Eriq La Salle is best known for starring in the hit medical drama ER, but the actor has a long list of credits on his resume. While he grew up in Connecticut, he spent most of his life acting, producing, and directing in Hollywood.
Early Life
Eriq La Salle was born on July 23, 1962, in Hartford, Connecticut, and was raised by his mother, Ada Haynes, along with his three siblings.
The actor attended Weaver High School and was a Juilliard School Drama Division member for two years in the early 80s. He then attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
When La Salle graduated from NYU, he appeared in a production of Henry V in Shakespeare in the Park. He continued to appear in off-Broadway performances and numerous television dramas, like the popular soap opera One Life to Live.
Acting Career
La Salle began adding a string of credits to his resume after graduating from college and regularly appeared in television shows and movies.
Coming to America
In 1988, La Salle scored the role of Darryl ‘Soul Glo’ Jenks in the movie Coming to America, playing opposite Eddie Murphy. The romantic comedy was a box-office success, despite initial negative reviews from press screenings.
The Human Factor
La Salle played the character of Michael Stoven for five episodes of the medical drama series The Human Factor. The show initially filmed eight episodes, but only five aired, and the series ended after one season.
Jacob’s Ladder
In 1990, the actor played Frank in Jacob’s Ladder, a psychological horror film. The movie also starred Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, and Danny Aiello, and even with meager success, the film developed a cult following. However, the movie inspired future horror films, and a remake of the same name was released in 2019.
Color of Night
La Salle played Anderson in the 1994 film, Color of Night, an erotic mystery thriller starring Bruce Willis and Jane March. The movie flopped at the box office but was one of the most-rented movies in the 90s and revolved around a psychologist who flees town after one of his patients commits suicide.
The movie has excessive violence, immorality, and sex, and Maxim magazine wrote how it had one of the best sex scenes in film history.
The System
In 2003, La Salle appeared in 9 episodes of The System, playing the character of Andrew Evans. The series only lasted one season and starred Camryn Manheim and Harvey Silver.
ER
From 1994-2002 and then again in 2009, La Salle starred in the medical drama ER for 171 episodes and played the character of Dr. Peter Benton.
The actor appeared in seasons 1-8, and season 15 as a guest for three episodes to inform the audience of the death of Michael Crichton, the show’s creator.
The actor remained uncredited for his guest spot on ER announcing the creator’s death but did come back to direct an episode in season 15.
Why did he leave ER?
La Salle initially left the series to concentrate on his directing career and pursue additional acting opportunities.
The show ran for 15 seasons, with a total of 331 episodes, making it one of the longest-running primetime medical dramas, coming second behind Grey’s Anatomy.
What did he do after ER?
La Salle didn’t let the end of his time on ER be the end of his career. Instead, he continued to act in both television and film.
24
The actor appeared in two episodes in 2010 of the hit action-drama series 24 as the UN Secretary General. The series was a fan favorite and starred Kiefer Sutherland, amongst others. While La Salle only appeared on the show in 2010, the series ran from 2001-2014 for a total of 204 episodes.
How to Make it in America
In 2011, La Salle appeared as Everton Thompson for three episodes on the comedy-drama How to Make it in America. While the show made it to season two, it was canceled shortly after due to low ratings; Mark Wahlberg served as executive director and followed the lives of Ben Epstein and Cam Calderon as they tried to make it in the fashion scene of New York City.
A Gifted Man
La Salle guest starred in one episode of A Gifted Man in 2012. The fantasy medical drama starred Patrick Wilson and Jennifer Ehle, but it didn’t make it past the first season. La Salle played Evan “E-Mo” Morris, a friend of Wilson’s character and a psychiatrist-neurologist.
Blackout
In 2012, La Salle appeared as George Lumas in three episodes of Blackout. While the show only lasted one season, it boasted big-name stars like James Brolin and the late Anne Heche. The show revolved around a disgraced former Marine leading a team of mercenaries and causing a blackout in LA to obtain CIA slush funds.
Under the Dome
La Salle made five guest appearances in 2004 and 2005 as Hektor Martin in the science-fiction mystery drama series Under the Dome. The show ran from 2003-2005 and was based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. La Salle’s character played the cutthroat CEO of Aktaion Energy.
Logan
What is Eriq La Salle doing now?
Acting
Eriq La Salle is still acting, although sporadically. In 2017, the actor played Will Munson in the superhero film Logan, which also starred Hugh Jackman as the title character.
The film was the tenth of the X-Men series and the final of the Wolverine trilogy. While La Salle didn’t have a starring role, he does share the screen with Jackman and shows viewers he still has what it takes to be on screen with the best of them.
In 2022 he reunited with his ER cast mate Gloria Reuben and starred in the Hallmark movie ‘A Second Chance at Love.’
Directing and Producing
La Salle has mainly focused his career behind the camera as a director and producer.
He has directed episodes of Lucifer, Murder in the First, and multiple episodes of Chicago P.D. Most recently, Eriq has directed episodes of Law & Order, The Librarians, First Kill and Training Day and he was an executive producer for the series Chicago P.D.
Writing
In addition, the actor inked a book deal with Ebony Magazine for a three-book series that channels crime and thrillers. The first in the series, Laws of Depravity, will be followed by Laws of Wrath and, finally, Laws of Annihilation. The books follow three detectives investigating high-profile serial killers and their brutal crimes.
Finally, the actor occasionally posts to Instagram if you want to catch up with one of your favorite actors.
Is Eriq La Salle married?
While La Salle is not married, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t had any past relationships that have come to haunt him. In 2000, the actor and his girlfriend, Angela Johnson, split after five years, and since they purchased a home together, she sued him for half of the proceeds.
The case was dismissed the same year, and it seems she got what she wanted all along.
Today, there is no evidence he is married or in a serious relationship.
Does he have any kids?
La Salle has no children unless he has kept them hidden.
