Arlen Alexander Escarpeta is a Belizean actor born on April 9, 1981. He gained widespread recognition for his breakout role in the 2004 independent drama film American Gun, directed by William H. Macy, where he played an honor student caught with a handgun at school. The film, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, boasted an impressive cast including Forrest Whitaker, Marcia Gay Harden, and Donald Sutherland.
In the following year, Escarpeta co-starred alongside Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox in McG's true-life drama We Are Marshall, which tells the story of the aftermath of the 1970 plane crash that claimed the lives of Marshall University's football team. The film was met with critical acclaim and further solidified Escarpeta's status as a rising star in the industry.
Escarpeta's subsequent film appearances include a role in David Wain's comedy The Ten, which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, as well as a part in Carls Franklin's courtroom thriller High Crimes, starring Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd. His early television work includes a starring role in the NBC series American Dreams, where he played Sam Walker, a young black man navigating the turbulent 1960s.
Throughout his career, Escarpeta has made guest appearances on popular television shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Without A Trace, Cold Case, Judging Amy, ER, The Shield, Boomtown, 7th Heaven, and Boston Public. In 2009, he took on the role of Lawrence in the horror slasher film Friday the 13th.
Escarpeta's recent projects include leading roles in the drama Roslyn, the comedy Dough Boys, and the drama 818, in which he also serves as co-producer. He has also been cast in Final Destination 5, the fifth installment in the hit horror franchise.
