Eric Dean Turic, born on December 25, 1971, in Holland, Michigan, is an American actor based in Los Angeles, California. He has made a name for himself in the film, television, and stage industries, with a portfolio that boasts over 30 film credits, numerous television and web series appearances, and several commercials.
Raised by his mother, Emma Sue Rogers, in the small town of Muldrow, Oklahoma, Eric has three brothers and one sister. His family moved frequently during his childhood, living in various locations including Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Arizona, as well as Juarez, Mexico, when he was a small child.
From an early age, Eric was drawn to music and singing, thanks to his mother's renditions of classic songs like "Bill Bailey" and "Has Anybody Seen My Gal". He sang in church and school choirs, and later joined the band, playing the saxophone in the 5th grade. Eric's interest in music only grew stronger as he attended choir competitions and received high marks for his individual performances.
Throughout his middle and high school years, Eric was heavily involved in the arts, participating in plays, choir, and band. He was also an excellent student, a member of several clubs, including 4-H, drama, science, and the National Beta Club. Eric's passion for the arts led him to perform in several school plays and community theatre productions, with his first professional stage performance being in "Annie Get Your Gun!" at The Ft. Smith Arkansas Little Theatre as Little Jake.
Eric's academic achievements earned him a partial theatre scholarship to the University of Tulsa, where he graduated with a major in psychology and a minor in anthropology. After college, he worked in the corporate world as a marketing manager for five years, but ultimately felt unfulfilled creatively. In 1999, at the age of 28, Eric made the bold decision to relocate to Los Angeles, where he could pursue a full-time acting career.
Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Eric signed with a commercial agent and began booking commercials. In 2003, he had a successful year in commercials, which prompted him to start a custom furniture business. However, Eric soon found himself drawn back to acting, focusing on film and television projects.
In 2004, Eric shot his first independent feature, "Nine Lives", and continued to book student films, experimental shorts, and feature films. His breakthrough role came in 2008, when he landed the part of Mark in the action-adventure film "Target Practice", which won numerous awards at film festivals nationwide. Since then, Eric has appeared in a range of films, including the horror comedy "George's Intervention" (2009),the action-adventure film "Jaguar" (2011),and the romantic comedy "The Men Next Door" (2012).
