Ali Larter
Alison Elizabeth Larter (born February 28, 1976)[1][2] is an American actress. She portrayed fictional model Allegra Coleman in a 1996 Esquire magazine hoax and took on guest roles on several television shows in the 1990s. She made her film debut in Varsity Blues (1999), which was followed by the horror film House on Haunted Hill (1999). Her role as Clear Rivers in the first two films of the Final Destination franchise earned her a reputation as a scream queen.
Ali Larter
Actress
1997–present
2
Larter played supporting roles in the comedy Legally Blonde (2001) and the romantic comedy A Lot Like Love (2005), and led the Bollywood movie Marigold (2007) and the thriller Obsessed (2009). She played the dual roles of Niki Sanders and Tracy Strauss on the NBC science fiction drama Heroes (2006–2010),[3][4] and achieved wider recognition for her portrayal of video game heroine Claire Redfield in the Resident Evil: Extinction (2007), Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010), and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016).[5]
As of April 2017, Larter's films have grossed over US$1.31 billion worldwide.[6] Her presence in the media is reinforced by her appearances in lists compiled by Maxim, FHM, and Stuff, as well as People magazine's "Best Dressed List" in 2007. She released her cookbook, Kitchen Revelry: A Year of Festive Menus from My Home to Yours, in September 2013.
Early life[edit]
Larter was born in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, [7] the daughter of Margaret, a realtor, and Danforth Larter, a trucking executive. She attended Carusi Middle School and later graduated from Cherry Hill High School West during her time as a model,[8] but she didn't finish her senior year of high school because of modeling. Her mom accompanied her everywhere until she turned 18.[9] Her parents have since moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania.[10] Larter said she was a tomboy until she turned 13.
Career[edit]
Early modeling work (1990–1998)[edit]
She began her modeling career at the age of 14 when a modeling scout discovered her on the street and was asked to star in a Phillies commercial; this led to a modeling contract with the prestigious Ford Modeling Agency in New York.[11] Larter subsequently skipped her senior year to model in Australia, Italy, and Japan,[11] the latter a country she would temporarily settle in at the age of seventeen.[12] While modeling in Italy, Larter met fellow model and aspiring actress Amy Smart and the two "became instant friends", according to Larter.[13]
In November 1996, Larter portrayed fictional actress Allegra Coleman in an Esquire magazine hoax.[14] When speaking about the cover and her subsequent fame, Larter said, "When the door opens for you in Hollywood, you need to run with it. You know?"[15] Larter is currently signed to IMG Models.[16] She landed her first professional acting roles in 1997 when she appeared in several television programs. She appeared in an episode of the Brooke Shields television series Suddenly Susan, and the short-lived series Chicago Sons. These roles were followed by a number of other appearances on Dawson's Creek, Chicago Hope, and Just Shoot Me!
Acting debut and breakthrough (1999–2005)[edit]
In 1999, Larter made her film debut in the coming-of-age dramedy Varsity Blues, which re-united her with Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek and close friend Amy Smart. Smart had persuaded Larter to audition for the movie,[11] in which she played Darcy Sears, a love interest for one of the main characters. Varsity Blues drew a domestic box office gross of US$53 million.[5] Also in 1999, she made supporting appearances in the teen comedies Giving It Up and Drive Me Crazy, and starred in the remake House on Haunted Hill which was made for around US$20 million. The horror film, following a group of strangers invited to a party at an abandoned asylum, was panned by critics,[17] but grossed US$15 million on its opening weekend and went on to earn over US$40 million overall.[5]
Larter starred as Clear Rivers, one of the main characters in the teen supernatural horror film Final Destination (2000). Also starring Devon Sawa and Kerr Smith, the movie's premise followed several teenagers who survive a plane crash but are stalked and killed by Death itself. Final Destination made US$112 million by the end of its theatrical run.[18] In 2001, she appeared in the comedy Legally Blonde with Reese Witherspoon. She played Brooke Taylor Windham, a widow accused of her husband's murder.[19] The film earned the top spot with US$20 million in its opening weekend[20] and ended up grossing $141 million worldwide.[5] With US$96 million of its total gross deriving from domestic markets, Legally Blonde is Larter's highest-grossing film domestically.[5]
Larter next appeared as Zerelda Mimms in the western comedy American Outlaws.[21] Directed by Les Mayfield and co-starring Colin Farrell and Scott Caan, the film was poorly received by critics[22] and at the box office, garnering US$13 million at the end of its theatrical run.[5] She also starred in Kevin Smith's Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. That year, Larter appeared on the cover of Maxim magazine and performed in the stage play The Vagina Monologues in New York City.[11] In Spring 2002, Larter moved from Los Angeles to New York. "I was too young and impressionable to handle the pressures of L.A." Larter recalled in an interview: "I'm a woman now. I am no longer the little girl who could be easily influenced."[23]
Her first project there was to reprise her role as Clear Rivers in the sequel to Final Destination entitled Final Destination 2. In an interview with IGN, Larter explained her return to the franchise: "When New 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."[24] The film made US$90 million worldwide,[25] to a mixed critical reception.[26] A year later, Larter served as an associate producer of and starred in the thriller Three Way. After doing so, Larter commented about future producing endeavors during an interview for Resident Evil: Extinction: "I definitely have many ideas and different avenues that I want to take as my career goes on."[27] In 2005, she appeared in the independent political thriller Confess, and had a role in the romantic comedy A Lot Like Love, starring Amanda Peet and Ashton Kutcher.