Elise Falanga was born in Bayshore, New York, and raised in Vernon, New Jersey by her mother and stepfather, both psychotherapists. Her early life was marked by a passion for the theatre, which was ignited at the tender age of seven when she landed her first role as one of the orphans in a local New Jersey stage production of "Annie". This was followed by her portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West in "The Wizard of Oz", further solidifying her desire to pursue an acting career professionally.
As she grew older, Elise's love for the theatre only intensified, leading her to study acting in New York City with renowned instructors such as Terry Schreiber, Matthew Corozine, and at the Michael Howard Studios. During her time in the city, she performed in various black box theaters, dabbled in modeling and commercial print, and eventually earned her SAG AFTRA card.
Upon moving to Los Angeles, Elise worked in television for several years before landing her first network co-star role on Ken Jeong's sitcom "Dr. Ken". She has since continued to work as a professional actress in film and television, with recent credits including "Better Call Saul", "Stranger Things", "The Upshaws", "The Really Loud House", and "Dark Winds". Her upcoming film role in Ari Aster's "Eddington" will see her play the character Nicolette.
Throughout her career, Elise has had the opportunity to work alongside a diverse range of talented actors, including Giancarlo Esposito, Winona Ryder, Wanda Sykes, Deanna Allison, Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix, and Austin Butler.
In addition to her acting pursuits, Elise is a linguist at heart, having studied abroad at The Alliance Francaise in Paris, France. She is fluent in French and practices the language every day. During the pandemic, she returned to school and earned her Producing certificate with UCLA Extension. Elise currently resides in between Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and Los Angeles with her husband, Chris Taylor, a camera operator, and their two dogs.
A defining moment in Elise's life occurred when she was 13 years old, during a custody battle between her biological parents. The court ordered her to live in foster care for a month, a traumatic experience that had a lasting impact on her life. In response, Elise has dedicated her time to volunteering with SoCal Hearts, an art summer camp for inner-city foster kids in downtown Los Angeles.
In her personal time, Elise enjoys practicing yoga, studying French, and spending time in nature with her dogs.
