Eric Lively is an American actor best known for appearances in American Pie, So Weird, The L Word, Speak, Modern Men, 24: Redemption, and The Butterfly Effect 2. Born on July 31, 1981, in Atlanta, Georgia, he grew up in the entertainment world as part of the Lively family.
Unlike his sister Blake Lively, Eric eventually stepped away from regular acting, leaving many viewers wondering what happened to him and where he is now. His career also took an unusual path: alongside acting, he developed an interest in photography and briefly worked as a model before returning to Los Angeles.
Eric Lively Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Eric Lawrence Lively |
| Birth Name | Eric Lawrence Brown |
| Date of Birth | July 31, 1981 |
| Birthplace | Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
| Profession | Former Actor |
| Known For | American Pie, So Weird, The L Word, The Butterfly Effect 2 |
| Parents | Ernie Lively and Elaine Lively |
| Sister | Blake Lively |
| Half-Siblings | Robyn Lively, Jason Lively, Lori Lively |
| Wife | Angelina Davydova |
| Acting Years | 1983–2014 |
| Education | Parsons School of Design |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in |
| Nationality | American |
Who Is Eric Lively?
Eric Lively is a former American actor who began working in entertainment at an unusually young age. His first credited film connection came through Brainstorm, where he appeared as a baby in the 1983 movie. Years later, he returned to acting with appearances in television and film.
His career became more recognizable during the late 1990s and 2000s. He appeared in American Pie, joined the cast of So Weird, and later took roles in projects including The L Word, Speak, Modern Men, and The Butterfly Effect 2.
What makes his story particularly interesting is that acting was not his only professional interest. After finishing high school at 15, he moved to New York with plans to study photography at Parsons School of Design. He was also approached by Ford Models and worked on modeling campaigns.
Eric Lively’s Early Life and Education
Eric Lawrence Lively was born on July 31, 1981, in Atlanta, Georgia, and was raised in Los Angeles. He grew up in a family deeply connected to the entertainment industry.
His father, Ernie Lively, was an actor and teacher, while his mother, Elaine Lively, worked as an acting coach and talent manager. Eric’s siblings also became involved in entertainment, including actresses Blake Lively and Robyn Lively, along with Jason and Lori Lively.
Rather than immediately making acting his only focus, Eric developed an interest in photography. According to his IMDb biography, he finished high school at 15 and moved to New York to pursue photography at Parsons. His modeling work gave him another opportunity to spend time around photographers whose work he admired.
Eric Lively’s Family
The Lively family is one of the most recognizable entertainment families connected to Eric’s biography.
His father, Ernie Lively, had a long acting career, while his mother, Elaine Lively, worked behind the scenes as an acting coach and talent manager. Eric’s sister Blake Lively later became internationally known through television and film.
Eric also has half-siblings Robyn Lively, Jason Lively and Lori Lively, who have their own acting credits.
Eric Lively and Blake Lively
Eric is Blake Lively’s older brother, and their connection goes beyond simply being siblings. Blake has previously discussed how Eric encouraged her to pursue acting when she was younger. W Magazine reported Blake recalling that her brother secretly contacted his agent while she was still a teenager in an effort to encourage her toward an acting career.
This makes Eric an interesting part of Blake’s early story, even though he eventually became much less visible in Hollywood himself.
Eric Lively’s Acting Career
Eric’s acting career stretched from childhood appearances to recognizable supporting and leading roles during the 1990s and 2000s.
After his early appearance in Brainstorm, he appeared in television projects before landing a small role in American Pie in 1999. That same period brought him to So Weird, where he became part of the show’s regular cast.
He later moved into more mature roles, appearing in A Minute with Stan Hooper, The L Word, Speak, Modern Men, and several films. His career eventually reached one of its biggest roles with The Butterfly Effect 2.
Eric Lively in American Pie
One of Eric Lively’s early recognizable movie appearances came in American Pie (1999). He played Albert, a small role in the popular teen comedy.
Although it was not a leading part, American Pie became one of the better-known titles connected with his early acting career. IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes both list Eric among the film’s cast.
Eric Lively on So Weird
After American Pie, Eric joined the Disney series So Weird, playing Carey Bell. The role gave him considerably more screen time than some of his earlier appearances. IMDb lists him among the show’s cast, while other film databases credit him with dozens of episodes during the show’s later seasons.
An interesting detail from his career is that Eric learned to play guitar for his role on the show.
Eric Lively and The L Word
In 2005, Eric joined The L Word as Mark Wayland, a documentary filmmaker. Around the same period, he reportedly had an opportunity involving 24, but chose The L Word. The decision became one of the more notable career choices mentioned in biographies of the actor.
His role on The L Word helped move his career beyond the teen-oriented projects that had introduced him to audiences earlier.
