Liza Lapira

Liza Lapira Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: December 3, 1981

Age: 42 years old

Birth Place: Queens, New York

Growing up in New York City, Liza Lapira was exposed to all kinds of theater. Wanting to be an actress herself, it wasn't long before she was appearing in plays such as Shakespeare's "As You Like It," playwright Alexandra Cunningham's "No. 11 Blue and White," and Homer's "The Odyssey." In the early 2000s she guest starred in TV series that were primarily shot in New York, including "Sex and the City" (HBO, 2000-04), "Without a Trace" (CBS, 2002-08) and "The Sopranos" (HBO, 1999-2006). In 2004, Lapira felt limited by the number of acting opportunities in New York and booked a one-way flight to Los Angeles.

Before long the acting jobs started pouring in. She was cast as a series regular on "Huff" (2004-06) which ran for two seasons on Showtime, and followed that up by appearing several times as a forensics tech on NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999- ). In 2008, Lapira co-starred in two major motion pictures: "21," in which she played an MIT student that bilks a Las Vegas casino for millions after learning to count cards; and "Cloverfield" (2008). Director J.J. Abrams' disaster flick about monsters taking over New York City. Lapira had a recurring role on the short-lived science fiction series, "Dollhouse" (Fox, 2009-10) and also made a brief but memorable appearance as the bubbly friend of Emma Stone's character in the 2011 romantic comedy, "Crazy, Stupid, Love" (2011) Lapira has since appeared in "The Samuel Project" (2018), "The Fabulous Filipino Brothers" (2021), the TV movie "Must Love Christmas" and the feature film "Modern Persuasion" (2020).

Credits

Inside Out 2Stream

Voice
Disgust
Movie
2024
90%

The Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS

Self
Show
2022

Access Daily With Mario & Kit

Guest
Show
2022

The Equalizer - A Protetora

Actor
Show
2022

Must Love ChristmasStream

Actor
Natalie
Movie
2022

The EqualizerStream

Actor
Melody "Mel" Bayani
Series
2021

The Fabulous Filipino Brothers

Actor
Movie
2021

Modern PersuasionStream

Actor
Lizzie Lynch
Movie
2020
53%

The Samuel Project

Actor
Nadia Akiyama
Movie
2018

9JKLStream

Actor
Eve
Series
2017
19%

The Good DoctorStream

Guest Star
Nurse Ann Flores
Series
2017

A Little Something for Your Birthday

Actor
Darla
Movie
2017

Angel From HellStream

Guest Star
Series
2016
41%

Cooper Barrett's Guide To Surviving LifeStream

Actor
Leslie Barrett
Series
2016
50%

Con ManStream

Guest Star
Brenda
Series
2015

Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life: Extras

Actor
Show
2015

Battle CreekStream

Guest Star
Detective Erin Jacocks
Series
2015
96%

EmpireStream

Guest Star
Vera
Series
2015
84%

PowerStream

Guest Star
Grace Pak
Series
2014
81%

Super Fun Night

Actor
Helen-Alice
Show
2013

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23Stream

Actor
Robin
Series
2012
85%

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23Stream

Guest Star
Series
2012
85%

Traffic Light

Actor
Show
2011

Crazy, Stupid, LoveStream

Actor
Liz
Movie
2011
79%

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Blue BloodsStream

Guest Star
Taru
Series
2010

Repo MenStream

Actor
Alva
Movie
2010
21%

See You in September

Actor
Monica
Movie
2010

Dollhouse

Guest Star
Show
2009

Drop Dead DivaStream

Guest Star
Abby Halstead
Series
2009
78%

Royal PainsStream

Guest Star
Erika Seelig
Series
2009

DollhouseStream

Guest Star
Series
2009
71%

Table for Three

Actor
Nerissa
Movie
2009

21

Actor
Kianna
Movie
2008

L.A. Blues

Actor
Movie
2007

DexterStream

Guest Star
Det. Yuki Amado
Series
2006
71%

FREE PARAMOUNT+ WITH SHOWTIME: Dexter

Guest Star
Det. Yuki Amado
Show
2006

Grey's AnatomyStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
84%

NCISStream

Guest Star
Special Agent Michelle Lee
Series
2003

Without a TraceStream

Guest Star
Series
2002

MonkStream

Guest Star
Dr. Souter
Series
2002
91%

The Education of Max Bickford

Guest Star
Show
2001

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Forensics Tech
Series
1999
78%

