January 2024

Liza Lapira is a film, television, and theater actress who most recently starred as the lead in the Network’s Original movie MUST LOVE CHRISTMAS. On the film side she can be seen in Dante Basco’s independent feature “The Fabulous Filipino Brothers.” In 2020, she starred opposite Alicia Witt in the Myriad Pictures feature film “Modern Persuasion,” which premiered at the 2020 Cannes Virtual Market. She currently stars as Melody “Mel” Bayani on CBS’ hit series THE EQUALIZER.

Lapira’s additional feature film credits include “Crazy, Stupid, Love,” opposite Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore and Marissa Tomei; “21,” opposite Jim Sturgess and Kevin Spacey; “Fast & Furious,” with Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez and Gal Gadot; “All I Wish,” with Sharon Stone, Caitlin Fitzgerald and Tony Goldwyn; and Matt Reeves’ “Cloverfield.”

Lapira’s most recent television credits include “Nancy Drew” and “Unbelievable,” opposite Toni Collette and Merritt Weaver. Her additional television credits include the series “Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life,” “Super Fun Night,” “Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23,” “Traffic Light” and starring roles in “Battle Creek” and “9JKL,” on the Network. Lapira recurred in the series “Dexter,” “Huff,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “ER,” “NCIS,” on the Network, and “Dollhouse.”

Lapira will voice the character Disgust in “Inside Out 2” to be released June 2024.

On stage, Lapira starred in Steve Martin’s “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, opposite Justin Long and Hal Linden.

Lapira was raised in Queens, N.Y. She is an avid supporter of L.A.’s Best, which provides after school services to 28,000 children in 189 schools in the neighborhoods with the highest needs around Los Angeles. Also, she participates in the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Charity Triathlon each fall in Malibu. Currently, she is working with the Impact Theatre in Harlem, while living on the East Coast.

Her birthday is Dec. 3. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @lizalapira.