Ahmed Best facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ahmed Best
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Best in 2010
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| Born | August 19, 1973 New York City, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Manhattan School of Music |
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| Years active | 1989–present |
| Spouse(s) | Raquel Horsford |
Ahmed Best (born August 19, 1973) is an American actor and musician. He is most famous for playing the character Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars movies. He provided both the voice and the physical movements for the character using motion capture.
Best worked with director George Lucas on three Star Wars films. He also voiced Jar Jar in seven episodes of the animated TV show, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. For his work on the show Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II, he won an Annie Award for his voice acting.
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Early Life and Education
Ahmed Best was born in New York City on August 19, 1973. He grew up in the Soundview area of the Bronx. Later, his family moved to Maplewood, New Jersey.
He went to Columbia High School and graduated in 1991. After high school, he studied how to play percussion instruments at the Manhattan School of Music.
Career Beginnings
In 1994, Best joined a music group called the Jazzhole. He was part of the group for two years and helped write and produce three of their albums.
A year later, in 1995, he joined the cast of the famous dance show Stomp. This show uses everyday objects to create amazing rhythms and dances. Best toured with Stomp across the United States and Europe.
Becoming a Star Wars Icon
Playing Jar Jar Binks
In 1997, a casting director for Star Wars saw Best performing in Stomp. She was impressed by his athletic and flexible movements. This led to him being cast as Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999–2005).
Best put a lot of his own personality into the character of Jar Jar. However, some fans did not like the character. The negative feedback was very difficult for Best and deeply affected him.
A New Star Wars Role
In 2020, Best returned to the Star Wars universe in a new role. He starred as the Jedi Master Kelleran Beq in the kids' game show Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge.
He played Kelleran Beq again in the 2023 season of the live-action series The Mandalorian. In the show, his character bravely rescues the young Grogu during the Jedi Purge. Fans and critics praised Best for his powerful performance as the heroic Jedi.
Other Work and Talents
Besides acting, Best has taught classes at Stanford University. His classes have covered topics like art and Afrofuturism, which is a style of art that combines science fiction with African cultures.
Best is also skilled in martial arts and has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He often meets with fans as a special guest at Star Wars Celebration events around the world.
Famous Roles
Ahmed Best has appeared in many movies, TV shows, and video games. Here are some of his most well-known roles:
- Jar Jar Binks: He voiced and performed this famous Gungan character in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. He also voiced the character in TV shows like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out.
- Kelleran Beq: He played this brave Jedi Master in the game show Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge and the popular TV series The Mandalorian.
- Television Appearances: Best has had roles in many TV shows, including Alias, Cougar Town, and Big Time Rush.
- Voice Acting: In addition to Star Wars, he has provided voices for characters in video games like Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 and Fallout 76.
See also
In Spanish: Ahmed Best para niños