The ParkersStream

Guest Star
Series
1999

The SopranosStream

Guest Star
Amanda Kim
Series
1999
92%

Sex and the CityStream

Guest Star
Pam
Series
1998
70%

ERStream

Guest Star
Christine
Series
1994

Law & OrderStream

Guest Star
Series
1990

Entertainment Tonight

Guest
News
1981

News aboutLiza Lapira

Liza Lapira - 'The Equalizer' - Fall TV 2024
Fall Preview

Protect and Serve

Adam Goldberg as Harry Keshegian, Liza Lapira as Melody “Mel” Bayani, and Tory Kittles as Detective Marcus Dante in 'The Equalizer' Season 4 Premiere
Spoiler Alert

‘The Equalizer’ Reveals If Robyn’s Team Survived — What About Dante’s Feelings? (RECAP)

Mark Harmon, Sasha Alexander, and Cote de Pablo in 'NCIS'

‘NCIS’ 20th Anniversary: 11 Most Shocking Moments (So Far)

Liza Lapira and Queen Latifah in 'The Equalizer' Season 3 finale
Spoiler Alert

‘The Equalizer’ Season 3 Ends on Deadly Cliffhanger for McCall’s Team

Photos from 'The Equalizer' Season 3 finale

‘The Equalizer’: Aunt Vi & Delilah Held Hostage, Colton Fisk Returns in Season 3 Finale (PHOTOS)

Liza Lapira and Mark Harmon in 'NCIS'

Liza Lapira Looks Back on ‘NCIS’ Twist & Surprising Her Mom for Her Birthday

Liza Lapira in 'The Equalizer'
Spoiler Alert

‘The Equalizer’: Liza Lapira Warns ‘It Doesn’t Get Good’ Between Mel & Robyn Anytime Soon

Liza Lapira in 'The Equalizer'
Q&A

‘The Equalizer’: Liza Lapira Teases a ‘Heightened Version’ of Mel With Family in Danger

Liza Lapira in 'Must Love Christmas'
Exclusive

Liza Lapira Teases the Holiday Love Triangle at Center of ‘Must Love Christmas’ (VIDEO)

Amanda Kloots as Audrey and Paul Greene as Griffin

CBS Announces Cast for 3 Holiday Movies, Including Paul Greene, Liza Lapira, & More

Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall in The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 1
Fall Preview

‘The Equalizer’ Season 3 Premiere: Details on Robyn’s ‘Pulse-Pounding’ Escape Plan (VIDEO)

The Equalizer Season 3 Premiere
Exclusive

‘The Equalizer’ Season 3 Premiere: The Team Searches for Robyn (PHOTOS)

Liza Lapira as Melody Mel Bayani in The Equalizer
Exclusive

Liza Lapira Previews a Personal Episode of ‘The Equalizer’ — Watch a Sneak Peek (VIDEO)

Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall, Jada Pinkett Smith as Jessie in The Equalizer

‘The Equalizer’ Reunites Queen Latifah & Jada Pinkett Smith: 5 Things to Expect

Liza Lapira in NCIS, Anthony Ruivivar in NCIS Hawaii, Michael Nouri in NCIS New Orleans

16 Actors Who Played Different Characters Across ‘NCIS’ Shows

Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall, Tory Kittles as Detective Marcus Dante in The Equalizer
Fall Preview

‘The Equalizer’: A Possible Robyn-Dante Romance & More Season 2 Teases 

Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall in 'The Equalizer' - Season 2

Queen Latifah Is Back in Action in ‘The Equalizer’ Season 2 First Look (VIDEO)

Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall in The Equalizer Pilot
Review

Roush Review: Hail to the New ‘Equalizer’ Queen