But I did on projects that I produced, that I directed, that I acted in because it was important. I want to be a filmmaker. I don't want to be an actor who directs, I want to be a director. I want to be a filmmaker. So that's a big difference.

In 1996 La Salle made his directorial debut in the HBO made-for-TV movie Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault starring Don Cheadle James Earl Jones and Forest Whitaker in which La Salle also played a pivotal role. In 1988 La Salle starred alongside Eddie Murphy in the movie Coming to America. He is an alumnus of the Artists Collective Inc.

Eriq La Salle (born Erik Ki La Salle July 23 1962) is an American actor director writer and producer known for his portrayals of Darryl in the 1988 comedy film Coming to America and Dr. Peter Benton on the NBC drama series ER.