ERIQ LA SALLE

As Dr. Peter Benton, Eriq La Salle has earned the 1999 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, as well as three Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe nomination. La Salle was born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, one of four children. In 1984, after studying for two years at Juilliard, he received a B.F.A. in theatre arts from New York University. Just before his graduation, he was cast in the first of several productions for Joseph Papp's Shakespeare in the Park theatre company. Weeks later, he landed his first feature film role in a low-budget Italian movie shot in Florida. He soon found continuous acting work on Broadway and off-Broadway and in the daytime television drama "One Life to Live" as reporter Mike Rivers.
In 1991, La Salle moved to Los Angeles to co-star (with John Mahoney of "Frasier") in the drama series "The Human Factor." He piled up TV credits by guest starring on "L.A. Law," "Quantum Leap" and "A Different World," as well as in HBO's "Vietnam War Stories." Among his TV movie credits are "Empty Cradle," "Circumstantial Evidence," "What Price Victory?" and "Leg Work." His feature films include "Coming to America," "Five Corners," "Jacob's Ladder," "The Color of Night" and "D.R.O.P. Squad." On stage, he appeared in "Two Trains Running" at the Goodman Theater.

La Salle is also making his mark in Hollywood as a director of film and television projects. He wrote and directed "Psalms from the Underground," a 35-minute short film in which he also starred. He also directed the critically acclaimed HBO movie "Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault," the story of legendary athlete Earl Manigault, whose drug addiction destroyed his promising basketball career. La Salle has written, directed and produced two short films that won awards at the Worldfest Houston film competition and the USA Film Festival. Recently, La Salle co-produced the television movie "Mind Prey," in which he starred as Lucas Davenport, the policeman made famous in a series of mystery novels by John Sandford.

In his free time, La Salle enjoys shooting pool and working out (he used to compete in martial arts). His birthday is July 23.