Erick Avari (born Nariman Erick Avari;[1] 13 April 1952) is an Indian-American actor whose roles in science-fiction and action productions include Stargate (1994), Independence Day (1996) and The Mummy (1999),[2] as well as the historical drama The Chosen (2019).
Erick Avari | |
|---|---|
 Avari at the Big Apple Convention in Manhattan in 2009 | |
| Born | Nariman Erick Avari 13 April 1952 Darjeeling, West Bengal, India |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1962–present |
Early life
editErick Avari was born on 13 April 1952 in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India, into a Parsi Zoroastrian family. His father, Erach Dinshaw Avari, ran two movie theatres, the Capital and the Rink. His early education was at the North Point School, which he attended as a day-scholar. He later studied at the College of Charleston.
Avari is a member of the Avari-Madan family of Darjeeling and Calcutta. His great-great-grandfather was Jamshedji Framji Madan, one of the pioneers of Indian cinema.
Career
editAvari is one of only two actors, along with Alexis Cruz, to appear in both the original Stargate movie and the continuing TV series Stargate SG-1 (three episodes). Before arriving in Los Angeles in 1991, his extensive work onstage garnered him praise from theater critics across America, most notably as Vasquez, in 'Tis Pity She's a Whore with Val Kilmer at the Joseph Papp Public Theater, and as Sir Richard at The Guthrie Theater's memorable production of The Screens.
In the video game Zork Grand Inquisitor, he played Grand Inquisitor Mir Yannick, a ruthless dictator who serves as the game's main villain. He also appeared in The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines.
Beginning in the autumn of 2006, a photograph of Avari and a recording of his voice were used in the role of Chandra Suresh in Heroes. He did not appear onscreen until the episode "Seven Minutes to Midnight", as his character is part of the backstory and had died before the events of the pilot.
Over the course of his career, Avari has portrayed representatives of more than 24 ethnicities.[3] As of November 2006, he has appeared in 33 feature films and over 70 television episodes.
Avari has appeared with Brent Spiner in three different productions: Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), Independence Day (1996), and The Master of Disguise (2002) He performed opposite Richard Gere in a drama film based on a true story, Hachi: A Dog's Tale, in which he played Jasjeet, an Indian hot dog vendor. In 2001, he played Tival in Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes.
Avari was scheduled to reprise in his role as Kasuf in the Stargate SG-1 Season Six finale "Full Circle", but was unable to do so due to his commitment to Dragnet (2003).
In January 2009, he played a mobile-phone salesman in Paul Blart: Mall Cop, and in October 2009, he was cast as Omar on Days of Our Lives.
In 2014, Avari voiced Master Rahool in the science fiction video game Destiny, a role he reprised in a sequel.
In 2019, Avari portrayed Nicodemus in the television historical series The Chosen based on the life of Jesus Christ. He said in a 2023 interview that he considered himself retired prior to the series and mostly retired since, but may have an unspecified project in the works.[4]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Kanchenjungha | Unknown | |
| 1984 | Nothing Lasts Forever | Toulouse Lautrec | |
| 1986 | On Wings of Fire | The Professor | |
| 1988 | The Beast | Samad | |
| 1989 | She's Back | Deli Owner | |
| 1992 | Final Analysis | Moderator | Uncredited |
| Encino Man | Raji | ||
| 1993 | The Hit List | Pharmaceutical Wholesaler | |
| For Love or Money | Benny the Jeweler | ||
| Dream Lover | Dr. Spatz | ||
| 1994 | Color of Night | Cabbie | Uncredited |
| Stargate | Kasuf | ||
| 1996 | Independence Day | SETI Chief | Uncredited |
| The Undercover Kid | Brach | ||
| 1997 | McHale's Navy | European Leader | Uncredited |
| 1999 | The Mummy | Dr. Terence Bey | |
| The 13th Warrior | Caravan Leader | Credited as Eric Avari | |
| 2001 | Planet of the Apes | Tival | |
| The Glass House | Ted Ross | ||
| 2002 | Home Alone 4: Taking Back The House | Mr. Prescott (The Butler) | |
| Three Days of Rain | Alex | ||
