Eriq La Salle Biography

Eriq La Salle

La Salle was working on projects on and Off Broadway even before he graduated with a degree in theater arts from New York University. In 1984 he landed a role in the daytime drama One Life to Live, and in 1991 relocated to California to costar with John Mahoney (Frasier) in the short-lived television series The Human Factor. He kept busy with guest appearances on LA Law, Quantum Leap, and A Different World until 1994, when he landed a lead role as Dr. Peter Benton in the hit series ER. His movie credits include Coming to America (1988), The Color of Night (1994), and D.R.O.P. Squad (1994). He wrote, directed, and starred in the short film Psalms from the Underground (1996) and directed the HBO movie Angel of Harlem. La Salle hung up his ER stethoscope in 2001. La Salle's recent movie outings are Crazy as Hell (2002), which he directed and starred in, and One Hour Photo (2002), with Robin Williams.