Eric Lively in Speak
Eric appeared in the 2004 drama Speak, playing Andy Evans opposite Kristen Stewart. The film was based on Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel and became another significant credit in Eric’s filmography. IMDb lists Speak among his better-known works.
Eric Lively in The Butterfly Effect 2
The Butterfly Effect 2 is arguably the most prominent starring film associated with Eric Lively. Released in 2006, the movie stars Eric as Nick Larson, a young man who discovers that he can alter events in his past and change the present.
The film was released direct-to-video and was not a direct continuation of the original film’s characters.
Eric appeared opposite Erica Durance, with the story combining relationship drama, science fiction, and thriller elements.
Eric Lively Movies and TV Shows
Eric Lively’s screen credits include a mixture of films, television series and television movies.
Notable Eric Lively Movies
- Brainstorm — Baby
- Sandman — Bobby Doll
- American Pie — Albert
- Speak — Andy Evans
- The Butterfly Effect 2 — Nick Larson
- The Breed — Matt
- Sex and Breakfast — Charlie
- Live! —Brad
- Deep Winter — Tyler Crowe
- 24: Redemption — Roger Taylor
- A Madea Christmas — Conner
- BFFs — Tom
These credits are reflected across IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and other film databases.
Eric Lively TV Shows
His television work includes:
- Full House
- So Weird
- A Minute with Stan Hooper
- The L Word
- Modern Men
- The Nine
- 24
- Covert Affairs
- The Client List
IMDb’s current listing contains 29 acting credits overall, while individual databases organize some television and film appearances differently.
Who Is Eric Lively’s Wife?
Eric Lively is married to Angelina Davydova. IMDb currently lists the couple as married since 2005. Unlike many Hollywood relationships, Eric’s marriage has remained largely outside mainstream entertainment coverage.
There is relatively little reliable public information about their private life, so claims about their relationship or family that are not supported by established sources should be treated carefully.
Why Did Eric Lively Stop Acting?
There does not appear to be a widely documented interview in which Eric Lively gives one definitive reason for ending his acting career.
His listed acting credits continue through 2014, with BFFs among his later credits. After that period, he largely disappeared from regular entertainment coverage.
Some later entertainment coverage has connected him with photography and work outside traditional acting. Still, there is not enough reliable public information to claim a single official reason for his departure from Hollywood.
So, rather than saying that Eric “quit acting because of X,” the more accurate description is that his public acting career appears to have become inactive after 2014, while the specific reason for the change has not been clearly documented.
What Happened to Eric Lively?
Eric Lively gradually became much less visible in the entertainment industry after his final listed acting credits.
That does not necessarily mean something dramatic happened to him. His public career became quieter. Unlike his sister Blake, Eric has not maintained the same level of celebrity exposure, and there are comparatively few recent interviews or entertainment reports about his professional life.
Where Is Eric Lively Now?
Publicly available information about Eric Lively’s current activities is limited. IMDb’s biography has previously stated that he returned to Los Angeles, while current film databases continue to list his older acting credits rather than new projects.
There is also no well-established recent acting project that would indicate a return to regular Hollywood work. Based on the available record, it is more accurate to describe Eric as a former actor who has remained largely out of the public spotlight rather than claim that he is currently working on a specific project.
Eric Lively Net Worth
There is no reliable, publicly verified figure for Eric Lively’s current net worth. Various celebrity websites may publish estimated numbers, but these figures generally do not provide enough financial documentation to treat them as confirmed. His income over the years would have come from acting and other professional work, but his private finances are not publicly documented dependably.
For that reason, this article should avoid presenting an exact dollar amount as fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Eric Lively stop acting?
Eric Lively’s listed acting career runs through 2014, but there is no well-documented public statement establishing one specific reason why he stopped taking regular acting roles.
What happened to Eric Lively?
After years of acting in movies and television, Eric Lively became much less visible publicly. His last listed acting credits date to 2014, and there is limited recent information about his professional activities.
Was Eric Lively in The Butterfly Effect 2?
Yes. He played Nick Larson, the central character in The Butterfly Effect 2 (2006).
Final Thoughts
Eric Lively’s career is closely connected to one of Hollywood’s better-known acting families, but his own path has been considerably quieter. He began acting as a child, appeared in American Pie, became part of So Weird, took on roles in The L Word and Speak, and eventually landed the lead in The Butterfly Effect 2.
His marriage to Angelina Davydova and his connections to Blake Lively, Robyn Lively, Jason Lively, and Ernie Lively add another layer to his story. While his acting career appears to have ended around 2014, there is no strong public evidence pointing to one specific reason for his departure. Today, Eric remains a relatively private figure compared with some members of his family.