| Mr. Deeds | Cecil Anderson | ||
| The Master of Disguise | Cigar Maker | ||
| Ritual | Dr. Peter Winsvold | ||
| Incest | Paul | Short Film | |
| 2003 | Daredevil | Nikolas Natchios | |
| Searching for Haizmann | Father Mark Reeder | ||
| 2005 | The L.A. Riot Spectacular | Matre'd | |
| Dancing in Twilight | Matt | ||
| 2007 | Dark Matter | Professor R.K. Gazda | |
| Flight of the Living Dead: Outbreak on a Plane | Dr. Leo Bennett | ||
| Choose Connor | Arthur Dennison | ||
| Postal | Habib | ||
| Charlie Wilson's War | Ari Goldman | Uncredited | |
| InAlienable | Howard Ellis | ||
| 2008 | AmericanEast | Fikry | |
| 2009 | Paul Blart: Mall Cop | Vijay | |
| Hachi: A Dog's Tale | Jasjeet | ||
| 2010 | Karma's a Bitch | Heather's Karma | Short Film |
| 2011 | Three Veils | Mr. Qasim | |
| Where the Road Meets the Sun | Dadi | ||
| Dispatch | Sergeant Pincus | ||
| Fall North | Professor Katz | Short Film | |
| 2012 | Your Are the Blood | Tom | Short Film |
| California Winter | Douglas Hariri | ||
| 2013 | A Haunting at Silver Falls | Dr. Parrish | |
| It's Not You, It's Me | Cedrick | ||
| 2015 | Chasing Eagle Rock | Cam Avery | Also director, writer and producer |
| 2017 | Project Eden: Vol.I | The Shepherd | |
| 2019 | Love & Debt | Johnny |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Leg Work | Sam | Episode: "Things That Go Bump in the Night" |
| 1989 | True Blue | Hakim Huzan | Episode: "Pilot: Part 1" |
| 1990 | Law & Order | Dr. Ekballa Raza | Episode: "Prescription for Death" |
| 1991 | General Hospital | Ahmed Hakeem | Unknown Episodes |
| L.A. Law | Dr. Harris | Episode: "Splatoon" | |
| Murphy Brown | Dan | Episode: "Hoarse Play" | |
| The Antagonists | Dupree | Episode: "#1.1" | |
| Good & Evil | Dr. #2 | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| Star Trek: The Next Generation | B'iJik | Episode: "Unification I" | |
| 1992 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Cedric | Episode: "Ill Will" |
| Tequila and Bonetti | Veterinarian | Episode: "Tale of the Dragon" | |
| Civil Wars | Yale Peck-Naughton | Episode: "Tape Fear" | |
| Treacherous Crossing | Don Gallegher | Television Film | |
| Dream On | Dr. Dawson | Episode: "Domestic Bliss" | |
| Wings | Artist | Episode: "Mathers of the Heart" | |
| Cheers | Mr. Cranston | Episode: "Feelings... Whoa, Whoa, Whoa" | |
| Great Scott! | Luggage Salesman | Episode: "Book Crook" | |
| 1993 | Casualties of Love: The "Long Island Lolita" Story | Surgeon | Television Film |
| Martin | Rashidi | Episode: "Jerome's in the House" | |
| Good Advice | Mr. Vajneesh | Episode: "Special Session" | |
| Seinfeld | Cabbie | Episode: "The Pilot" | |
| Scam | Mr. Ayub | Television Film | |
| seaQuest 2032 | Lybyan Representative | Episode: "Treasure of the Mind" | |
| 1994 | Mad About You | Dr. Arzupian | Episode: "The Last Scampi" |
| Don't Drink the Water | Emir's Aide | Television Film | |
| 1995 | Chicago Hope | Dr. Goodman | Episode: "Cutting Edges" |
| Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Vedek Yarka | Episode: "Destiny" | |
| VR.5 | Boise | Episode: "Dr. Strangechild" | |
| Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Mr. Moonhauer | Episode: "Target: Jimmy Olsen!" | |
| Cybill | Paolo | Episode: "Since I Lost My Baby" | |
| Aladdin on Ice | The Mystic Traveler | Television Film | |
| NYPD Blue | Rajesh | Episode: "Curt Russell" | |
| 1996 | Almost Perfect | Dave | Episode: "Overly Meditated" |
| Project: ALF | Rocket (Voice) | Television Film | |
| Murder, She Wrote | Raul Jaffa | Episode: "Mrs. Parker's Revenge" | |
| Babylon 5 | Rabbi Leo Meyers | Episode: "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place" | |
| Roseanne | Prince's Assistant | Episode: "Someday My Prince Will Come" | |
| Bone Chillers | Dr. Lumbago | 02 Episodes | |
| To Face Her Past | Dr. Webster | Television Film | |
| The John Larroquette Show | Targ | Episode: "Cheeses H. Taste" | |
| Mr. & Mrs. Smith | Hissene Idriss | Episode: "The Bob Episode" | |
| 1997 | Gun | The Proprietor | Episode: "The Shot" |
| Baywatch Nights | Dr. Kasan | Episode: "The Servant" | |
| Profiler | Ashok Dupree | Episode: "Ambition in Blood" | |
| The Tom Show | Lloyd | Episode: "The White Shadow" | |
| 1998 | JAG | Minister Nassan | Episode: "The Black Jet" |
