Erick Avari

Erick Avari (born Nariman Erick Avari; 13 April 1952) is an Indian-American actor whose roles in science-fiction and action productions include Stargate, Independence Day (1996), and The Mummy (1999), as well as the historical drama The Chosen (2019).

Early life and education 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 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.

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. 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 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.

Filmography Film 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 Uncredited1999 The Mummy Dr. Terence Bey The 13th Warrior Caravan Leader Credited as Eric Avari2001 Planet of the Apes Tival The Glass House Ted Ross 2002Home Alone 4: Taking Back The HouseMr. 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 You 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 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, 2025 The Chosen Nicodemus 10 Episodes

Video games Year Title Role Notes 1997 Zork: Grand Inquisitor Grand Inquisitor Mir Yannick Voice 2014 Destiny Master Rahool Voice 2017 Destiny 2 Master Rahool Voice