Amir Talai

Amir Talai (born June 24, 1977) is an American actor, singer, voice artist, writer, and activist. He is known for playing a variety of characters in musicals, movies and television shows.

 Early Life and Education 
Talai was born and raised in San Francisco, CA and is the first child of Iranian immigrants, Mohammad and Sima Talai. He grew up in a Muslim family. https://alumni.berkeley.edu/california-magazine/online/role-race-race-roles-amir-talai-octoroon/Talai attended a French immersion school through 8th grade, after which he attended Lowell High School. He received a degree  from UC Berkeley with a major in Mass Communications and a minor in Dramatic Arts.

 Personal Life 
Talai lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife Nina Manni, who he married in 2011.

 Acting Career 
Talai began working as an actor in San Francisco after graduating from UC Berkeley. He later moved to Los Angeles, where he enrolled in The Groundlings, eventually joining the Groundlings Sunday Company. Talai has more than 125 film, TV, and voice-over credits. 

 Singing 
Talai has performed on stage regionally including at the Hollywood Bowl in Guys and Dolls, Annie, and in the Paris Las Vegas hotel and casino's production of the Queen jukebox musical We Will Rock You.  He also had many singing parts in Hazbin Hotel as Alastor.

 Activism 
Talai has been vocal on social media in regard to racism, misogyny, gun control, worker’s rights, and other issues. He has volunteered with numerous Democratic campaigns since 2004. 

 Writing 
Talai has written about depictions of Middle Eastern people for Vulture and Buzzfeed News, calling attention to the whitewashing of Middle Eastern actors and the death of opportunities for Middle Eastern actors to play roles that don't involve terrorism or Islam.

Filmography
 Year Title Role Notes 2003 Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde Associate 2004 November George Homeland Security Babir Alkazar TV movieUncredited 2006 More, Patience Hypochondriac TV movie The Pursuit of Happyness Clerk 2007 Fighting Words Ralphie 2008 The Onion Movie Ahman Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay Raza 2010 Fractalus Lee 2011 Best Player Wendell TV movie 2012 What to Expect When You're Expecting Patel

Television
 Year Title Role Notes 2001 Nash Bridges Khalid Dib 1 episode 2002 Plugged In Customer Short Hum Simon Gould Short MADtv Indian 1 episode 2003 10-8: Officers on Duty Gang Member 1 episode 2003-2004 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Various Characters 2004 The Florist Masood Short Jimmy Kimmel Live! Iraqi Simon Cowell 1 episode Adventures in Homeschooling Baliotis Short NCIS Simi| 1 episode
|-
| Nip/Tuck| Dr. Hamir Gindi 1 episode Jihad Mohammad Short One Night Stand Up Mahesh Suresh Short 2005 Gilmore Girls Patel Chandrasekhar 2 episodes The Comeback Greg Narayan 2 episodes Curb Your Enthusiasm Waiter 1 episode Cold Case Malvinder Khatani - 1999, 2005 1 episode Love, Inc. Patrick 2 episodes Family Guy Hindu Man / Wedding Priest Voice1 episode 2006 The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman Kai 1 episode Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Fred 2 episode Hannah Montana Sanjay 1 episode 2006-2007 Campus Ladies Abdul 20 episodes 2007 The Winner Richard 5 episodes 2008 Hollywood Residential IRS Agent Tom Scully Voice1 episodeUncredited 2009 How I Met Your Mother Richard Greenleaf 1 episode Wizards of Waverly Place Alien 1 episode 2010 Zeke and Luther Dex Bratner 1 episode Svetlana Farhad Golastani 1 episode 2008-2010 American Dad! Achmed / Crowd Member / John Leguizamo / Various Characters Voice 2010 Modern Family Dale 1 episode 2011 The Paul Reiser Show Amir 1 episode Love Bites Aram 1 episode 2008-2011  Cyrus 13 episodes 2011-2016 Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness Crane VoiceReplacing David Cross20132 Broke GirlsAmir1 episode 2013-2016 Turbo FAST Skidmark, Tito VoiceReplacing Ben Schwartz and Michael Peña2018LA to VegasAlan14 episodes2020 BoschDetective Klein2 episodes2022GhostsDirector Daniel1 episode2024Hazbin Hotel AlastorVoiceReplacing Edward Bosco2025Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Alastor8 Episodes

Video games
 Year Title Role Notes 2001 The Sims Hot Date Sim Voice 2006 Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers Voice Titan Quest Voice Company of Heroes Voice Splinter Cell: Double Agent Additional Characters Voice The Sopranos: Road to Respect Additional Characters Voice 2007 Titan Quest: Immortal Throne Voice 2011 Kung Fu Panda 2 Crane VoiceReplacing David Cross and Drew Massey 2015 Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends

References

Further Information
 Official website

 Amir’s fandom wiki

Category:1977 births
Category:Living people
Category:Comedians from San Francisco
Category:American movie actors
Category:American television actors
Category:American voice actors
Category:Actors from San Francisco