Ali Larter | |
|---|---|
 Larter at aHeroes event, September 2008 | |
| Born | Alison Elizabeth Larter (1976-02-28)February 28, 1976 (age 49) Cherry Hill, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Scott MacArthur (brother-in-law) |
| Website | alilarter |
Alison Elizabeth Larter (born February 28, 1976),[1][2] known professionally asAli Larter, is an American actress and former model. She portrayed fictional modelAllegra Coleman in a 1996Esquire magazine hoax and took on guest roles on several television shows in the 1990s. Her film debut inVarsity Blues (1999) was followed by a role in the horror filmHouse on Haunted Hill (1999). She portrayedClear Rivers in theFinal Destination franchise (2000–2003) establishing her as ascream queen.
Larter played supporting roles inLegally Blonde (2001),Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), and the romantic comedyA Lot Like Love (2005), and main roles in theBollywood movieMarigold (2007) and the thrillerObsessed (2009). She achieved wider recognition for playing thedual roles ofNiki Sanders and Tracy Strauss on the science fiction drama seriesHeroes (2006–2010) onNBC,[3][4] and for portraying video game heroineClaire Redfield in the three films of theResident Evil film series (2007–2016). Larter costars as Angela Norris in theParamount+ drama seriesLandman (2024).
As of April 2017, Larter's films have grossed over $1.31 billion worldwide.[5][6] Her presence in the media is reinforced by her appearances in lists compiled byMaxim,FHM, andStuff as well asPeople's "Best Dressed List" in 2007. She published a cookbook,Kitchen Revelry: A Year of Festive Menus from My Home to Yours, in September 2013.
Ali Larter was born inCherry Hill, New Jersey[7] to Margaret Walker, a realtor, and Danforth Larter, a trucking executive. She attended Carusi Middle School and went toCherry Hill High School West,[8] but she didn't finish her senior year of high school because of being inmodeling. Her mother accompanied her everywhere until she turned 18.[9] Her parents have since moved toAllentown, Pennsylvania.[10] Larter said she was a tomboy until she turned 13.[11]
Larter began her modeling career at the age of 14 when a modeling scout discovered her on the street and asked her to star in aPhiladelphia Phillies commercial. That led to a modeling contract with the prestigiousFord Modeling Agency inManhattan, New York.[12] Larter subsequently skipped her senior year to model in Australia, Italy, and Japan;[12] Japan being a country she temporarily lived in at 17.[13] While modeling in Italy, Larter met fellow model and aspiring actressAmy Smart and the two "became instant friends", according to Larter.[14]
In November 1996, Larter portrayed fictional actressAllegra Coleman in anEsquire magazine hoax.[15] When speaking about the cover and her fame, Larter said, "When the door opens for you inHollywood, you need to run with it. You know?"[16] Larter is signed toIMG Models.[17] She landed her first professional acting roles in 1997 when she appeared in several television programs. She appeared in "The Ways and Means", an episode of the NBC television seriesSuddenly Susan starringBrooke Shields, and the short-lived seriesChicago Sons also on NBC. The roles were followed by a number of other appearances onDawson's Creek onThe WB,CBS'Chicago Hope, andJust Shoot Me! on NBC.[18]
In 1999, Larter made her film debut in thecoming-of-age dramedyVarsity Blues, which reunited her withDawson's Creek starJames Van Der Beek and close friend Amy Smart. Smart had persuaded Larter to audition for the movie,[12] in which Larter played Darcy Sears, a love interest for Lance Harbor (Paul Walker).Varsity Blues drew a domesticbox office gross of $53 million.[5] Also in 1999, she made supporting appearances in the teen comediesGiving It Up andDrive Me Crazy, and starred in the remakeHouse on Haunted Hill which was made for around $20 million. The horror film about a group of strangers invited to a party at an abandoned asylum, was panned by critics,[19] but grossed $15 million on its opening weekend eventually earning over $40 million overall.[5]
Larter starred asClear Rivers, one of the main characters in the teen supernatural horror filmFinal Destination (2000). Also starringDevon Sawa fromBritish Columbia, andKerr Smith, the movie's premise is several teenagers survive a plane crash but are stalked and killed bydeath itself.Final Destination made $112 million by the end of its theatrical run.[20] In 2001, she appeared in the comedyLegally Blonde withReese Witherspoon. Larter played Brooke Taylor Windham, a widow accused of her husband Hayworth's murder.[21] The film held the top spot with $20 million in its opening weekend[22] and ended up grossing $141 million worldwide.[5] With $96 million of its total gross deriving from domestic markets,Legally Blonde is her highest-grossing film domestically.[5]
Larter next appeared asZerelda Mimms in thewestern comedyAmerican Outlaws.[23] Directed byLes Mayfield and co-starringIrish actorColin Farrell andScott Caan, the film was poorly received by critics[24] and at the box office making only $13 million.[5] She also starred inKevin Smith'sJay and Silent Bob Strike Back. In 2001, Larter appeared on the cover ofMaxim magazine and performed in the stage playThe Vagina Monologues inManhattan, New York.[12] In Spring 2002, Larter moved fromLos Angeles to New York. "I was too young and impressionable to handle the pressures of L.A." Larter later recalled in an interview: "I'm a woman now. I am no longer the little girl who could be easily influenced (back then)."[25] While in New York City, she made herself available for independent film projects and being in theater.[12]
Larter's first project inNew York City was to reprise her role as Clear Rivers in the sequel toFinal Destination entitledFinal Destination 2. In an interview withIGN, Larter said, "WhenNew Line asked me to come back, I thought it was great. They showed me the script and let me have some input, and it was really terrific."[26] The film made $90 million worldwide[27] with a mixed critical reception.[28] In 2004, Larter served as an associate producer of and starred in the thrillerThree Way. Afterwards, Larter commented on future producing endeavors during an interview aboutResident Evil: Extinction: "I definitely have many ideas and different avenues that I want to take as my career goes on."[29] In 2005, she appeared inConfess, an independent political thriller, and had a role in the romantic comedyA Lot Like Love, starringAmanda Peet andAshton Kutcher.[30] Also in 2005, she returned to living in Los Angeles.[13]
Larter auditioned for thescience fictiondrama television seriesHeroes on NBC while living in Los Angeles.[31] She played the characters ofNiki Sanders, who suffered fromdissociative identity disorder, and Tracy Strauss on the show created byTim Kring. Larter's initial character Niki Sanders, was a wife, mother, and a former internet stripper fromLas Vegas exhibiting superhuman strength and alternate personalities who go by the names of Jessica and Niki. "Ali read for the part and just owned it from the second she walked in," Kring said to theChicago Tribune, "It was a very impressive audition."[31] In the third and fourth seasons, Larter played the new character of Tracy Strauss, who possessed the ability to freeze objects and later, transform her body into water.[32]
Larter took on the title role inMarigold (2007), alongsideSalman Khan anIndian actor.[33] The film was released in August 2007 and revolved around Marigold Lexington, an American actress (Larter) who goes toIndia and gets caught up in the exotic world ofBollywood. Filming took place inNorth India andLondon, commencing in June 2004.[33] In an interview with theBBC, Larter remarked this role was "an opportunity to overcome my fear of singing and dancing because I have no professional training... I really focused on the character and loved this journey she went on and the experiences she had."[34] She was paid a seven-figure salary for her part in the film.[35]
In 2007, she appeared oppositeMilla Jovovich inResident Evil: Extinction, portrayingClaire Redfield, who in the film, is the leader of a convoy of zombie apocalypse survivors going toAlaska in search of a safe haven. Her role sent her toMexicali, Mexico for filming from May to late July, and required her hair to be dyed a light red.[29] Speaking about her character Claire, Larter said, "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."[29] Despite negative reviews, the film made $147 million worldwide.[5] Also in the same year, she appeared withHayes MacArthur in the comedyHomo Erectus and appeared as Evelyn Garland in the biographical dramaCrazy, based on guitaristHank Garland.[citation needed]
Larter starred oppositeBeyoncé andIdris Elba from London, in theScreen Gems-produced thrillerObsessed (2009).[36] The film follows an office executive Derek Charles (Elba) whose marriage to Knowles' character Sharon is threatened by the aggressive interests of a co-worker Lisa Sheridan, portrayed by Larter. In an interview withGlam, Larter said that she "was excited to get the chance to play afemme fatale. I love playing women that are dark and vulnerable and sort of filled with a little bit of crazy emotion." While the film was released to mixed reviews, Larter was critically praised for her performance.[37]Derek Malcolm of theEvening Standard felt that the movie was a "dim reworking ofFatal Attraction" and noted: "Larter as the pathological minx is the best thing about it."[38]Obsessed opened No. 1 in its opening weekend with $28 million,[39] and making a total domestic gross of $68 million, becoming Larter's second highest-grossing film in North-America.[5] Larter was nominated for a third time for aTeen Choice Award when she andBeyoncé were nominated for theTeen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Rumble at the2009 Teen Choice Awards and anMTV Movie Award for Best Fight both forObsessed.[40]
Larter reprised her role of Claire Redfield inResident Evil: Afterlife (2010), which was filmed in3D and saw her character ambushed and mentally manipulated by the fictional Umbrella Corporation, before she is rescued by Alice (Milla Jovovich).[41][42][43] Like the previousResident Evil entries, the film received negative reviews but became a major commercial success, earning $296 million worldwide.[5] On returning to the role of Claire, Larter toldJoBlo.com: "I guess people liked me as her... I'm excited that they brought me back... to work with the man [Paul W. S. Anderson] who really created this world and this vision was what excited me about joining this next installment".[44] In 2010, Larter appeared as the title character in ashort film forAbsolut Vodka entitled "Lemon Drop".[45] After the release ofAfterlife, Larter went on hiatus to focus on her family.
Larter returned to the big screen playing Molly Kingston, the love interest of Charlie Darby, a successful but psychotic man (Matt LeBlanc) in the comedyLovesick (2014). The film screened at the 15th annualNewport Beach Film Festival inNewport Beach, California and was released forVOD and selected theaters. She portrayed Keely, the "fair-weather" friend of Kate Parker (Hilary Swank), a woman withALS in the independent dramaYou're Not You (2014), directed byGeorge C. Wolfe. Her co-stars wereEmmy Rossum andJosh Duhamel.[46]
In 2014, Larter obtained a regular part in the first season ofTNT's drama seriesLegends, appearing as Crystal McGuire, an operative with theFBI's Deep Cover Operations.[47][48] She starred in the supernatural thrillerThe Diabolical as Madison, a single mother who battles evil forces in her house.[49] Released in 2015 atSouth by Southwest inAustin, Texas,[50] it was distributed for a VOD and limited release in only certain parts of the United States. The film received largely mixed reviews; Gary Goldstein of theLos Angeles Times felt that her "fraught, more seemingly complex [character] remains underdeveloped" in what he described as a "weak horror-thriller".[51]
Larter starred inResident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016), where her role of Claire teams up with Alice (Jovovich) and the Red Queen (Ever Anderson) to save the remnants of humanity.[52] Despite a largely mixed critical response[53][54] it grossed over $312 million worldwide.[55] The film is Larter's biggest box office success. She played the role of Amelia Slater in theFox seriesPitch,[56] about Ginny Baker (Kylie Bunbury), a young black woman who makes history by becoming the first woman to play for aMajor League Baseball team.[57] The series ran for a season, which was released in 2016.[58][59]
From 2019 to 2020, Larter acted in the recurring role of Grace Sawyer in thepolice procedural seriesThe Rookie onABC[60][61][62] In 2021, she played the lead role in theneo-western filmThe Last Victim. She starred in the thrillerThe Man in the White Van, which premiered at the 2023 Newport Beach Film Festival and was released in December 2024 to mixed reviews.[63] In 2024, Larter co-starred inTaylor Sheridan’s showLandman, starringBilly Bob Thornton. Larter plays Angela Norris, a “cartoonish”[64] funny caricature of a gold-digging ex-wife.
Larter first appeared in the media when she portrayed the fictional character of Allegra Coleman in the November 1996 issue ofEsquire.[10] The magazine, which billed Coleman as the movies' next dream girl, relayed Allegra's relationship withDavid Schwimmer, howQuentin Tarantino broke up withMira Sorvino to date her, andWoody Allen then overhauled a film to give her a starring role. When the magazine was published,Esquire received hundreds of phone calls about the non-existent Coleman and various talent agencies sought to represent her, even after the hoax was revealed.[15] Larter herself received a considerable amount of attention after the cover; she received phone calls from morning TV shows and others for interviews.[10]
TheEsquire cover led Larter to a role onVarsity Blues. One particular scene where Larter's character, Darcy Sears, wears nothing but whipped cream to cover herself has become a media favorite. It has been referenced many times in the media[45][65][66] including onMTV'sJersey Shore, where a character refers to it as being the "Varsity Blues outfit".[67] Larter has been acknowledged as ascream queen byMSN due to her appearances in horror/thriller films.[68] After the success ofHeroes, she appeared onPeople's "Ten Best Dressed List" as "The Newcomer" in 2007.[69] In 2009, she was namedCosmopolitan's Fun Fearless Female of the year at a ceremony held inBeverly Hills, California.[70]
Larter has appeared on the cover of numerous magazines including (in alphabetical order)Allure,Cosmopolitan (France, Indonesia, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, Turkey and U.S.),Entertainment Weekly,Esquire,Glamour,Health,InStyle,Lucky,Maxim,Philadelphia Style,Self,Seventeen, andShape.[71][14][72][73][74][75] She has appeared in print ads and commercials throughout her career. In 2004, she appeared in print ads forEstée Lauder cosmetics. She has appeared in commercials for Parfums de Coeur Designer Imposter Body Sprays andStolichnaya vodka.[citation needed]
In June 2010, Larter was one of thousands of delegates from 130 countries who participated in aUnited Nations conference, Women Deliver inWashington, D.C.[76] Larter, along with her husband Hayes MacArthur, hosted The Art of Elysium Gala in 2013 and they were recipients of the Spirit of Elysium Award at the January 2014 ceremony.[77][78]
While a model, Larter moved toLos Angeles to pursue acting. In 2002, she moved toNew York City for three years. In an interview withPhillymag, she gave reason for the move:
I took some time off to define myself outside the pressures of the industry. Part of me really needed to know if this is what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.[79]
In January 2005, she went back to living in Los Angeles for a role inHeroes.[31] In December 2007, Larter and her longtime boyfriend, Hayes MacArthur were engaged.[80] They had met on the set ofNational Lampoon'sHomo Erectus. In a 2007 interview withCosmopolitan, Larter said: "I told my boyfriend after three weeks that I wanted to marry him and that we could do it tomorrow."[81] On August 1, 2009, Larter and MacArthur[82] married at MacArthur's parents' estate inKennebunkport, Maine.[83][84] Among the wedding guests was Larter's close friend and fellow actressAmy Smart.[84] Larter and MacArthur purchased a three-story home in theHollywood Hills for $2.9 million in 2012.[85] During theCOVID-19 pandemic, they moved toSun Valley, Idaho.[86]
