This handsome, muscular player, the younger brother of actor Anthony LaPaglia, initially pursued a career in medicine as an emergency room physician in both his native Australia and the UK. Encouraged by his older sibling, LaPaglia began studying acting in Australia and made a few stage appearances. After marking time practicing medicine in London, he moved to NYC in 1994 and began studying acting at the Circle in the Square school. Within three months of graduating, LaPaglia had landed his first major acting role, complete with an authentic 'Noo Yawk' accent, as Detective Tom McNamara on "New York Undercover", a role he played during the 1996-97 season. After a cameo appearance in Woody Allen's "Deconstructing Harry" (1997), the actor returned to the series grind as the star of the UPN sci-fi series "7 Days" (1998-2001), playing a time traveling agent who is given one week to avert a disaster.
Family
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Brother: Anthony LaPaglia. born on January 31, 1960
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Brother: Michael LaPaglia. older
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Father: Eddie LaPaglia. Italian; immigrated to Australia
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Mother: Maria LaPaglia. Dutch; immigrated to Australia
Significant Others
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Companion: Ursula Brooks.
Education
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Circle in the Square Professional Theater School, New York, New York, 1996
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University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia, medicine and surgery, MD
Milestones
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1994 Moved to NYC to pursue an acting career
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1996 Cast in first major acting role, as Detective Tommy McNamara on the Fox cop series "New York Undercover"
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1997 Appeared briefly in Woody Allen's "Deconstructing Harry"
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2001 Had featured role in "Under Hellgate Bridge"
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2001 In fall, joined cast of the CBS drama "The District"
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Born and raised in Australia
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Briefly practiced medicine in the United Kingdom
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Returned to Australia and began acting while still practicing medicine
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Starred in the UPN series "7 Days"
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Studied at Circle in the Square Theater School
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Worked for three years as an emergency room physician