# Alex Désert
**Alex Désert** (born 1968) is an American actor and musician known for the television roles of Julio Mendez in *The Flash*, Jake Malinak in *Becker*, and Eli Williams in *Boy Meets World*, and since 2020 for voicing Carl Carlson and Lou on *The Simpsons*. He is also a founding member and one of the lead singers of the Los Angeles ska band Hepcat and sings with the reggae collective The Lions.[1](https://www.cinefil.com/star/alex-desert)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1968, New York City, New York, USA[2](https://www.mafab.hu/people/alex-desert-272873.html) |
| Signature TV role | Jake Malinak on CBS's *Becker*, main cast, 1998–2004, 129 episodes[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0246373/) |
| Music | Founding member and lead singer of Hepcat (four albums); vocalist with The Lions, whose album *Soul Riot* was released on Stones Throw Records[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0246373/) |
## Early life and training
Désert was born in New York City in 1968.[2](https://www.mafab.hu/people/alex-desert-272873.html) He is described as a Haitian-American actor.[1](https://www.cinefil.com/star/alex-desert) He studied acting at New York's School of the Performing Arts, the school popularly known as the "Fame school" ([Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School](https://www.edgepedia.org/fiorello-h-laguardia-high-school)), and after graduating moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career.[2](https://www.mafab.hu/people/alex-desert-272873.html) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0246373/)
His first screen role came in 1988 on the CBS series *TV 101*, where he played Holden Hines in 13 episodes.[2](https://www.mafab.hu/people/alex-desert-272873.html) • [4](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-27745/filmographie/)
## Television career
**1990s series work.** From 1990 to 1991 Désert played Julio Mendez, a police-lab scientist, alongside [John Wesley Shipp](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-wesley-shipp) in CBS's superhero series *[The Flash](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-flash-1990-tv-series)*, based on the [DC Comics](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-comics) character; the role ran 22 episodes.[1](https://www.cinefil.com/star/alex-desert)
**Becker.** His breakthrough came in 1998, when he joined the CBS comedy *Becker*, starring [Ted Danson](https://www.edgepedia.org/ted-danson), as a main-cast member. He played Jake Malinak for six years and 129 episodes, from 1998 to 2004.[2](https://www.mafab.hu/people/alex-desert-272873.html) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0246373/)
**Guest roles.** Alongside his series work, Désert has appeared in guest roles on shows including *Grey's Anatomy*, *Mom*, *House M.D.*, *Tyler Perry's House of Payne*, *Reno 911!*, *The Sarah Silverman Program*, *Better Call Saul*, *Shameless*, *Better Things*, *Station 19*, and *Chicago Fire*.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0246373/) In 2016 he returned to the Flash franchise, playing Captain Julio Mendez in two episodes of the 2014 CW series *The Flash*.[4](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-27745/filmographie/)
## Film roles
Désert's film credits include the 1994 comedy *PCU* (as Mullaney, alongside [Jeremy Piven](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeremy-piven), David Spade, and [Jon Favreau](https://www.edgepedia.org/jon-favreau)), the 1996 independent success *Swingers* (as Charles), *High Fidelity* (2000, as Louis), *Playing God* (1997), *Bob Funk* (2009), and the Disney-produced *Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day* (2014, as Mr. Rogue).[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0246373/) He also appeared in the [Disney Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-channel) original movies *Invisible Sister* (2015) and the 2018 *Freaky Friday* (as Mike Harper).[4](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-27745/filmographie/)
## Voice acting
Désert has voiced characters across animation and video games. He was the voice of [Nick Fury](https://www.edgepedia.org/nick-fury) in [Marvel Animation](https://www.edgepedia.org/marvel-animation)'s *The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes* (2010–2013, 16 episodes) and in *Wolverine and the X-Men*, and played Wise in the web series *The LeBrons* (23 episodes, 2011–2014).[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0246373/) His game credits include Zip in *Tomb Raider: Legend* (2006), Zimos, the autotuned-voiced pimp, in *Saints Row: The Third* (2011), and the loa Bwonsamdi beginning with the *Battle for Azeroth* expansion of *World of Warcraft*.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0246373/)**The Simpsons.** In 2020, following protests related to the death of [George Floyd](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-floyd), Désert took over the roles of Carl Carlson and Lou from Hank Azaria on *The Simpsons*, beginning with the episode "Undercover Burns", which premiered on September 27, 2020. IMDb lists him in these roles for 79 episodes from 2020 onward.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0246373/)
## Music
Désert is a founding member and one of the lead singers of Hepcat, a Los Angeles ska and reggae band. AllMusic credits him on Hepcat albums including *Out of Nowhere* (1994), *Scientific* (1996), *Right on Time* (1998), and *Push 'N Shove* (2000).[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/alex-desert-mn0000895675)
He also sings with The Lions, a Los Angeles-based reggae collective that IMDb describes as a 12-piece group of seasoned musicians playing what they call "dusty reggae soul"; their album *Soul Riot* was released on Stones Throw Records.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0246373/) AllMusic lists his credits with The Lions on *Jungle Struttin'* (2008), *This Generation* (2013), and *Soul Riot* (2015).[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/alex-desert-mn0000895675)
## Birth year discrepancy
Most film and television databases give Désert's birth year as 1968, including Mafab, Cinefil, TV Insider, and Rotten Tomatoes.[2](https://www.mafab.hu/people/alex-desert-272873.html) • [1](https://www.cinefil.com/star/alex-desert) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/alex-desert/) • [7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/alex_desert) AllMusic, however, lists his birth date as 1970, in New York.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/alex-desert-mn0000895675)
## References
1. [Alex Désert : sa biographie, filmographie, et quelques photos, Cinefil](https://www.cinefil.com/star/alex-desert)
2. [Alex Désert | Filmek, képek, díjak | Személyiség adatlap, Mafab.hu](https://www.mafab.hu/people/alex-desert-272873.html)
3. [Alex Désert, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0246373/)
4. [Alex Desert : Filmographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-27745/filmographie/)
5. [Alex Desert — Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/alex-desert-mn0000895675)
6. [Alex Désert - Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/alex-desert/)
7. [Alex Désert Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/alex_desert)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames D to Di*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license