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Eriq La Salle Biography

Birth Name:Erik Ki La Salle

Birth Place:Hartford, Connecticut, United States

Profession Actor, Director, Producer, Writer, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

  • Two of the short films he wrote, directed and produced won awards at the Worldfest Houston film competition and the USA Film Festival
  • Attended Julliard School's Drama Division for two years, then earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts
  • Branched out from acting into directing, producing and writing, not only for the screen but also for its own sake, as the 2012 publication of his novel, "Laws of Depravity," proved
  • Has played a number of detectives and acted in multiple medical dramas, and often plays confident, or even forceful characters
  • The inner-city speech patterns he'd picked growing up hindered his progress as an actor in Julliard's eyes, but with the help of speech teachers and experience on the stage, he kept pursuing his dream
  • Turned an unfocused school career around when he discovered acting at a local youth theater group at the age of 14

Awards

  • 1995Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1996Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1996Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1996Magnolia Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1997Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1997Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1997OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1997Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1997Q Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series: nominated
  • 1998Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1998Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 1998Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1998OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1998Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1999Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1999Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1999OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2000Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2000Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2001Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2001Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2002Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2003Black Reel-Theatrical - Best Independent Actor: winner
  • 2003Black Reel-Best Independent Film: nominated
  • 2009Image Award-Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2010Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated