Awards  | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series  | Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards  | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series  | Nominated
2002  | NAACP Image Awards  | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series  | Won
2003  | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Independent Actor  | Crazy as Hell | Won
Black Reel Awards  | Outstanding Independent Film  | Nominated
2009  | NAACP Image Awards  | Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Episode: PTSD

| Nominated
2010  | Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Relative Stranger | Nominated

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Eriq La Salle Biography – Yahoo! Movies".
2. ^ "Alumni News". The Juilliard School. April 2009. Archived from the original on November 11, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
3. ^ a b "ER Cast Biographies". NBC. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
4. ^ "NYU Graduate Acting Alumni: Eriq LaSalle ('84)". NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Archived from the original on July 5, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
5. ^ Andrea LeVasseur. "Eriq La Salle". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
6. ^ "Eriq La Salle Back in the ER — to Direct". TV Guide. November 5, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
7. ^ Johnny Was at MySpace.com
8. ^ Eriq La Salle at IMDb.com
9. ^ "Laws of Depravity". Archived from the original on August 5, 2012.
10. ^ Abrams, Natalie (April 23, 2015). "ER alum Eriq La Salle joins Under the Dome in season 3". Entertainment Weekly.
11. ^ Kroll, Justin (May 4, 2016). "Eriq Lasalle Joins Cast of 'Wolverine 3'". Variety. Retrieved May 4, 2016.

## External links

[edit]

* Eriq La Salle at IMDb

* v
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* e

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

* Redd Foxx (1972)
* Paul Winfield (1981)
* Howard Rollins (1982)
* Howard Rollins (1988)
* Danny Glover (1989)
* No Award (1990)
* Blair Underwood (1991)
* James Earl Jones (1992)
* Dorian Harewood (1993)
* Blair Underwood (1994)
* Malik Yoba (1995)
* Malik Yoba (1996)
* Malik Yoba (1997)
* Eriq La Salle (1998)
* Eriq La Salle (1999)
* Blair Underwood (2000)
* Eriq La Salle (2001)
* Michael Beach (2002)
* Steve Harris (2003)
* Taye Diggs (2004)
* Isaiah Washington (2005)
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* Hill Harper (2007)
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* LL Cool J (2010)
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* Sterling K. Brown (2016)
* Omari Hardwick (2017)
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* Regé-Jean Page (2020)
* Sterling K. Brown (2021)
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