Faran Tahir

Faran Tahir
Tahir in May 2008
Born	Faran Haroon Tahir (1963-02-16) February 16, 1963 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1994–present

Faran Tahir (born February 16, 1964) is a Pakistani-American film and television actor. Tahir is best known for his role as Raza, the leader of the terrorist organization "The Ten Rings" in Iron Man.

Early life

Tahir was born into an acting Muslim family in Los Angeles, California, where his Pakistani parents had been studying acting and directing at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His father Naeem Tahir is a scholar, researcher, public speaker, columnist, teacher, trainer and dramatist, younger brother Ali & Ali's wife Wajeeah Tahir are also famous PTV personalities. Tahir's father has also acted in the famous Shoaib Mansoor film Khuda Kay Liye along with notable Indian star Naseeruddin Shah.

Growing up in Pakistan, Tahir returned to Los Angeles in 1980.

Career

In 1985, he appeared as Bolshintsov in U.C. Berkeley's production of A Month in the Country. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a BA in Theatre before acquiring a graduate degree from the American Repertory Theater's (A.R.T.) Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University.

He made his film debut playing Nathoo in the Disney's 1994 live-action version of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. He has since appeared in such films as Picture Perfect (1997), Anywhere But Here (1999) and Charlie Wilson's War (2007). He also played the male lead in the 1999 independent film ABCD. In 2008, Tahir played the role of the villain Raza in the Marvel Comics-based Iron Man. He played Starfleet Captain Richard Robau in the 2009 film Star Trek. In 2013, Tahir played President Patel in the science-fiction film Elysium.

Tahir has guest starred on many television series, including Alias, The Practice, Family Law, The Agency, NYPD Blue, Lost, 7th Heaven, The West Wing, Walker, Texas Ranger, The D.A., 24, Monk, Justice, Cold Case, Chuck and Warehouse 13. He also co-starred with Robert Beltran and Chase Masterson in the 2005 Sci-Fi Channel original movie Manticore. He also starred in the medical drama series Grey's Anatomy as Isaac and appeared on the CW series Supernatural as the Egyptian god Osiris in the seventh season's episode "Defending Your Life".^[1] Tahir starred in the ghost horror film Jinn.^[2] His most recent TV role was that of Frank, Cliff Barnes' right-hand man in the reboot of Dallas .

He appeared in JAG in the episodes "Ice Queen" and "Meltdown" which served as the two pilot episodes for the series NCIS. Seven years later, Tahir appeared in the spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles.

Personal life

Tahir has two brothers (born 1969 & 1974). His father is Naeem Tahir, Director General at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts.^[3]

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Faran Tahir.

• Faran Tahir at the Internet Movie Database
• Faran Tahir at AllMovie

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