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Erick Avari

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Erick Avari
Avari at the Big Apple Convention in Manhattan in 2009
Born
Nariman Erick Avari

(1952-04-13) 13 April 1952 (age 72)
Darjeeling, West Bengal, India
OccupationActor
Years active1962–present

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).

Early life

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Erick 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

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Avari 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.

Avari in 2006

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

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Film

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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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ Erick Avari Biography
  2. ^ Denmead, Ken (13 July 2010). "Acting For Geeks: a Chat with Erick Avari". Wired. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  3. ^ ErickAvari.com Archived 16 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine Official Website
  4. ^ 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.
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