Transferring to NYU to study acting, he was "discovered" in a bar by a talent agent and was soon appearing in TV commercials.
Small parts in features (i.e., Born to Ride in 1991) and regular roles in unsuccessful series (e.g., Second Chances; CBS 1993–94) followed.
In 1995, Lazard landed the role of a charming stockbroker on the primetime CBS soap Central Park West, but the series floundered and despite some retooling and a title change to "CPW", the show was cancelled after its second season.
He starred in Extreme (1995) as part of a Rocky Mountain rescue team but the series was cut short after 7 episodes.
His psychiatrist attested that his behavior was due to a transitory “severe psychotic breakdown” and that "treatment had worked well" in his case.