Bashar Rahal
Encyclopedia
Bashar Mounzer Rahal is a Bulgarian
actor well known for his role in the TV show "It Can't Be" equivalent of "'Saturday Night Live'". Most recently he can be seen alongside John Cusack
, Hilary Duff
and Academy Award Winners Ben Kingsley
, Marisa Tomei
and Joan Cusack
in the movie "War, Inc.
".
, UAE, the son of Lebanese
father Mounzer Rahal, a leading OBGYN in UAE and Europe, and Mariana Rahal an interior designer from Bulgaria
. (Bashar's religion is Eastern Orthodox Christian
). His sister, Carla Rahal
, also an actress, is mostly known for her roles in the "National Theater of Bulgaria". Carla is also a pop, R&B, singer, songwriter and producer. She is best known for one of Bulgaria's most popular songs Lie to Me and I wish U.
The family moved from UAE to Bulgaria when Bashar was only six years old. He first started acting in TV sketches when he was 12. At the age of 13 he became a member of "Tears and Laughs" -professional theater group, with which he took part in more than 15 performances. He also attended numerous international film and theater festivals, including the ones in Avignon, France and Thun, Switzerland.
His first major film role was in 1989, in the controversial at that time Ivan and Alexandra
. The film tells the story of two madly in love students in communist Bulgaria. The movie is also a winner of the 1989 "Golden Rose" Festival in Varna
. This role was followed by another one, in the 1992 movie "Bad Boy".
-2005-2009 the Minister of Culture in Bulgaria), where he got his Masters Degree in Performing Arts. During that time he took part in numerous TV and Film productions as well as several commercials. Shortly after graduation he was accepted as a permanent member of the "National Youth Theater".
". "It Can't Be" was on air for 7 seasons and became one of the highest rated comedy shows in Bulgaria. Similar to "Saturday Night Live
", "It Can't Be" was a weekly 40-minute comedy-variety show. Bashar was not only one of the creators of the show, he was also the lead actor, writer, producer and occasionally a director.
Bashar Rahal is also dubbed as the creator of the first ever night show in Bulgaria, where he met his co-host and future wife Kalina Rahal. In 1997, only 22 years old, he became part of the Award-winning anchor team of "It Has Began" - the highest rated morning show in Bulgaria (executive producer-Mihail Mihailov-after an extensive television career he became the Press Secretary for the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Ivan Kostov
). The same year Bashar Rahal also appeared in two Italian productions, the 1997 TV Movie "In Fondo Al Cuore" and in the mini series "Racket" alongside Italian actor and director Michele Placido
. In 1999 he was cast by the film director Egon Günther for the film Else - Geschichte einer leidenschaftlichen Frau].
. In 2001 he starred as Dmitri Minkov in "Operation Delta Force 4: Deep Fault" directed by Mark Roper. "City of Fear" is Rahals next feature, where he plays opposite Gary Daniels
.
In 2006 the family relocated their home to Los Angeles
. Shortly afterward, Bashar took part in few major film and TV productions. Some of the projects include a guest role in the critically acclaimed Emmy Award
-winning Fox
TV series Arrested Development, created by Mitchell Hurwitz
and two-time Academy Award-winning American actor, film director, and producer Ron Howard
.
Bashar attracted broader public attention with a supporting role in the 2006 BBC
Drama/Documentary "Hannibal", where he played Hasdrubal
, the brother of Hannibal, played by Alexander Siddig
("24
", "Syriana
" and "Kingdom of Heaven
").
Bashar Rahal also played in the 2008 movie "War, Inc.
", directed by Joshua Seftel. Among the star cast are three Academy Award winners - Ben Kingsley
, Marisa Tomei
and Joan Cusack
. The lead roles are played by John Cusack
, who is also a writer and producer of the movie, and Hilary Duff
.
In 2002 the couple got married in La Jolla, California
.
After moving from San Diego to Los Angeles in 2006, Kalina became a producer for "KTLA Morning Show
" -one of the highest rated morning shows in the Country. Through the years, "KTLA
"'s news team has been honored for its news coverage, winning numerous Emmys, Golden Mike Awards and Associated Press Awards, among others. Owned by the Tribune Company
, KTLA
5 is an affiliate of the CW
Television Network.
"KTLA Morning Show
" airs Monday-Friday 5:00AM – 10:00AM.
Kalina and Bashar have two daughters. Chloe and India Rahal.
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
actor well known for his role in the TV show "It Can't Be" equivalent of "'Saturday Night Live'". Most recently he can be seen alongside John Cusack
John Cusack
John Paul Cusack is an American film actor and screenwriter. He has appeared in more than 50 films, including The Journey of Natty Gann, Say Anything..., Grosse Point Blank, The Thin Red Line, Stand by Me, Con Air, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, Serendipity, Runaway Jury, The Ice Harvest,...
, Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff
Hilary Erhard Duff is an American actress, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and author. After working in local theater plays and television commercials in her childhood, she achieved fame playing the title role in the Disney Channel television series Lizzie McGuire. She also reprised her role in...
and Academy Award Winners Ben Kingsley
Ben Kingsley
Sir Ben Kingsley, CBE is a British actor. He has won an Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards in his career. He is known for starring as Mohandas Gandhi in the film Gandhi in 1982, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor...
, Marisa Tomei
Marisa Tomei
Marisa Tomei is an American stage, film and television actress. Following her work on As The World Turns, Tomei came to prominence as a supporting cast member on The Cosby Show spinoff A Different World in 1987...
and Joan Cusack
Joan Cusack
Joan Mary Cusack is an American film, stage and television actress. Throughout her career, Cusack has appeared in many films as well as appearing in stage productions....
in the movie "War, Inc.
War, Inc.
War, Inc. is a 2008 American political satire film starring John Cusack and directed by Joshua Seftel. Cusack also co-wrote and produced the film.- Plot :...
".
Early life
Bashar Rahal was born in DubaiDubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, UAE, the son of Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
father Mounzer Rahal, a leading OBGYN in UAE and Europe, and Mariana Rahal an interior designer from Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. (Bashar's religion is Eastern Orthodox Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
). His sister, Carla Rahal
Carla Rahal
Carla Rahal is a Bulgarian actress born in Dubai, UAE. Carla Rahal is mostly known for her roles in the "National Theater of Bulgaria". Carla is also a pop, R&B, singer, songwriter and producer...
, also an actress, is mostly known for her roles in the "National Theater of Bulgaria". Carla is also a pop, R&B, singer, songwriter and producer. She is best known for one of Bulgaria's most popular songs Lie to Me and I wish U.
The family moved from UAE to Bulgaria when Bashar was only six years old. He first started acting in TV sketches when he was 12. At the age of 13 he became a member of "Tears and Laughs" -professional theater group, with which he took part in more than 15 performances. He also attended numerous international film and theater festivals, including the ones in Avignon, France and Thun, Switzerland.
His first major film role was in 1989, in the controversial at that time Ivan and Alexandra
Ivan and Alexandra
Ivan and Alexandra is a 1989 Bulgarian drama film directed by Ivan Nitchev. It was entered into the 39th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Kliment Corbadziev as Ivan* Simeon Savov as Moni* Monika Budjonova as Aleksandra...
. The film tells the story of two madly in love students in communist Bulgaria. The movie is also a winner of the 1989 "Golden Rose" Festival in Varna
Varna
Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011...
. This role was followed by another one, in the 1992 movie "Bad Boy".
Early career
His professional acting career began in 1993 when Bashar was accepted at the National Academy of Theater and Film Art(in the class of professor Stefan DanailovStefan Danailov
Stefan Lambov Danailov is a Bulgarian actor and former Minister of Culture of Bulgaria .The first film Danailov has taken part was "The Traces Remain" being a child. At that time he did not want to be an actor. However, later in 1966 he graduated VITIZ...
-2005-2009 the Minister of Culture in Bulgaria), where he got his Masters Degree in Performing Arts. During that time he took part in numerous TV and Film productions as well as several commercials. Shortly after graduation he was accepted as a permanent member of the "National Youth Theater".
Professional career
For the next couple of years Bashar appeared in over 25 different TV comedy shows, but his popularity came with the TV show "It Can't Be", which was created & directed by Nellie Andreeva - currently an editor for "The Hollywood ReporterThe Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
". "It Can't Be" was on air for 7 seasons and became one of the highest rated comedy shows in Bulgaria. Similar to "Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
", "It Can't Be" was a weekly 40-minute comedy-variety show. Bashar was not only one of the creators of the show, he was also the lead actor, writer, producer and occasionally a director.
Bashar Rahal is also dubbed as the creator of the first ever night show in Bulgaria, where he met his co-host and future wife Kalina Rahal. In 1997, only 22 years old, he became part of the Award-winning anchor team of "It Has Began" - the highest rated morning show in Bulgaria (executive producer-Mihail Mihailov-after an extensive television career he became the Press Secretary for the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Ivan Kostov
Ivan Kostov
Ivan Yordanov Kostov was Prime Minister of Bulgaria from May 1997 to July 2001 and leader of the Union of Democratic Forces between December 1994 and July 2001....
