Liza Lapira

Birth Date:

December 3, 1981

Birth Name:

Liza Lapira

Birth Place:

Queens, New York, USA

Nick Name:

Liza

Film Debut:

Autumn in New York 2000

Breakthrough Film:

21 2008

Biography

Liza Lapira is an American actress known for her work in film and television, particularly for playing intelligent, determined, and often humorous characters. She was born on December 3, 1981, in Queens, New York City, and is of Filipino descent. Growing up in New York, Lapira developed an interest in performing and became involved in theater, appearing in productions including As You Like It, The Odyssey, and The School for Wives. She pursued acting professionally in New York before relocating to Los Angeles in 2004, where she found greater opportunities in television and film. Her early television appearances included guest roles on popular series such as Sex and the City, The Sopranos, Law & Order, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Lapira made her film debut in the 2000 romantic drama Autumn in New York, appearing as a friend of Charlotte. She continued to build her film résumé with supporting roles in Brown Sugar, Domino, The Big Bad Swim, and L.A. Blues. Her career gained considerable momentum in 2004 when she joined the cast of the Showtime drama Huff as Maggie Del Rosario, a role that gave her a recurring presence and increased her visibility. She subsequently appeared in television productions including Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, Dexter, ER, and Dollhouse. In 2008, Lapira gained wider recognition through two major films, playing Kianna in the crime drama 21 and Heather in the science-fiction thriller Cloverfield.

Lapira continued to demonstrate her versatility with roles in Fast & Furious, Repo Men, Crazy, Stupid, Love., and The Fabulous Filipino Brothers. On television, she became known for playing Michelle Lee on NCIS, Robin on Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, and Lisa Reilly on Traffic Light. She later appeared in series such as Unbelievable, 9JKL, and The Equalizer, where she played Melody “Mel” Bayani. In 2024, Lapira took over the voice role of Disgust in the animated film Inside Out 2, bringing her talents to a major family audience. Across her career, she has established herself as a dependable character actress capable of moving comfortably between comedy, drama, action, and animation.

Movie Portfolio