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Ali Larter

 
Who2 Biography: Ali Larter, Actor
 
Ali Larter
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  • Born: 28 February 1976
  • Birthplace: Cherry Hill, New Jersey
  • Best Known As: Struggling single mom Niki Sanders on the TV series Heroes

Ali Larter was James Van Der Beek's co-star in the 1999 football movie Varsity Blues, where she appeared briefly in a bikini made entirely of whipped cream. That appearance gave her a certain cachet and led to roles in the horror films The House on Haunted Hill (1999, with Taye Diggs) and Final Destination (2000). She appeared on the April 2001 cover of the men's magazine Maxim, considerably boosting her profile. The same year she played Brooke Taylor Windham in the Reese Witherspoon comedy Legally Blonde, and played the girlfriend of Jesse James in American Outlaws. She has also co-starred in the Kevin Smith film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001). In 2006 she began starring as a single mom with supernatural powers on the TV series Heroes, and in 2007 starred with Milla Jovovich in the action flick Resident Evil: Extinction

Larter is sometimes confused with Ali Landry.

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Actor: Ali Larter
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  • Born: Feb 28, 1976 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: 2000s
  • Major Genres: Comedy, Horror
  • Career Highlights: Final Destination 2, Resident Evil: Extinction, A Lot Like Love
  • First Major Screen Credit: Giving It Up (1999)

Biography

Once she decided to become an actress, Ali Larter swiftly became caught up in the late '90s surge of teen-oriented entertainment. A native of Cherry Hill, NJ, Larter began modeling at age 13. After seven years as a cover girl and a globe-trotting Ford model, she opted to move to Los Angeles to set her sights on acting, and soon landed guest star roles on several TV series, including a two-episode stint on the WB's hit teen drama Dawson's Creek in 1998. Quickly making the jump to movies, Larter co-starred in the high school gridiron hit Varsity Blues (1999) as an alluring, ambitious cheerleader with eyes for Dawson's Creek heartthrob James Van der Beek's quarterback. Though her next two movies, Drive Me Crazy (1999) and The House on Haunted Hill (1999), were not as successful, Larter's status as an up-and-coming young movie actress was enhanced by the sleeper success of teen horror film Final Destination (2000), in which she sported a brunette hair color to suit her artist character's gothic leanings. The following summer, Larter could be seen -- this time playing characters closer to her own age -- in two more high-profile releases for the PG-13 set: first as Reese Witherspoon's possibly-homicidal sorority sister in the comedy Legally Blonde (2001); and later, as the main squeeze of Colin Farrell, one of the titular train robbers in American Outlaws . The next several years brought much more of the same for Larter, as she signed for supporting roles in mostly buttered popcorn pictures and Hollywood programmers - such as the supernatural thriller follow-up Final Destination 2 (2003) and the Ashton Kutcher/Amanda Peet romantic comedy A Lot Like Love (2006) - but her career took an interesting twist in 2006. That year, Larter switched venues, signing for her first major television role: that of Niki Sanders, a single mom suddenly dumbstruck by the discovery of her violent, uber-strong alter ego, on the superhero-themed serial drama Heroes. In 2007, Larter tackled two major roles, very different from one another: that of Marigold Lexton, a young actress who stumbles into the cast of a Bollywood musical, in the quirky comedy-drama Marigold, and that of Alice, a resilient fighter who helps save the world from a zombifying virus, in the effects-heavy video game adaptation Resident Evil: Extinction. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
 
Wikipedia: Ali Larter
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Ali Larter

Ali Larter, 2008
Born Alison Elizabeth Larter
February 28, 1976 (1976-02-28) (age 33)
Cherry Hill, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1996–present
Spouse(s) Hayes MacArthur (fiancé)

Alison Elizabeth "Ali" Larter (born February 28, 1976) is an American actress and former fashion model best known for her screen roles aimed at teenage audiences. Larter can currently be seen on the hit television series Heroes. She has also had roles in successful Hollywood films including, Varsity Blues (1999), Drive Me Crazy (1999), House on Haunted Hill (1999), Final Destination (2000), Legally Blonde (2001), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), Final Destination 2 (2003), Resident Evil: Extinction (2007) and Obsessed (2009).

