Liza Lapira is a seasoned American actress with notable credits across the theater, film, and television. She began her career journey in New York, appearing in stage productions and independent films before landing career-defining roles on television. Before fame, she was part of the 2003 ABC Actors Showcase in Los Angeles which helped widen her horizon.
Renowned for her recurring role as Special Agent Michelle Lee on the hit show NCIS, Liza Lapira got her big break on the small screen. Before NCIS, she appeared in her first major role on the Showtime TV series Huff from 2004 to 2006. Overall, Lapira has an extensive television career that boasts notable shows such as Dollhouse, Dexter, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, and The Equalizer TV show. She has also appeared in such films as Fast & Furious, 21, Cloverfield, Crazy, Stupid, Love, and lent her voice to Disgust in Inside Out 2.
Where Is Liza Lapira From?
While her ancestry is originally Filipino, Liza Lapira is of American nationality. She was born on December 3, 1981, in Queens, New York City, New York. Lapira doesn’t share much information about her parents but has made several red-carpet appearances with her mom. She shares a close bond with her mom who has graced some movie sets with her. No other member of Lapira’s family is known to the public.
Early Career and Stage Credits
Lapira began nurturing her passion for the performing arts in Queens where she was raised. She professionally honed her skills while studying under booking coach Amy Lyndon. Lapira launched her acting career on stage, appearing in plays such as The Oddysey and As You Like It in her early career. One of her recent stage credits is in Steve Martin’s full-length play Picasso at the Lapin Agile.
Liza Lapira’s early film credits include minor roles in Autumn in New York (2000), Brown Sugar (2002), Domino (2005), and The Big Bad Swim (2006). She also had a busy start on the small screen with guest appearances on shows such as the Law & Order franchise, The Education of Max Bickford, Sex and the City, Without a Trace, The Sopranos, and The Parkers.
Liza Lapira’s Breakthrough and Rise To Fame
Five years after her first television role, Liza Lapira got her breakthrough, playing the main role of Maggie Del Rosario on 21 episodes of Huff. She starred on the Showtime series from 2004 to 2006 and followed it up with her most acclaimed role as Michelle Lee on NCIS. Lapira continued to make guest appearances on other shows and appeared in recurring roles on Dollhouse and Dexter between 2009 and 2010.
She was seen in the main role of Lisa Reilly on Traffic Light in 2011 and played a main role as Robin on Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 from 2012 to 2013. Other television shows she notably appeared on include Super Fun Night (2013-2014), Battle Creek (2015), Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life (2016), 9JKL (2017-2018), Unbelievable (2019), and Nancy Drew (2019). She has been appearing in a main role on The Equalizer since 2021 alongside Queen Latifah.
On the big screen, Liza Lapira gained attention portraying Kianna in the 2008 heist film 21. She was seen as Sophie Trinh in Fast & Furious (2009). In 2010, Lapira played her first voice role in Marmaduke and appeared in Repo Man as Alva and See You in September as Monica. Lapira provided the voice of Disgust in Inside Out 2 (2024) formerly voiced by Mindy Kaling. Other films she has appeared in include Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011), Someone Marry Barry (2014), All I Wish (2017), The Samuel Project (2018), and The Fabulous Filipino Brothers (2021).
Is Liza Lapira Married?
Since she burst into the limelight, Liza Lapira has been protective of her love life. The NCIS alum doesn’t share personal details about who she is dating. However, she was romantically linked to actor Sam Rockwell but the finer details about their alleged relationship are not public knowledge. Rockwell has been in a committed relationship with Leslie Bibb since 2007.
Liza Lapira appears to be single and has not been romantically linked to anyone. Her social media platforms are dedicated to work-related posts and don’t reveal much about her personal life. She lives with her adorable dog, Ellie, short for Eleanor Roosevelt-Lapira. In addition to often posting her mother on social media, Lapira’s pet dog Ellie has a special place on her Instagram page. They spend ample time together and Lapira is hopeful that Ellie will be featured on a TV show one day. Meet the voice of Sadness in Inside Out.
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