Eriq La Salle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eriq La Salle
La Salle in 1998
Born	Erik Ki La Salle (1962-07-23) July 23, 1962 (age 63) Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Education	Juilliard School New York University (BFA)
Occupation	Actor, director, writer, producer
Years active	1985–present

Eriq La Salle (born July 23, 1962) is a talented American actor, director, writer, and producer. He is widely recognized for his role as Dr. Peter Benton in the popular medical TV show ER. This role brought him three NAACP Image Awards and nominations for a Golden Globe Award and three Primetime Emmy Awards.

Early Life and Education

Eriq La Salle was born and grew up in Hartford, Connecticut. He was one of four children raised by his mother, Ada Haynes. He attended Weaver High School and also studied at the Artists Collective, Inc. in Hartford. La Salle then went to the Juilliard School for two years. Later, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from New York University in 1984.

Acting Career Highlights

After graduating from college, La Salle quickly began his acting career. He performed in plays on Broadway and in various TV shows. One of his early roles was playing a reporter named Mike Rivers in the daytime TV drama One Life to Live.

In 1988, La Salle co-starred in the movie Coming to America. He played the character Darryl Jenks alongside Eddie Murphy.

Starring in ER

In 1994, Eriq La Salle became famous for his role as Dr. Peter Benton in the medical drama ER. The show premiered on NBC. He was a main character until he left during the eighth season. He returned to ER for three episodes in its 15th and final season, which aired in 2008 and 2009. He also directed an episode during that final season.

Other Film and TV Roles

La Salle has appeared in many other films and TV shows. In 2003, he had a cameo in Biker Boyz. He also played a gangster in the independent film Johnny Was in 2006. He lived in Belfast for four weeks while filming that movie.

In 2009, he starred in the Hallmark Channel movie Relative Stranger. His former ER co-stars Cicely Tyson, Michael Michele, and Michael Beach were also in the movie. In 2010, he played the United Nations Secretary General in the final episodes of 24. He also had guest roles in Covert Affairs and How to Make it in America. From 2011 to 2012, he played a neuropsychiatrist named E-Mo in A Gifted Man.

In 2015, La Salle joined the cast of Under the Dome for its third season. He also acted in and directed episodes of CSI: Cyber. He appeared in other series like The Night Shift and Madam Secretary. In 2017, he co-starred as Will Munson in the superhero film Logan.

Directing and Producing Work

Eriq La Salle began directing in 1996. His first directing job was for the HBO TV movie Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault. He also directed the pilot episode for Soul Food: The Series on Showtime.

In 2002, he produced the movie The Salton Sea. That same year, he produced, directed, and starred in the film Crazy as Hell. In 2003, he wrote, directed, and starred in an episode of The Twilight Zone called "Memphis". He has directed many TV episodes for popular shows. These include Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, CSI: NY, Ringer, and Law & Order: Organized Crime.

La Salle has also directed and produced many episodes of Chicago P.D. He has also directed episodes of Chicago Med, Chicago Justice, and FBI.

Writing

Eriq La Salle is also a writer. His first novel, Laws of Depravity, was published in 2012.

Awards and Recognition

Eriq La Salle has received many awards and nominations for his work. He won three NAACP Image Awards for his acting in ER. He also won a Magnolia Stage Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1996. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and three Primetime Emmy Awards for his role in ER. In 2003, he won a Black Reel Award for Outstanding Independent Actor for his film Crazy as Hell.

Filmography

Directing and Producing Film Roles

Acting Film Roles

Directing and Producing Television Roles

Acting Television Roles

TV Movies Directed and Produced

Acting TV Movie Roles

See also

In Spanish: Eriq La Salle para niños