Omid Abtahi

Omid Abtahi was born on July 12, 1979, in Tehran, Iran. His early life involved moves from Tehran to Paris at age five, and then to Irvine, California, at age ten. He pursued higher education at California State University, Fullerton, initially studying advertising before adding theater as a second major. Abtahi graduated in 2002, formally beginning his acting career.

His acting career started in 2005 with a role on the legal drama “JAG” and a recurring part on Showtime’s “Sleeper Cell.” Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Abtahi established a consistent presence in television, securing recurring roles in series such as “My Own Worst Enemy” (2008) and “24” (2001-2010). His film credits include “Brothers” (2009), where he played Yusuf, and “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” (2015) as Homes. A notable achievement was his appearance in the Oscar-winning historical drama “Argo” in 2012, which further elevated his profile as an actor.

Abtahi has also contributed his voice to numerous video games, including “Call of Duty: Black Ops II” (2012) as Farid and “Spec Ops: The Line” (2012) as Staff Sergeant John Lugo. More recently, he is known for his role as Dr. Penn Pershing in Disney+’s “The Mandalorian” (2019–2023) and Salim in the Starz series “American Gods” (2017–2021). Other significant television work includes “Homeland” and “Better Call Saul.” His career progression showcases a sustained record of diverse roles across various entertainment platforms.