Eric Lutes
Personal details
  • Born:
    • Birthday: 1962-08-19
    • Born Place: Charleston, Rhode Island, USA

Eric Lutes

Eric Lutes is a seasoned American actor and artist whose career spans four decades across hit television sitcoms, independent films, and the theatrical stage. Born in Woonsocket and raised in Charlestown, Rhode Island, Lutes is the son of an artist and a psychiatric nurse, a background that influenced his own dual passions for performing and painting. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from the University of Rhode Island in 1985 before cutting his teeth in off-Broadway productions in New York City. He is perhaps most widely recognized for his leading role as Del Cassidy in the long-running NBC sitcom Caroline in the City (1995–1999) and for playing the father, Jake Carlson, to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in the series So Little Time and the film Switching Goals. His extensive television resume also includes a memorable turn as station manager Tom Duran on Frasier, as well as guest appearances on House, CSI: Miami, and How to Get Away with Murder. In early 2026, Lutes returned to the screen in the psychological thriller Sleepwalker, taking on the role of Doctor Henson. His character serves as a clinical counterpoint to the film’s surreal horror, providing Sarah (Hayden Panettiere) with insights into the "wild west" of cognitive psychology and sleep disorders as she struggles to identify the source of her waking nightmares.

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