Eriq La Salle, born Erik Ki La Salle on July 23, 1962, in Hartford, Connecticut, is one of four siblings raised by their mother, Ada La Salle. Displaying an early interest in the arts, La Salle attended the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied drama for two years. He later transferred to New York University, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Tisch School of the Arts.
La Salle began his professional acting career in 1985 with a role in Joseph Papp's Shakespeare in the Park production of Henry V. This early theater work led to greater visibility in the performing arts community. His first television role was as journalist Mike Rivers on the long-running ABC soap opera One Life to Live.
In 1988, La Salle gained broader recognition when he appeared in the blockbuster comedy Coming to America, directed by John Landis and starring Eddie Murphy. The film grossed nearly $290 million worldwide and remains a cult classic. In 1994, La Salle landed his most iconic role as Dr. Peter Benton in NBC’s groundbreaking medical drama ER. He portrayed Dr. Benton for eight seasons and earned critical acclaim for his performance. Although he left the show in 2002, he returned during the show's 15th and final season, appearing in three episodes and directing one.
La Salle continued expanding his on-screen presence with roles in various films, including the 2006 crime drama Johnny Was, in which he played a Jamaican gangster alongside actors Vinnie Jones and Patrick Bergin. In 2015, he returned to television both in front of and behind the camera: he played a recurring character and directed an episode of the science fiction series Under the Dome.
| Birth Date: | 23 Jul, 1962 |
| Age: | 57 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Hartford |
| Education: | Juilliard School New York University Tisch School of the Arts |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American actor |
| Net Worth 2021: | 25 million |
