There are few people in Hollywood who can wear as many hats as Eriq La Salle. Lasalle is an actor, director, executive producer and writer whose career spans decades of storytelling across media.
His latest project, Prime Video’s On Call, showcases his multifaceted talents, allowing him to work both in front of and behind the camera to create a raw and captivating police drama.
Despite the large cast, the storytelling is streamlined, focusing primarily on the two series regulars and other characters as supporting players in their orbit.
It’s a unique approach that appeals to Lassalle, who has spent the past three decades working on all aspects of storytelling.
Lasalle’s storytelling journey began early. “When I was 14,” he recalled,
“I think that’s what everyone goes through when they find something they’re good at, feel valued, and things feel natural to them… I feel good about myself. It boosts my self-esteem, boosts my confidence, and Gave me goals and direction. My grades improved greatly.
A transformative experience in the high school drama club and the mentorship of Clay Stevenson (who encouraged him to consider Juilliard) laid the foundation for his extraordinary career.
“I think we all want to do things that we think are valuable, things that we think we’re contributing to, and things that we think we’re talented at. It’s not necessarily that you’re the best; you just feel good about being good at it. That’s why I knew at a young age that this was for me.
He also credits acting with helping him find direction during a challenging time in his life. “I got off to a terrible start in high school,” he shared.
“I probably would have been left behind,” he said of his life before discovering drama club. Stevenson’s guidance helped him focus and take school seriously, allowing LaSalle to accept that he could feel and pursue something special.
After years of memorable acting roles, including his iconic role as Dr. Peter Benton on ER, Lasalle turned to directing. He made his directorial debut with HBO’s Rebound, a project that featured an impressive cast that included Don Cheadle, James Earl Jones and Forest Whittle Forest Whitaker.
“Steven Spielberg and Mel Gibson, they defended me,” he shared. This opportunity launched his directorial career, the success of which led to key behind-the-scenes roles on series such as “Without a Trace” and “Law & Order: SVU,” eventually becoming an executive producer on “Chicago P.D.”.
Looking back on his eclectic career, Lasalle noted: “At the end of the day, you know, I asked myself, how do I define myself? I think I’m really a storyteller, and I love being a storyteller.
“Because before I thought, well, you are an actor, you are a director, you are a writer, you are this, you are that. They all have one thing in common, that is, I am a storyteller.
So I think having the opportunity to tell stories is what I was born to do. This is my greatest gift. I’m not saying I’m the greatest in every subject,” he said.
“There are a lot of actors who are better than me. There are a lot of directors who are much better than me. There are a lot of writers who are much better than me. There are a lot of executive producers who are much better than me. But you have to find them here. It’s a bit more difficult for people who are doing better.
There, he carved out a unique space. He was not one of many, but one of the few who achieved so much and did it so well.
Drawing inspiration from creatives like Jason Bateman, who juggled acting, directing and producing on Ozark , LaSalle saw On Call as an opportunity to push boundaries.
Not many people act, direct and produce in the same space. “Fewer African Americans live in all these spaces,” he said, making the class smaller. “These are the things that inspire me,” he shared.
step by step towards On call
Lasalle’s latest work, On Call, is both a return to performance and a continuation of his commitment to telling meaningful stories. The series offers an authentic, down-to-earth look at policing in 2025, eschewing agendas in favor of immersive, character-driven narratives.
“Right now, we’re in a moment where everything feels so agenda-driven,” Lasalle explained. “We’re neither pro-police nor anti-police. We’re telling some people’s stories and making it as authentic as possible. It’s subjective art – you take what you bring to it.
The series uses innovative filming techniques to create a visceral “along the way” experience. “Our job is to say, ‘Hey, do you want to ride with the police?’ Our police are here and we want to be as close to you as possible,” LaSalle said.
He noted that the audience’s perspective determines how they view the stories they tell through On Call – based on their trust, distrust or law enforcement experience.
For Lasalle, On Call also represented a rare opportunity to create a series rather than reinvent an existing one.
“When I got into Chicago PD, we revamped the show, we changed it, and they were blown away by it,” he said.
But with On Call, he had the opportunity to help create a show with a unique style, tone and tone. It’s about having a say in how the story is told holistically, but also about “getting back in front of the camera and proving you can do it all.”
The new standard for streaming media
“On Call” also aims to reshape the streaming landscape through a concise half-hour series. “You get a lot in half an hour,” Lasalle emphasized.
“It’s a completely addictive binge,” he said of the format and how they crafted the end of each episode to urge viewers to watch more. “Another half hour goes by, and then you say, ‘Okay, I’ll watch another one…'”
The format is brief but impactful, offering a compelling alternative to the bloated budgets and lengthy runtimes of many streaming dramas. “We’ve seen excessive spending by streamers create unsustainable models and platforms,” LaSalle observed.
By contrast, On Call is dirty, edgy, grassroots, and we make it work. But it also shows that you can tell these compelling stories in a more financially responsible way,” he said. “”
Lasalle hopes the series’ success will challenge industry norms. “There’s a shift happening,” he said. “It feels good to be part of a potential or at least part of the solution.”
With this format, the audience doesn’t lose anything, but they actually gain – no filler, no extraneous characters. “It’s good storytelling,” he said of the streaming version of the independent film.
Looking to the future
As LaSalle reflects on On Call’s future, he’s optimistic about its potential for growth. “The good news is we have scripts ready for next season,” he revealed. “We just need OK.”
In fact, Lasalle hinted that plans for future iterations of On Call are already in the works. “I had dinner with the showrunners and we discussed this,” he shared. “We’ve already picked another city.”
Ultimately, On Call is more than just a show; This is a testament to Lasalle’s ability to innovate and adapt in an ever-changing industry.
His passion for storytelling, combined with a desire to elevate the art form, makes him an exceptional talent. At its core, On Call invites viewers to see the world from a different perspective. As Lassalle said, “That’s what art is supposed to do.”
All eight episodes of On Call will be available on Prime Video on Thursday, January 9.