On July 20, 2010, Larter announced that she and MacArthur were expecting their first child[87] and on the September 10 episode ofLate Night with Jimmy Fallon, announced that she was expecting a boy.[88] Larter gave birth to their son in 2010.[89] In August 2014, Larter confirmed that she and MacArthur were expecting their second child that winter[90] and she had a girl in 2015.[91] As of 2013, Larter had two dogs, Jackpot, aGerman Shepherd and Ella, aWheaten terrier.[92] On November 10, 2025 onLive with Kelly and Mark, Larter talked about the importance of working with Higher Ground ofSun Valley, Idaho; her father was in theU.S. Army and deployed toVietnam during theVietnam War.[93]
| † | Denotes works that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Giving It Up | Amber | Also known asCasanova Falling |
| Drive Me Crazy | Dulcie | ||
| Varsity Blues | Darcy Sears | ||
| House on Haunted Hill | Sara Wolfe | ||
| 2000 | Final Destination | Clear Rivers | |
| 2001 | Legally Blonde | Brooke Taylor Windham | |
| American Outlaws | Zerelda "Zee" Mimms | ||
| Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back | Chrissy | ||
| 2003 | Final Destination 2 | Clear Rivers | |
| 2004 | Three Way | Isobel Delano | Also known as3-Way, also associate producer |
| 2005 | A Lot Like Love | Gina | |
| Confess | Olivia Averill | ||
| 2007 | Homo Erectus | Fardart | Also known asNational Lampoon's The Stoned Age |
| Marigold | Marigold Lexton | ||
| Resident Evil: Extinction | Claire Redfield | ||
| Crazy | Evelyn Garland | ||
| 2009 | Obsessed | Lisa Sheridan | |
| 2010 | Resident Evil: Afterlife | Claire Redfield | |
| 2014 | Lovesick | Molly | |
| You're Not You | Keely | ||
| 2015 | The Diabolical | Madison | |
| 2016 | Resident Evil: The Final Chapter | Claire Redfield | |
| 2021 | The Last Victim | Susan | |
| 2022 | The Hater | Victoria | |
| 2023 | The Man in the White Van | Hellen | [94] |
| 2024 | Spin the Bottle | Maura Randell |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Suddenly Susan | Maddie | Episode: "The Ways and Means" |
| Chicago Sons | Angela | Episode: "Beauty and the Butt" | |
| 1998 | Chicago Hope | Samantha | Episode: "Memento Mori" |
| Just Shoot Me! | Karey Burke | Episode: "College or Collagen" | |
| Dawson's Creek | Kristy Livingstone | Episodes: "The Dance" and "The Kiss" | |
| 2004 | Entourage | Herself | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2006–2010 | Heroes | Niki Sanders / Jessica Sanders / Gina Sanders Tracy Strauss | Main role |
| 2012 | The Asset | Anna King | Main role; pilot |
| 2013 | The League | Georgia Thompson | Episode: "The Credit Card Alert" |
| 2014 | Legends | Crystal McGuire | Main role |
| 2016 | Pitch | Amelia Slater | Main role |
| 2017 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | TV Detective #1 | Episode: "The Shucker" |
| 2018–2019 | Splitting Up Together | Paige | Episodes: "Paige Turner", "Messy" and "Contact High" |
| 2019–2020 | The Rookie | Dr. Grace Sawyer | Recurring role, 13 episodes |
| 2020 | Top Secret Videos | NSA Agent Daniels | 3 episodes |
| 2021 | Creepshow | Pam Spinster | Episode: "Dead and Breakfast/Pesticide" |
| 2024–present | Landman | Angela Norris | Main role |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Blockbuster Entertainment Awards[95] | Favorite Horror Actress | Final Destination | Nominated |
| Young Hollywood Awards[96] | Best Breakthrough Performance by a Female | Final Destination | Won | |
| 2007 | Saturn Awards[97] | Best Supporting Actress on Television | Heroes | Nominated |
| Scream Awards[98] | Scream Queen | Heroes | Nominated | |
| Sexiest Superhero | Heroes | Nominated | ||
| 2008 | Gracie Allen Awards[99] | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Heroes | Won |
| Teen Choice Awards[100] | Choice Action TV Actress | Heroes | Nominated | |
| 2009 | Teen Choice Awards[101] | Choice Action TV Actress | Heroes | Nominated |
| Choice Movie Rumble | Obsessed | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | MTV Movie & TV Awards[102] | Best Fight[a] | Obsessed | Won |
