Barkhad Abdi

Outside of film, he was featured as a series regular on the second season of the Hulu horror anthology Castle Rock (2019) and a recurring role in the Showtime satirical comedy series The Curse (2023).

Barkhad Abdi studied at Minnesota State University Moorhead and Roosevelt High School. The recorded working language is English. The field of work recorded is acting and film direction. Residence is recorded at Los Angeles. Distinctions recorded are BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

• Name — Barkhad Abdi • Born — 10 April 1985 • Birthplace — Mogadishu, Somalia • Education — Minnesota State University, Moorhead • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 2013–present • Awards — Full list

Barkhad Abdi was born to Somali Omar Mahmoud Majerten parents on April 10, 1985, in Mogadishu, Banaadir, Somalia. The name Barkhad in the Somali language literally means cistern, with water representing life. Around the age of six or seven, when the Somali Civil War broke out, he and his family moved to Yemen to join his father, who had taken up teaching. In 1999, Abdi and his family immigrated to the US, settling in Minneapolis, Minnesota, home to a large Somali community. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 2003 and attended Minnesota State University Moorhead. Before entering the film industry, Abdi sold mobile phones at his brother's shop at a mall in Minneapolis. He also worked as a limousine driver at a relative's chauffeur company and as a DJ.

• Illustration — Abdi during the Eye in the Sky premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, 2015 Abdi made his debut in the Paul Greengrass directed film Captain Phillips (2013), playing ship hijacker and pirate leader Abduwali Muse. He was cast opposite Tom Hanks, following a worldwide search for the lead roles. Abdi and three other actors were chosen from more than 700 participants at a 2011 casting call in Minneapolis. According to the casting director, the four were selected because they were "the chosen ones, that anointed group that stuck out". He was paid $65,000 for his appearance in the film and returned to working in his brother's shop afterwards. For his performance Abdi earned the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also received nominations for the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor. Abdi's experience in Captain Phillips was his first in the film industry.

In 2015, Abdi appeared in an episode of the series Hawaii Five-0, playing former warlord Roko Makoni. Later that year, he began work on the comedy film Trainwreck, though he did not appear in the finished film. He appeared in the 2015 thriller Eye in the Sky as Kenyan undercover agent Jama Farah, and he had a role in Grimsby. In the 2017 film The Pirates of Somalia, Abdi played the Somali government-sponsored local agent and translator for Canadian freelance journalist Jay Bahadur. His character coordinates interviews between local pirate leaders and Bahadur, who records the motivations of Somali piracy in the weeks leading up to the Maersk Alabama hijacking. In October 2017, Abdi featured in Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049, in a minor role of a scientist. Abdi made his directorial debut with the Somali film Ciyaalka Xaafada. He has directed several music videos. In 2019, Abdi reunited with Captain Philips castmate Faysal Ahmed, in the second season of Castle Rock, in which he starred in 10 episodes. In 2022, he acted in the films Tyson's Run and Agent Game starring Mel Gibson and appeared in the Apple TV+ series Little America. In 2023 he acted in the A24 / Showtime satirical comedy-drama series The Curse starring Emma Stone, Nathan Fielder, and Benny Safdie.

In 2013, Abdi was appointed as an Ambassador for Adeso, a non-governmental organisation founded by the Somali environmentalist Fatima Jibrell.

Abdi resided in Los Angeles, California as of 2014 and in 2016 lived in Cedar-Riverside, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The bump on his forehead is from a car crash he was in prior to auditioning for Captain Phillips.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2015 — Hawaii Five-0 — Roko Makoni — Episode: "E 'Imi pono" • 2016 — Family Guy — Abduwali Muse (voice) — Episode: "Road to India" • 2019 — Castle Rock — Abdi Omar — 10 episodes • 2021–2022 — Blade Runner: Black Lotus — Doc Badger (voice) — 6 episodes • 2022 — Little America — Mohamed — Episode: "Camel on a Stick" • 2023 — The Curse — Abshir — 6 episodes • Carol & The End of The World — Bashiir Hassan (voice) — Episode: “The Life & Times of Bashiir Hassan”

Barkhad Abdi is recorded with the occupation film producer. Recorded as having studied at Minnesota State University Moorhead and Roosevelt High School.