Versatile actor Arlen Escarpeta most recently starred in the film “Into the Storm,” where he played a courageous camera man/techy for a storm chasing crew. It was Escarpeta’s second film directed by Steven Quale, as the two previously teamed up for the New Line Cinema hit “Final Destination 5.” On television this year, Escarpeta was seen in the science fiction drama “Extant,” produced by Steven Spielberg and starring Halle Berry, as well as a highly-anticipated episode of “Grimm” for NBC.

In 2010, Escarpeta hit the big screen in the ensemble cast of “Brotherhood,” which also debuted at the 2010 South by Southwest Film Festival. In 2008, he starred in Michael Bay’s re-imagined take on the classic, “Friday the 13th” for Paramount Pictures. In 2007, Escarpeta starred alongside Matthew McConaughey and David Strathairn in the Warner Bros football feature film “We are Marshall,” directed by McG. Soon after, he shot the film “The Ten,” starring opposite Oliver Platt. The quirky film made it’s world premiere at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Escarpeta first earned critical acclaim for his breakout role in the IFC drama “American Gun,“ which made it’s premiere at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival, and starred Oscar-winners Forest Whitaker and Marcia Gay Harden and Golden Globe winner Donald Sutherland. The film was nominated for three Independent Film Spirit Awards including Best Picture. His earlier film roles include Carl Franklin’s courtroom thriller “High Crimes,” opposite Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd.

Best known for his role as charismatic college athlete “Sam Walker” on NBC’s “American Dreams,” Escarpeta made his first television debut guesting on FOX’s “Boston Public.” He followed that with a recurring role on “The Secret Circle” and guest-starring roles on hit television shows like “House MD,” “NCIS Los Angeles,” “Without a Trace,” “Cold Case,” “Judging Amy,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “ER” and “The Shield.”

Escarpeta moved to Los Angeles from his native country of Belize when he was three years old. A born performer, the youngster began to dance and sing for the Young Saints Scholarship Foundation. During his secondary school years at Hollywood High School, he juggled two roles, one of performing in several on-stage drama productions and the other, serving as a football captain on the gridiron. He went on to attend Pasadena City College, where he concentrated on his sociology studies and the development of his acting career.