Faran Tahir

A Pakistani-American film and television actor, Faran Tahir was born on 16 February, 1964 into an acting family in Los Angeles, California, where his Pakistani parents had been studying acting and directing at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Tahir grew up in Pakistan and returned to Los Angeles in 1980.

Faran graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a BA in Theatre before acquiring a graduate degree from the American Repertory Theatre's (ART) Institute for Advanced Theatre 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'. Tahir will star in the upcoming ghost horror film Jinn. 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. Faran Tahir also appeared as Bolshintsov in U.C. Berkeley's production of A Month in the Country.

Faran Tahir's father Naeem Tahir is a scholar, researcher, public speaker, columnist, teacher/trainer and dramatis. His father also acted in famous Shoaib Mansoor film Khuda Kay Liye along with notable Indian star Naseeruddin Shah. Faran's younger brother Ali Tahir & Ali's wife Wajeeah Tahir are also famous PTV personalities.

Faran Tahir may not be considered a household name yet but he has a face familiar to millions around the world. The talented actor has appeared in a number of big Hollywood films and has guest starred in the many American household television shows like Warehouse 13, Blue Bloods, NCIS: Los Angeles, Supernatural, Charmed and Lost, to name a few.

Faran will now be seen guest starring in the resurrected drama series, Dallas, where he plays the character, ‘Smiling Frank’ who is Cliff Barnes, driver and right-hand man.

“Dallas was a phenomenon in its time. I didn’t get to watch it regularly but I definitely knew who was who on it. The resurrected Dallas has already proved to be a hit in the US and I hope it has the same impact with the British audiences” said Faran.

Faran made his first debut in 1994 as Nathoo in Disney’s live action version of The Jungle Book. He has since gone onto star opposite Hollywoods A-list, Tom Hanks in Charlie Wilson’s War, as the evil sadistic Raza in Iron Man opposite Robert Downey Jr and the heroic Captain Robau in J.J Abram’s reboot of Star Trek in a brief but momentous role.

Faran will be seen starring in ELYSIUM, a sci-fi thriller with Matt Damon and Jodie Foster directed by Neill Blomkampthe director of DISTRICT 9 and THE TOMB, a prison break action movie with Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. JINN, a supernatural thriller and TORN, a drama about two families dealing with the untimely death of their teenage sons in a shopping mall explosion.