Faran Tahir

Faran Haroon Tahir is a Pakistani- American actor.

Tahir made his film debut as Nathoo in Disney's 1994 film The Jungle Book. He went on to star in a variety of roles, such as Raza in Iron Man (2008), Captain Robau in Star Trek (2009), and President Patel in Elysium (2013). In 2016, he played the title role of Othello in a production by the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C.

Early life and education Faran Haroon Tahir was born in Los Angeles to Naeem Tahir, an actor and writer, and Yasmeen Tahir. Through his mother, "one of the most famous voices of Radio Pakistan", his grandparents are writers Imtiaz Ali Taj and Hijab Imtiaz Ali, His younger brother Ali Tahir is an actor as well, best known for starring in the comedy-drama sitcom Teen Bata Teen. His other younger brother, Mehran Tahir, is a TV producer, who has worked for Hum TV. Faran Tahir grew up in Pakistan and returned to the United States in 1980.

Tahir studied business economics at the University of California, Berkeley before transitioning to the performing arts, graduating with a degree in theatre. He later graduated with a MFA from the American Repertory Theater's (A.R.T.) Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University.

Personal life In 2021, Tahir married model, actor and photographer, Zara Tareen. Their marriage lasted four months. The divorce was finalized in 2023.

Career

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 film 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, Hawaii Five-0 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 starred in the ghost horror film Jinn, and in the role of Frank, Cliff Barnes' right-hand man in the revival of Dallas. In 2015 Tahir appeared in a role as the Commander on Supergirl.

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.

In 2016 Tahir joined American Crime as Rhys Bashir, and was cast as Captain Nemo on Once Upon a Time. In 2017, Tahir played the role of Mallick in Syfy's TV show, 12 Monkeys.

On his visit to Karachi, Pakistan, he appeared in a web series Speak Your Heart With Samina Peerzada in January 2019.

In June 2024, Faran, along with his Umrao Ayyar co-star Ali Kazmi, appeared in a vlog by PakWheels.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1994 The Jungle Book Nathoo 1997 Picture Perfect Sajit 1998A Price Above Rubies Hrundi Kapoor Anywhere But Here Hisham Badir ABCD Raj 2007 Charlie Wilson's War Brigadier Rashid 2008 Iron Man Raza 2009 Star Trek Captain Robau 2010 Ashes Kartik 2013 Elysium President Patel Torn Ali Munsif Escape Plan Javed Afridi Mr. Jones The Anthropologist 2014 Jinn Ali 2015 Flight World War II William Strong 2016 Honeyglue Dr. Konig 2018 Mad Genius Eden 2019 Boris and the Bomb Sammi 2020 I Am Fear Asad I'll Meet You There Majeed 2021 Lamya's PoemBaha Walad Voice role Injustice Ra's al Ghul Voice role 2023 Coup!Kaan 2024 Umro Ayyar - A New BeginningLaqqa

Television Year Title Role Notes 1989 Midnight Caller Desk Clerk Episode: "Blood Red" 1993 Law & Order Mr. Khan Episode: "Profile" 1994 New York Undercover Dr. Venegas Episode: "Missing" 1995 New York News Neilson Episode: "Past Imperfect" 1997 Party of Five Radiologist 2 episodes 1999 The Pretender Anesthesiologist Episode: "At the Hour of Our Death" 2000 The Practice Dr. Michael Shields Episode: "Death Penalties" FreakyLinks Doctor Episode: "Subject: Three Thirteen" Family Law Dr. Singh 2 episodes 2001 Alias Mokhtar Episode: "A Broken Heart" NYPD Blue Isa Al-Ramai Episode: "Baby Love" 2001–2003 The Agency Jamar Akil / India's Secret Police Leader 2 episodes 2002 7th Heaven Mr. Halawi Episode: "Suspicion" MDs Dr. Banfa Episode: "Cruel and Unusual" A Town Without Pity Antoine Fahd TV movie 2002–2003 The West Wing Manny 2 episodes 2003 The Agency Jamar Akil Episode: "An Isolated Incident" JAG Amad Bin Atwa / Said Labdouni 3 episodes Boston Public Mr. Mubarik Episode: "Chapter Seventy-Four" 2003–2005 24 Mosque Greeter / Tomas Sherek 3 episodes 2004 Judging Amy Dr. Omidi Episode: "The Quick and The Dead" The D.A. Asaf Shah Episode: "The People vs. Achmed Abbas" 2005 Over There Hamza Episode: "Embedded" Just Legal Unknown Episode: "Pilot" Manticore Umari TV movie 2006Charmed Savard Episode: "Repo Manor" Monk Museum Official Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Big Reward" Justice Oscar Rivera Episode: "Behind the Orange Curtain" Sleeper Cell Aziz Episode: "Faith" 2007 Cold Case Anil Patel Episode: "A Dollar, A Dream" 2008 Lost Ishmael Bakir Episode: "The Shape of Things to Come" Chuck Farrokh Bulsara Episode: "Chuck Versus Tom Sawyer" 2009 Grey's Anatomy Isaac Episode: "Give Peace a Chance" 2010 NCIS: Los Angeles Hassad Al-Jahiri Episode: "Fame" Childrens Hospital Malik Episode: "The Sultan's Finger: Live" 2010–2013 Warehouse 13 Adwin Kosan 11 episodes 2011 Blue Bloods El Haq Episode: "Hall of Mirrors" In Plain Sight Ali Tavali Episode: "A Womb with a View" Supernatural Osiris Episode: "Defending Your Life" 2012 Burn Notice Ahmad Damour Episode: "Last Rites" 2012–2013 Dallas Frank 'Smiling Frank' 8 episodes 2013 Private Practice Charles Episode: "Full Release" 2014 Elementary Agent Mattoo Episode: "The Diabolical Kind" CrisisTariq RindEpisode: "If You Are Watching This I Am Dead" 2014–2015 Criminal Minds Tivon Askari 2 episodes 2015 The Blacklist Ruslan Denisov Episode: "Ruslan Denisov (No. 67)" Supergirl The Commander Episode: "Pilot" How to Get Away with Murder Terrence Amos Episode: "Hello Raskolnikov" Satisfaction Omar Sandhal Recurring role in season 22016 American Crime Rhys Bashir 6 episodes Hawaii Five-0 'Lucky' Morad Episode: "No ke ali'i wahine a me ka 'aina" 2016–2017 Once Upon a Time Captain Nemo 3 episodes2017 Prison Break: Resurrection Jamil Season 5 Scandal President Rashad Season 7 Shameless Adeeb Singh Episode: "Where's My Meth?" 2017–2018 12 Monkeys Mallick 7 episodes2018 The Magicians The Great Cock of the Darkling Woods Episode: "The Tales of the Seven Keys" Madam Secretary President Tarindo Nandasiri Episode: "Reading the Signs"2019 MacGyver The Fence Episode: "Fence + Suitcase + Americium-241" FBI Ravi Sharma Episode: "Undisclosed"2022 Mira, Royal Detective Sher (voice) Episode: "Mira's Musical Mystery Tour/The Case of the Mystery Mehfil" The Old Man Rahmani 3 episodes2026Bas Tera Saath Ho Raza Post-production

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2015 Call of Duty: Black Ops III General Abasi Hakim Face and Motion Capture 2023 Dead Space Challus Mercer

Stage Year Title Role Notes 2016 Othello Othello 2019 Bhai Bhai Buddy