Chosen as one of Variety’s “Top Ten Actors to Watch in 2009” and part of the new breed of emerging leading men in Hollywood, Laz Alonso is currently shooting the lead in NBC’s pilot MYSTERIES OF LAURA alongside Debra Messing and Josh Lucas. Laz’s television credits also include the lead roles in NBC’s DECEPTION and A & E’s BREAKOUT KINGS.
Laz recently played the lead in Sony Screen Gems’ BATTLE OF THE YEAR opposite Josh Holloway, Josh Peck and Chris Brown. Inspired by the award-winning documentary, PLANET B BOY, the film is about an all-star American b-boy crew training to compete in France at the “Battle of the Year (BOTY) International Championship.”
In 2011, Alonso starred in the hit romantic comedy JUMPING THE BROOM for Columbia Pictures’ for which he received a 2012 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor In A Motion Picture . He was also nominated for a BET Best Actor Award. Prior to JUMPING THE BROOM, he played the heroic role of “Tsu’Tey” in the highest grossing film of all time, James Cameron’s AVATAR. Laz played the lead villain role of “Fenix” in Universal’s FAST AND FURIOUS, which reunited the original cast.
His past movie credits include lead roles in the Sony/Screen Gems’ hits STOMP THE YARD and THIS CHRISTMAS, a co-starring role in Sam Mendes’ hit JARHEAD, for Universal opposite Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, Jake Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard, and a supporting role in Rod Lurie’s remake of the Sam Peckinpah classic STRAW DOGS for Sony Screen Gems. Laz also starred in Spike Lee’s MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA, in which he played one of four main leads opposite Derek Luke, Michael Ealy and Omar Benson.
Laz executive produced and starred opposite Danny Glover in Alan Jacobs’ DOWN FOR LIFE (aka POR VIDA), which ended up with a much-coveted position in the Toronto Film Festival where it received critical acclaim.
Born and raised in Washington DC, Laz always knew he wanted to be an actor. He graduated from the prestigious Howard University School of Business, earning a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing. After college, he worked on Wall Street as an investment banker. He now splits his time between New York City and Los Angeles.