Justin Lazard parlayed his good looks into an acting career that has encompassed stage, television and films. The son of former foreign correspondent Sidney Lazard and photographer Julie Thayer, he was born and raised in NYC. In 1974, the family relocated to Paris where his father was stationed by ABC News. After his parents' divorce when he was a freshman in high school, Lazard marked time in boarding schools and at Emory University. Transferring to NYU to study acting, he was "discovered" in a bar by a talent agent and was soon appearing in TV commercials. After a small role in "Spike of Bensonhurst" (1988), Lazard landed the recurring role of a punk-rock undercover cop on NBC's "Miami Vice". To pay for acting classes, the handsome, preppy-looking performer began a brief career as a model. Small parts in features (i.e., "Born to Ride" 1991) and regular roles in unsuccessful series (e.g., "Second Chances" CBS 1993-94) followed.In 1995, Lazard landed what should have been his big break, the role of a charming stockbroker with a penchant for womanizing on the much-hyped primetime CBS soap "Central Park West", but the series floundered and despite some retooling and a title change (to "CPW"), the show was one of the more high-profile casualties of that season. He had a role in the direct-to-video release "The Big Fall" (1997), directed by C Thomas Howell, but his career seemed at a standstill. Working in partnership with his brother Marc through their Lazard Productions, he began to create material for himself. Lazard did land the prominent role of an astronaut infected by alien DNA in "Species II" (1998), which included a sexy romp with Natasha Henstridge. He went on to produce the thriller "Dark Harbor" (also 1998), which he co-scripted with director Adam Coleman Howard. Lazard also served as executive producer on "Stanley's Gig" (2000), written and directed by his brother.
Profession(s):
Actor, producer, model, director
Sometimes Credited As:
Family
brother:Marc T Lazard (born c. 1965; co-owns Lazard Productions with Justin)
father:Sidney Lazard (worked for ABC News; descendent of the Lazard banking family; divorced from Julie Thayer c. 1981)
mother:Julie Thayer (divorced from Lazard's father c. 1981)
sister:Sasha Lazard (born c. 1969)
Companion(s)
Christina Greeven
, Companion
Ines Missan
, Companion
, ```..Russian; together from c. 1990 to c. 1995
Education
Buckley School New York, New York
Emory University Atlanta, Georgia
New York University New York, New York acting
2000 Executive produced and appeared in "Stanley's Gig", written and directed by his brother Marc
1998 First leading role in features, an astronaut infected with alien spores in "Species II"
1998 Screenwriting debut as co-author of "Dark Harbor"; also produced
1995 Co-starred in the short-lived adventure series "Extreme"
1988 Feature film debut, "Spike of Bensonhurst"
1974 - 1978 Lived in Paris with family when father was stationed there by ABC News
Born and raised in NYC
Spotted by an agent in a bar; began doing TV commercials
Had recurring role of undercover cop Joey Hardin on "Miami Vice" (NBC)
Began working as a model to pay for acting classes
Debut as series regular on "Second Chances" (CBS)
Played featured role of stockbroker Gil Chase on the unsuccessful CBS primetime soap opera "Central Park West/CPW"