Contents

Early life

Larter was born in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, the daughter of Margaret, a homemaker, and Danforth Larter, a trucking executive.[1][2] She attended Carusi Middle School and Cherry Hill High School West. She began modeling with Ford Models at the age of fourteen and traveled the world. At seventeen, Larter settled temporarily in Japan.[3] Later, in 1995, she accompanied her boyfriend in his move to Los Angeles, California. Soon afterwards, he left her and she flew to Australia "to put a little distance between us."[4] Back in Los Angeles, she began taking acting classes at a friend's suggestion.

Career

Early career

In November 1994, Larter portrayed the hoax model Allegra Coleman in Esquire magazine. The article published in the magazine told of the fictional model's relationship with David Schwimmer, how Quentin Tarantino broke up with Mira Sorvino to date her, and Woody Allen's overhaul of a film to have her star. Even after the hoax had been revealed, its effects lingered, and various talent agencies sought to represent the non-existent Coleman.[5]

Larter landed her first professional roles in 1997, in which she appeared for one episode in the Brooke Shields' television series, Suddenly Susan, and the short lived television series Chicago Sons. The roles were followed by a number of other appearances on Dawson's Creek, Chicago Hope and Just Shoot Me!

In 1999, Larter began her film career with an appearance in Varsity Blues which re-united her with Dawson's Creek star Van Der Beek, and close friend Amy Smart. Varsity Blues drew a domestic box office gross of $53 million, making Larter's first film a commercial success. Larter's most infamous scene was one with her wearing nothing but whipped cream (aka "the whipped-cream bikini") in attempts to seduce Van Der Beek's character. Afterwards, Larter appeared in teen comedies, Giving It Up and Drive Me Crazy. That year as well, Larter starred in the horror remake House on Haunted Hill. Made for around $20 million, the movie was panned by the critics but grossed $15 million on its opening weekend and went on to earn over $40 million.

Breakthrough (2000–present)

In 2000, Larter starred in the teenage audience aimed horror film Final Destination as Clear Rivers. The following year in 2001, she appeared in the comedy Legally Blonde with Reese Witherspoon, western American Outlaws with Colin Farrell and the Kevin Smith film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. That year as well, Larter appeared on the cover of Maxim magazine and performed in the stage play The Vagina Monologues in New York City. The next year in 2002, Larter was ranked #40 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World". In 2003, Larter reprised her role as Clear Rivers in the sequel to Final Destination, Final Destination 2. In 2005, Larter appeared in the independent film Confess and the romantic comedy A Lot Like Love alongside Amanda Peet and Ashton Kutcher.

Larter promoting Heroes at Comic-Con 2006

2006 saw Larter in the biographical film Crazy based on guitarist Hank Garland. As of September 2006, Larter has been portraying Jessica/Niki Sanders & Tracy Strauss on the NBC Emmy Award-nominated [6] science fiction drama television series Heroes, created by Tim Kring. The show includes an ensemble cast including Hayden Panettiere, Milo Ventimiglia, Leonard Roberts, Kristen Bell, Masi Oka and Greg Grunberg. Larter's character Niki Sanders, who is a wife and mother, is a former internet stripper from Las Vegas who exhibits superhuman strength and an alternate personality who goes by the name of Jessica. After completing half its first season, Heroes had already collected an assortment of honors and accolades, and Larter had been nominated for "Best Supporting Actress" for the 33rd Saturn Awards.[7] As of the third season, Larter portrays a new character, Tracy Strauss.

In 2007, Larter starred in the Bollywood Marigold as the title character alongside Salman Khan, which was released in August. She also joined the cast of the popular film franchise Resident Evil: Extinction portraying the character Claire Redfield in the horror film with Milla Jovovich. Her role sent her to Mexicali, Mexico for filming from May to late July in which she also dyed her hair a light red for the film.[8] Larter explains on her character Claire, "She became the leader of this convoy. She's incredibly strong, patient. I think she serves a role for everyone within this convoy, let it be a mother to someone, a buddy, a best friend."[9] Larter also attended the 2007 Comic Con International, her second appearance at the event, to promote the film, which was released in theaters on September 21, 2007. That year she also appeared in the comedy Homo Erectus. Larter was also featured as #6 in Maxim's Hot 100 for 2007.[10]

In an interview for Resident Evil: Extinction, Larter had expressed interest in producing films in the future, saying, "I definitely have many ideas and different avenues that I want to take as my career goes on."[8]

In March 2008, it was announced that Larter would star opposite Beyonce Knowles and Idris Elba in the Screen Gems-produced film Obsessed, about an office executive (Elba) whose marriage to Knowles' character is threatened by the aggressive interests of a co-worker, to be portrayed by Larter. Shooting took place in the summer of 2008.[11] "Obsessed" was released in theaters April 24, 2009 in the United States.