). The same year Bashar Rahal also appeared in two Italian productions, the 1997 TV Movie "In Fondo Al Cuore" and in the mini series "Racket" alongside Italian actor and director Michele Placido
Michele Placido
Michele Placido is an internationally known Italian actor and director. He is best known for the role of Corrado Cattani in the TV series La Piovra.-Life and career:...
. In 1999 he was cast by the film director Egon Günther for the film Else - Geschichte einer leidenschaftlichen Frau].
New beginning
In 1999 he decided to follow his childhood dream, and moved to California to pursue his acting career. Kalina and Bashar settled in San Diego, where the couple lived for the next 6 years. During that period Rahal appeared in several US feature films, including the 1999 movie "Bridge of Dragons", where he plays alongside Dolph LundgrenDolph Lundgren
Dolph Lundgren is a Swedish actor, director, and martial artist. He belongs to a generation of film actors who epitomise the movie action hero stereotype including Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme.A graduate in chemical...
. In 2001 he starred as Dmitri Minkov in "Operation Delta Force 4: Deep Fault" directed by Mark Roper. "City of Fear" is Rahals next feature, where he plays opposite Gary Daniels
Gary Daniels
Gary Edward Daniels is a British kickboxer and martial arts actor. Daniels appears mostly in action-oriented B-movies. Daniels has been in over 50 films since his start as an extra in an episode of the 1980s television series Miami Vice. He is best known for playing Kenshiro in the live-action...
.
In 2006 the family relocated their home to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Shortly afterward, Bashar took part in few major film and TV productions. Some of the projects include a guest role in the critically acclaimed Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
-winning Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
TV series Arrested Development, created by Mitchell Hurwitz
Mitchell Hurwitz
Mitchell D. Hurwitz is an American television writer and producer. He is best known as the creator of the television sitcom Arrested Development as well as the co-creator of The Ellen Show, and a contributor to The John Larroquette Show and The Golden Girls.-Birth and early life:Hurwitz was born...
and two-time Academy Award-winning American actor, film director, and producer Ron Howard
Ron Howard
Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
.
Bashar attracted broader public attention with a supporting role in the 2006 BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Drama/Documentary "Hannibal", where he played Hasdrubal
Hasdrubal
Hasdrubal was the name of several Carthaginian generals of the First and Second Punic Wars...
, the brother of Hannibal, played by Alexander Siddig
Alexander Siddig
Siddig El Tahir El Fadil El Siddig Abderrahman Mohammed Ahmed Abdel Karim El Mahdi is a Sudanese-born English actor, also known as Siddig El Fadil and his stage name Alexander Siddig. He is known for playing Dr...
("24
24 (TV series)
24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...
", "Syriana
Syriana
Syriana is a 2005 geopolitical thriller film written and directed by Stephen Gaghan, and executive produced by George Clooney, who also stars in the film with an ensemble cast. Gaghan's screenplay is loosely adapted from Robert Baer's memoir See No Evil...
" and "Kingdom of Heaven
Kingdom of Heaven (film)
Kingdom of Heaven is a 2005 epic action film directed by Ridley Scott and written by William Monahan. It stars Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, David Thewlis, Marton Csokas, Brendan Gleeson, Kevin McKidd, Alexander Siddig, Ghassan Massoud, Edward Norton, Jon Finch, Michael Sheen and Liam...
").
Bashar Rahal also played in the 2008 movie "War, Inc.
War, Inc.
War, Inc. is a 2008 American political satire film starring John Cusack and directed by Joshua Seftel. Cusack also co-wrote and produced the film.- Plot :...
", directed by Joshua Seftel. Among the star cast are three Academy Award winners - Ben Kingsley
Ben Kingsley
Sir Ben Kingsley, CBE is a British actor. He has won an Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards in his career. He is known for starring as Mohandas Gandhi in the film Gandhi in 1982, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor...
, Marisa Tomei
Marisa Tomei
Marisa Tomei is an American stage, film and television actress. Following her work on As The World Turns, Tomei came to prominence as a supporting cast member on The Cosby Show spinoff A Different World in 1987...
and Joan Cusack
Joan Cusack
Joan Mary Cusack is an American film, stage and television actress. Throughout her career, Cusack has appeared in many films as well as appearing in stage productions....
. The lead roles are played by John Cusack
John Cusack
John Paul Cusack is an American film actor and screenwriter. He has appeared in more than 50 films, including The Journey of Natty Gann, Say Anything..., Grosse Point Blank, The Thin Red Line, Stand by Me, Con Air, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, Serendipity, Runaway Jury, The Ice Harvest,...
, who is also a writer and producer of the movie, and Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff
Hilary Erhard Duff is an American actress, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and author. After working in local theater plays and television commercials in her childhood, she achieved fame playing the title role in the Disney Channel television series Lizzie McGuire. She also reprised her role in...
