Back in the days when ER ruled the small screen on must-see Thursdays (and NBC regularly beat all the other networks), each of the main characters took their turn in the spotlight, but one of the most intriguing was Dr. Peter Benton. Many viewers viewed him as the villain of the show during the first couple of seasons until we got a chance to see the softer side of this powerful character and it broke our hearts when he left the show back in 2002 (after 169 episodes).

Since his days on ER, LaSalle has found success both in front of and behind the camera. He has directed episodes of shows such as Ringer, CSI: NY and even one of the final episodes of ER. His latest gig brings him to the CBS drama A Gifted Man, where he plays a neurologist and psychiatrist who studies body language as a way to diagnose patients.

I had the amazing opportunity to chat with this gifted actor about his days on ER and his plans for the future...

Q: Did you grow up knowing you wanted to be an actor?

Eriq: "As a small child, I had visions of being a doctor and then around the age of 12 I discovered I was afraid of blood and it wasn't going to work out."

Q: You got your start on One Life to Live, do you think soaps are a good training ground for actors?

Eriq: "I think it's a great training ground for actors to work anywhere, work on their craft and learn in a professional setting outside of school. I was also doing theater at the same time, so I was just happy and blessed to have a job where I could show up and work on my craft whether it was a guest starring role, a soap opera or theater in the park -- you just want to work."

Q: What was the best advice you've been given about acting?

Eriq: "My late mentor who taught me from the time I was 14 or 15 used to say 'you can always find your freedoms through your limitations.' That has been something that has worked for me in all situations, personally and professionally.

When you feel that you don't have enough sources or material to do what you need to do, somehow forcing yourself to be so creative that you make the little bit that you have work for you in such a way that it competes with you having all the things that you could like to have had. It's forcing yourself to go a little deeper or a lot deeper when you don't have things spelled out for you."

Q: What similarities do you share with Dr. Peter Benton?

Eriq: "I think we are both perfectionists, but with the understanding that there is no such thing as perfection. I hold people and myself to a very high and strict standard where I am constantly trying to get the best out of me and push myself, which is why I end up wearing so many different hats. It wasn't enough for me to be an actor, at some point, I thought... try your hand at writing, try your hand at directing, try your hand at producing. I get bored easily and if I'm not pushing myself, then I'm going to be bored and I think Benton was the same way. The differences are that I'm much sillier in person and have a greater sense of humor. I think Benton was so narrow-minded and focused."

Q: Do you have a favorite ER episode?

Eriq: "Not particularly. I think that my best work was tied to Noah (Wylie). I think we had amazing chemistry and pulled a lot out of each other and played well off of each other. I had a great time when I had the opportunity to go down south and do an episode that was about Benton and being away from the hospital. Towards the latter years, I enjoyed working with Michael Michele because it started showing a different side of Benton -- the side that could have a little fun and laugh more. He was in love and that wasn't something we associated Benton with. I think Noah helped me become a better actor and I am very proud of so many of the things we did, from the pilot on."

Q: Tell us about your role on A Gifted Man...

Eriq: "He's a real interesting character. He's double boarded, which means he boarded in neurology and psychiatry. He's a very driven man and at first glance, he's very comparable to Benton. He sets goals that most people would crumble under. He has a great sense of humor and has learned to enjoy every moment in life and through his work. This guy brings fun to his work; he is not about life bringing him down and we learn later why because of an interesting secret that he has."

Q: And E-Mo can read a patient's body language to determine their illness?

Eriq: "It's not so much that he can determine their illness, he's very observant of certain behaviors and analyzes those behaviors as a psychiatrist. In the first episode, there is this girl who is having these seizures and she doesn't have a boyfriend and she doesn't do drugs, so just in observing her sending texts, what I see is dilating pupils and perspiration above her upper lip. I notice a little more color to her and what I realize is that she is in love and with that, I analyze that she is having sex and using birth control -- and that is what is causing her neurological problems. What's so fascinating is that he breaks it down and analyzes and uses one bit of information and then he'll test it against something else to get more information."

Q: How many episodes will you appear?

Eriq: "Right now, four and then we'll see what happens if the show is picked up. I would then be doing double duty because I'll also be directing."

Q: Speaking of directing -- you've done quite a bit of work behind the camera, do you think you will be pursuing more work in this area?

Eriq: "There's no set formula. Right now, it's not an either or situation. Unfortunately, when I first started, I think people were assuming it had to either or... either I was interested in acting or interested in directing. What I've been able to do is show that you can do both. My first love is acting, and I love directing. I haven't predetermined where that takes me; I just like to work."

Q: Do you watch any TV shows on a regular basis?

Eriq: "I don't watch a lot of shows, but I've been watching Walking Dead and Mad Men. I used to be a big Damages fan."

Q: Do you use Twitter to keep in touch with your fans?

Eriq: "No, I'm social media-challenged. No Twittering for me."

Q: Do you have any other projects in the works?

Eriq: "No, I'm just coming off Ringer and we're talking about doing another episode of that. Currently, I'm on How to Make it in America; last spring I did three or four episodes and they just started airing. It's an interesting month for me because I have three shows on -- two that I'm acting in and the Ringer episode I directed airs November 1."

Q: Anything to say to the fans?

Eriq: "It's great to be back. For television, this is my favorite role since Benton. It's great when you have fans who are so invested in your character. I'm so excited to share this new creation, this new character with the fans. I love to be able to give them not just different characters, but different artistic contributions, whether it's acting or directing. I think fans deserve so much because fans are so committed. I'm so appreciative of those who have been so supportive and made me want to do better."