Laz Alonso was born and raised in Washington, D.C. and always knew he wanted to be a successful actor. At a very early age, he entertained his family by playing different characters and doing impressions of family members and friends. He graduated from the prestigious Howard University School of Business with a degree in Marketing. Upon graduating, he worked as a banker at Merill Lynch on Wall Street, and eventually started his own marketing business.
This successful business of his led him to have more time for his passion for acting. Laz Alonso began taking evening classes and he eventually landed roles in commercials and videos.
Laz Alonso, being a rising star, has had several supporting roles. In 2000, he became the host of the TV series
A.M. @ BET. He was also cast as Martinez in the television movie
Disappearing Acts. The following year, he was given roles in
Crime Partners 2000 and
30 Years to Life. He also became the host of another TV series,
NYLA. In 2002, he was seen in movies like
Morning Breath,
G,
All Night Bodega and
Half & Half. He has been in two episodes of
Providence and also in
The Practice as Derek Mills.
Laz Alonso was cast in
Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood. He has also appeared in other TV series such as
Without a Trace,
Soul Food and
CSI: Miami. In 2004, he was featured in
Hittin’ It! which was followed by a minor role in
Constantine,
The Tenants and
Flip the Script the next year. He was also in HBO’s series
Entourage and the 2005 film
Jarhead as Escobar. He has also been in episodes of
Bones,
Manny, Eyes and
The Unit. Alonso has appeared in 2007’s
Stomp the Yard as Zeke, as well as in
Captivity,
Bunny Whipped and as Malcom Moore in
This Christmas. In 2011, he was given the role of Charlie Duchamp in the A&E series, Breakout Kings.
In 2013, Alonso stars in NBC's drama
Deception.