Two days into the filming of "ER," the producers had not yet cast the regular role of the self-assured Dr. Benton. Eriq La Salle seized the moment and three days later, he suited up as Peter Benton, the role that has earned him the 1999 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, as well as three Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe nomination.

Eriq La Salle, best known for his portrayal of Dr. Peter Benton on the NBC smash medical drama "ER," has made a smooth transition into directing and producing with his production company Humble Journey Films. La Salle received three Emmy nominations for his work on "ER," in addition to several Golden Globe, SAG, and NAACP Image Award nominations. In 2002 La Salle won his third NAACP Image Award.

Up next, La Salle can be seen in Hallmark Channel's "Relative Stranger." The film, which follows a man who reunites with his estranged family after his father's death, is scheduled to debut in March of 2009. In 2008, La Salle continued his directorial efforts by directing an episode of the hit NBC show "Law & Order: SVU" (the second episode he directed for SVU).