| 1998–2001 | Stargate SG-1 | Kasuf | 3 Episodes |
| 1999 | Family Law | Unknown | Episode: "Games" |
| 1999–2000 | The Wild Thornberrys | Various (Voices) | 3 Episodes |
| 2000 | The West Wing | Pakistani Ambassador | Episode: "Lord John Marbury" |
| 2001 | Cousin Skeeter | Unknown | Episode: "Bellboyz in the Hood" |
| The Education of Max Bickford | McKenney Dawes | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| Thieves | Benny Mustafa | Episode: "Dey Got De Degas" | |
| Star Trek: Enterprise | Jamin | Episode: "Terra Nova" | |
| The X-Files | Dr. Herb Fountain | Episode: "Lord of the Flies" | |
| Felicity | Dr. Ansari | 2 Episodes | |
| 2002 | The District | Omar Khalid | Episode: "Twist of Hate" |
| Dharma & Greg | Lalit | Episode: "I Think, Therefore I Am in Trouble" | |
| Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House | Mr. Prescott | Television Film | |
| 2003 | Everwood | James Gellar | Episode: "Extra Ordinary" |
| L.A. Dragnet | Sanjay Ramachandran | 9 Episodes | |
| Law & Order | Ravi Patel | Episode: "Floater" | |
| Alias | Dr. Vasson | Episode: "Breaking Point" | |
| NCIS | Agent William Gamal | Episode: "Minimum Security" | |
| 2004 | Judging Amy | Steven Nashte | Episode: "Catching It Early" |
| 2005 | JAG | Sheik Shuhaib Al-Hassan | Episode: "Bridging the Gulf" |
| Tru Calling | Dr. Thomas Burell | Episode: "Grace" | |
| Hope & Faith | Hassan | Episode: "Christmas Time" | |
| 2006 | The O.C. | Dr. Overbee | Episode: "The College Try" |
| The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines | General Samir | Television Film | |
| Heroes | Chandra Suresh | 4 Episodes | |
| 2007 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Kazi Hasni | Episode: "World's Fair" |
| Dirty Sexy Money | Harold Templeton | Episode: "The Chiavennasca" | |
| The Rich Inner Life of Penelope Cloud | Dr. Albert Hakim | Television Film | |
| 2008 | The Middleman | Lord Jeremiah Purcell | Episode: "The Obsolescent Cryogenic Meltdown" |
| Burn Notice | Nefzi | 2 Episodes | |
| The Sarah Silverman Program | Alex Gilbert | Episode: "Patriot Tact" | |
| The Madness of Jane | Norman Divitry | Television Film | |
| 2009 | Leverage | Doctor Lloyd | Episode: "The Second David Job" |
| Life | Edward Zakaria | Episode: "Hit Me Baby" | |
| Mental | Dr. Timothy Paul | Episode: "House of Mirrors" | |
| Hung | Therapist | Episode: "Doris Is Dead or Are We Rich or Are We Poor?" | |
| Days of Our Lives | Omar | 8 Episodes | |
| 2010 | Castle | Rupert Bentley | Episode: "Wrapped Up in Death" |
| Human Target | Gerard | Episode: "Victoria" | |
| Party Down | Reverend | Episode: "Constance Carmell Wedding" | |
| Lie to Me | Dr. Kozell | Episode: "Pied Piper" | |
| 2011 | Warehouse 13 | Caturanga | 2 Episodes |
| 2012 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Hosein Khadem | Episode: "Endgame" |
| Parenthood | Leon Dengraff | Episode: "There's Something I Need to Tell You..." | |
| Covert Affairs | Omar Ansari | Episode: "Quicksand" | |
| 2013 | The Mentalist | Lance Reinhardt | Episode: "Red Lacquer Nail Polish" |
| 2014 | Warehouse 13 | Caturanga | Episode: "Endless" |
| Major Crimes | Ravi Madhavan | Episode: "Do Not Disturb" | |
| Scorpion | Robert Richter | Episode: "Single Point of Failure" | |
| Grimm | JP | Episode: "Highway of Tears" | |
| Hieroglyph | Odion | Television Film | |
| 2015 | Madam Secretary | Turkish Foreign Minister Ozan Canoglu | Episode: "The Ninth Circle" |
| The Brink | Hasan | 7 Episodes | |
| 2017 | Graves | Ahsan | Episode: "They Die Happier" |
| 2019 | The Chosen | Nicodemus | 8 Episodes |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Zork: Grand Inquisitor | Grand Inquisitor Mir Yannick | Voice |
| 2014 | Destiny | Master Rahool | Voice |
| 2017 | Destiny 2 | Master Rahool | Voice |
References
edit- ^ Erick Avari Biography
- ^ Denmead, Ken (13 July 2010). "Acting For Geeks: a Chat with Erick Avari". Wired. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ ErickAvari.com Archived 16 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine Official Website
- ^ Church, Tim (18 April 2023). "Church's Celebrity Connection: Actor Erick Avari on Queen Esther, The Chosen & Kindness". Branson Tri-Lakes News. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
External links
edit
- Erick Avari at IMDb