Personal life

Larter is a good friend of actress Amy Smart with whom she co-starred in Varsity Blues and Erick Alegria, a former Sam's Kid. Larter has also lived in Miami and then New York City after the spring of 2002, where she studied at Michael Howard Studios. In January 2007, she moved to Los Angeles to take on the commitment of working on Heroes.[9]

Larter is engaged to her longtime boyfriend, actor Hayes MacArthur.[12]

Filmography

Films

Year Film Role Other notes
1999 House on Haunted Hill Sara Wolfe
Varsity Blues Darcy Sears
Drive Me Crazy Dulcie
Giving It Up Amber aka Casanova Falling
2000 Final Destination Clear Rivers Won a Young Hollywood Award
Nominated for a Blockbuster Entertainment Award
2001 American Outlaws Zerelda 'Zee' Mimms
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Chrissy
Legally Blonde Brooke Taylor Windham
2003 Final Destination 2 Clear Rivers
2004 Three Way Isobel Delano aka 3-Way
2005 Confess Olivia Averill
A Lot Like Love Gina
2007 Marigold Marigold Lexton
Crazy Evelyn Garland
Resident Evil: Extinction Claire Redfield
Homo Erectus Fardart aka National Lampoon's The Stoned Age
2009 Obsessed Lisa Sheridan

TV shows

Year Show Role Other notes
1997 Suddenly Susan Maddie One Episode - The Ways and Means
Chicago Sons Angela One Episode - Beauty and the Butt
1998 Chicago Hope Samantha One Episode - Memento Mori
Just Shoot Me! Karey Burke One Episode - College or Collagen
Dawson's Creek Kristy Livingstone Two Episodes - The Dance & The Kiss
2006-present Heroes Niki / Jessica Sanders / Tracy Strauss Nominated for a Saturn Award
Nominated for a Scream Award
Won a Gracie Award
Won a Teen Choice Award

References

  1. ^ "Ali Larter Biography". tvguide.com. http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ali-larter/bio/139014. Retrieved on 2007-08-27. 
  2. ^ Longsdorf, Amy (2003). "CHERRY HILL, NEW JERSEY ARTICLE". Courier-Post. http://alilarterfan.com/pressarchive.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1185814868&archive=&start_from=&ucat=4&. Retrieved on 2007-12-18. 
  3. ^ "Ali Larter Talks Heroes Season 2". craveonline.com. http://www.craveonline.com/filmtv/articles/04648386/ali_larter_talks_heroes_season_2.html. Retrieved on 2007-08-27. 
  4. ^ Maxim magazine, "Larter than Life", April 2001, p. 96.
  5. ^ "Esquire's sexy starlet is the hoax with the most". SALON. http://www.salon.com/media/media961101.html. Retrieved on 2007-08-27. 
  6. ^ "The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards and Creative Arts Emmy Awards Nominees". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. http://www.emmys.org/awards/2007pt/. Retrieved on 2007-07-31. 
  7. ^ "33rd Saturn Awards Nominations". Saturnawards.org. http://www.saturnawards.org/nominations.html. Retrieved on 2007-08-27. 
  8. ^ a b "Resident Evil: Extinction - Interview w/Star Ali Larter". bloody-disgusting.com. http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/feature/398. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. 
  9. ^ a b "Resident Evil: Extinction: Star Ali Larter". bloody-disgusting.com. http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/feature/398. Retrieved on 2007-08-27. 
  10. ^ "Hot 100: #6 Ali Larter". Maxim Online. http://www.maximonline.com/Girls/Alilarter/slideshow/1130/47.aspx?src=GM7070:MD. Retrieved on 2007-07-31. 
  11. ^ "'Heroes' Star 'Obsessed' with Beyonce". Zap2it.com. 2008-03-06. http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/zap-larterknowleselbacasting,0,1099768.story. Retrieved on 2008-03-08. 
  12. ^ Chiu, Alex (2007-12-17). "Heroes Star Ali Larter Gets Engaged". People. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20166808,00.html. Retrieved on 2007-12-18. 

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