"Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Without Trace" are just two of the shows this rising star has appeared in.

Arlen Escarpeta, 33, has been making major acting choices including starring opposite some A-List actors. Escarpeta's biggest role to date is in the Lifetime biopic "I Will Always Love You: The Whitney Houston Story."

Escarpeta might not be American-born, but he is international. Escarpeta was born in Belize, a part of Central America; the national language there is English, but people in that region speak English, Creole, and Spanish. Escarpeta is proud of his Central American heritage. He should be prouder still of his catapult to rising fame and success.

Escarpeta is starring in the disaster film "Into the Storm" out this weekend. This storm film takes place in the fictional town of Silverton that is about to be ripped, and consumed by the largest set of tornadoes. And they are expected to get hit by an even bigger one known as an "F5" tornado; an F5 is the largest and most destructive tornado.

Let's hope that Escarpeta's character, who plays a storm-chaser, survives.

Escarpeta has mainly co-starred in a litany of films, and guest-starred in a number of popular TV shows. He has co-starred in "Final Destination 5," "Friday the 13th," and "Star Trek Into Darkness." Escarpeta's film work might be short but his TV work experience is perhaps more gritty, from "ER," "The Client List," "House M.D." and "The Secret Circle," just to name a few.

Most recently, he starred opposite Halle Berry in the CBS summer TV series "Extant." It was in Episode 3, titled "Wish You Were Here." Escarpeta's Tim Dawkins stole the scene from Berry.

Escarpeta's second-biggest role is playing Bobby Brown in the Whitney Houston biopic directed by Angela Bassett. This film has all of the media abuzz. The Hollywood Reporter mentioned that Escarpeta felt that the Houston's family would feel honored by this film project.

"I really do feel like it does do her justice, and at the same time, I do understand their reservations," Escarpeta said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "That's close to home. That's family. You have to respect family when it comes to matters of the heart. Respect to those guys absolutely. I understand that you do want to keep a bit of distance. If and when they do see the film, they'll see it came from a place of love."

Escarpeta spoke highly of Bassett's directing, saying that she was "phenomenal." Escarpeta will be playing the role of Bobby Brown opposite Yaya DaCosta's Whitney Houston. He also had kind words about the upcoming actress as well. "I have no complaints. I'm truly head over heels just blessed and happy," The Hollywood Reporter noted.

"I Will Always Love You: The Whitney Houston Story" is expected to debut next year on Lifetime. But the Whitney Houston songs will not be sung by her, but by Deborah Cox, E! Online reported. A Lifetime representative says that the "music rights and clearances are still being worked out." But Cox will be providing the "vocal tracks."

The Houston biopic is Bassett' directorial debut, and it is also Escarpeta's biggest major debut.