.
Personal life
In 1997, on the set of "Late Night Show", Bashar met his co-host and future wife Kalina. After arriving in San Diego, in 1999, Kalina started working as a news producer for "KUSI" TV.California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
After moving from San Diego to Los Angeles in 2006, Kalina became a producer for "KTLA Morning Show
KTLA Morning Show
The KTLA Morning News is a morning television newscast airing on CW affiliate KTLA in Los Angeles, California. The program is broadcast weekday mornings from 4:30-10 a.m. The 4:30-7 a.m. portion is a general news/traffic/weather format; the 7-10 a.m. portion also features news, traffic and...
" -one of the highest rated morning shows in the Country. Through the years, "KTLA
KTLA
KTLA, virtual channel 5, is a television station in Los Angeles, California, USA. Owned by the Tribune Company, KTLA is an affiliate of the CW Television Network. KTLA's studios are on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson...
"'s news team has been honored for its news coverage, winning numerous Emmys, Golden Mike Awards and Associated Press Awards, among others. Owned by the Tribune Company
Tribune Company
The Tribune Company is a large American multimedia corporation based in Chicago, Illinois. It is the nation's second-largest newspaper publisher, with ten daily newspapers and commuter tabloids including Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Hartford Courant, Orlando Sentinel, South Florida...
, KTLA
KTLA
KTLA, virtual channel 5, is a television station in Los Angeles, California, USA. Owned by the Tribune Company, KTLA is an affiliate of the CW Television Network. KTLA's studios are on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson...
5 is an affiliate of the CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
Television Network.
"KTLA Morning Show
KTLA Morning Show
The KTLA Morning News is a morning television newscast airing on CW affiliate KTLA in Los Angeles, California. The program is broadcast weekday mornings from 4:30-10 a.m. The 4:30-7 a.m. portion is a general news/traffic/weather format; the 7-10 a.m. portion also features news, traffic and...
" airs Monday-Friday 5:00AM – 10:00AM.
Kalina and Bashar have two daughters. Chloe and India Rahal.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Ivan and Alexandra Ivan and Alexandra Ivan and Alexandra is a 1989 Bulgarian drama film directed by Ivan Nitchev. It was entered into the 39th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Kliment Corbadziev as Ivan* Simeon Savov as Moni* Monika Budjonova as Aleksandra... |
||
| 1992 | Bad Boy | Dinkata | |
| 1996 | Reel Mix | ||
| 1996 | The Incredible Adventures of Sinbad the Sailor | Voice | |
| 1997 | In fondo al cuore | Paolo | |
| 1997 | Racket | Francesco | |
| 1998 | Un camion pour deux | Capitain | |
| 1998 | After the End of the World | ||
| 1999 | Dunav most | ||
| 1999 | U.S. Seals | Hidalgo | |
| 1999 | Else | ||
| 1999 | Bridge of Dragons | Robert | |
| 1999 | Dan Koloff: The King of Catch | ||
| 2000 | Clinic on the Third Floor | Gipsy | |
| 2001 | Disaster | Gamer | |
| 2001 | Operation Delta Force 4: Deep Fault | Dmitri Minkov | |
| 2001 | City of Fear | Phillips | |
| 2002 | Patriotas, Los | ||
| 2002 | Shark Attack 3: Megalodon | Luis Ruiz | |
| 2002 | Nowhere to Hide | ||
| 2003 | Death Train | Lopez | |
| 2004 | Target of Opportunity | Ivan | |
| 2006 | Arrested Development | Iraqi Cab Driver | |
| 2006 | Hannibal | Hasdrubal | |
| 2006 | Basilisk: The Serpent King | ||
| 2006 | The Untitled Onion Movie | Terrorist | |
| 2007 | Dark Streets | Bartender | |
| 2007 | "Matroesjka's 2" | Boris | |
| 2008 | War, Inc. | Video Guy One | |
| 2008 | "The Shepherd" | Soldier One | |
| 2008 | "Monster Ark " | The Leader | |
| 2008 | "Sharks in Venice" | Dr .Jeronimo | |
| 2008 | "The Unit" | Cleric | |
| 2009 | "The Tournament" | Asaf Sadiq | |
| 2009 | "Direct Contact" | General Drago | |
| 2009 | "Whiteout" | Russian Pilot | |
| 2009 | "My name is Earl" | Arab Man | |
| 2010 | "24" | Wasim | |
| 2010 | "Footsteps in the sand" | Hanny | |
| 2011 | "Conan" | Quarter Master |
External links
- Bashar Rahal on ManPaper.com