# Eric Lively
**Eric Lively** (full name Eric Lawrence Lively, born Eric Lawrence Brown) is an American actor and photographer best known for playing Carey Bell on the [Disney Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-channel) series *[So Weird](https://www.edgepedia.org/so-weird)* (1999–2001) and Nick Larson in the film *[The Butterfly Effect 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-butterfly-effect-2)* (2006)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0515123/bio/) • [2](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/53116-eric-lively). He was born in 1981 in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Los Angeles, California[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0515123/bio/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1981, Atlanta, Georgia; birth name Eric Lawrence Brown[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0515123/bio/) |
| Family | Son of actor Ernie Lively and talent manager Elaine Lively; brother of Blake Lively and half-brother of Robyn, Lori, and Jason Lively[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0515123/bio/) • [3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/ernie-lively) |
| Breakout role | Carey Bell on *So Weird*, Disney Channel, 1999–2001[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lively-eric-1981) |
| Notable films | *American Pie* (1999, as Albert), *The Butterfly Effect 2* (2006, as Nick Larson), *Speak* (2004, as Andy Evans)[2](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/53116-eric-lively) |
| Other series roles | Mark Wayland on *The L Word*; Doug Reynolds on *Modern Men*; Roger Taylor in *24: Redemption*[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lively-eric-1981) • [5](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-104787/filmographie/) |
| Second career | Photographer specializing in portraits of actors and models[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lively-eric-1981) |
## Family and early life
Lively comes from a family working in entertainment. His father, [Ernie Lively](https://www.edgepedia.org/ernie-lively), was an American actor and acting coach who appeared in films including *Turner & Hooch*, *Passenger 57*, and *Air America*, and his mother, Elaine Lively (née McAlpin), is an acting coach and talent manager[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0515123/bio/) • [3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/ernie-lively). His sister is actress [Blake Lively](https://www.edgepedia.org/blake-lively), and his half-siblings are actors [Robyn Lively](https://www.edgepedia.org/robyn-lively), Jason Lively, and Lori Lively[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0515123/bio/).
His own screen debut came as an infant, in an uncredited role as a baby in the 1983 science-fiction film *Brainstorm*[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lively-eric-1981). He finished high school at 15 and moved to New York intending to study photography at the [Parsons School of Design](https://www.edgepedia.org/parsons-school-of-design), but after being approached by the Ford Agency he modeled for campaigns including Abercrombie and Fitch, Levi's, and [Tommy Hilfiger](https://www.edgepedia.org/tommy-hilfiger)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0515123/bio/).
## Acting career
**Television.** After a 1994 guest appearance on *Full House* and the television film *Armed and Innocent*, Lively landed his first substantial role as Carey Bell on the Disney Channel mystery series *So Weird*, appearing in the series from 1999 to 2001[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lively-eric-1981) • [2](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/53116-eric-lively). The role brought him [Young Artist Award](https://www.edgepedia.org/young-artist-award) nominations for best young ensemble in a comedy or dramatic television series in 2000 and 2001, and YoungStar Award nominations in 2000[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lively-eric-1981).
In 2003 he co-starred as Ryan Hawkins on the Fox sitcom *A Minute with Stan Hooper*[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lively-eric-1981). He then played Mark Wayland on Showtime's *The L Word* and Doug Reynolds on The WB's *Modern Men*[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lively-eric-1981). According to his own account, he was offered recurring roles on *24* and *The L Word* at the same time and chose *The L Word*, citing its subject matter as more important to him; he later appeared in the television film *[24: Redemption](https://www.edgepedia.org/24-redemption)* (2008) as Roger Taylor[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0515123/bio/) • [6](https://www.fandango.com/people/eric-lively-402147/biography). Later television credits include Conrad Sheehan III on *Covert Affairs* and Derek West on *The Client List*[5](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-104787/filmographie/).
**Film.** Lively played Albert in the teen comedy *American Pie* (1999)[2](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/53116-eric-lively). He appeared alongside his siblings Blake and Lori in *Sandman* (1998), a musical fantasy film directed by his father, playing Bobby Doll[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lively-eric-1981) • [6](https://www.fandango.com/people/eric-lively-402147/biography). His first starring film role was Nick Larson, a man who can travel through time, in *The Butterfly Effect 2* (2006)[6](https://www.fandango.com/people/eric-lively-402147/biography). Other film work includes *The Breed* (2006), *Live!* (2007), *Sex and Breakfast* (2007), and [Tyler Perry](https://www.edgepedia.org/tyler-perry)'s *A Madea Christmas* (2013)[2](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/53116-eric-lively). He also played Andy Evans, the boy who assaults the protagonist, in *Speak* (2004), a film written and directed by Jessica Sharzer that premiered at Sundance[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lively-eric-1981) • [7](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=5545).
## Photography and other work
Photography has run alongside his acting throughout his career. He works as a photographer specializing in portraits of actors and models[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lively-eric-1981). He also appeared as [Mandy Moore](https://www.edgepedia.org/mandy-moore)'s love interest in her music video "Walk Me Home"[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lively-eric-1981).
Within his family, Lively is credited with encouraging his sister Blake to act: when she was 17, he pressed his agents to call her for auditions, telling them, "If there's ever anything that's great, call Blake"[8](https://tiffanybakker.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/blake-lively.pdf).
## References
1. [Eric Lively – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0515123/bio/)
2. [Eric Lively – The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/53116-eric-lively)
3. [Ernie Lively – Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/ernie-lively)
4. [Lively, Eric 1981– – Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lively-eric-1981)
5. [Eric Lively : Filmographie – AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-104787/filmographie/)
6. [Eric Lively Biography – Fandango](https://www.fandango.com/people/eric-lively-402147/biography)
7. [Eric Lively – TVSA](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=5545)
8. [Lively and DiCaprio caught up in Cannes – Tiffany Bakker](https://tiffanybakker.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/blake-lively.pdf)
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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 Le to L*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; 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