Barkhad Abdi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barkhad Abdi
Abdi at the 2014 New York Film Festival
Born	(1985-04-10) April 10, 1985 (age 40) Mogadishu, Somalia
Education	Minnesota State University, Moorhead
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2013–present
Awards	Full list

Barkhad Abdi (born April 10, 1985) is a Somali–American actor. He became famous for his first movie role as the pirate Abduwali Muse in the film Captain Phillips (2013). For this role, he won a British Academy Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was also nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

After his big start, Abdi appeared in other movies like Eye in the Sky (2015), Good Time (2017), and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). He also acted in TV shows such as Castle Rock (2019) and The Curse (2023).

Early Life and Moving to America

Barkhad Abdi was born on April 10, 1985, in Mogadishu, Somalia. His name Barkhad means "cistern" in the Somali language, which is a place to store water. When he was about six or seven, a war started in Somalia. His family then moved to Yemen to live with his father.

In 1999, when Abdi was 14, his family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the United States. This city has a large community of people from Somalia. He finished high school at Roosevelt High School in 2003. Later, he went to Minnesota State University Moorhead. Before he became an actor, Abdi worked in different jobs. He sold mobile phones, drove limousines, and was a DJ.

Becoming an Actor

His First Big Role: Captain Phillips

Abdi during the Eye in the Sky premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, 2015

Barkhad Abdi's first movie was Captain Phillips in 2013. In the film, he played the role of Abduwali Muse, a pirate leader. He acted alongside famous actor Tom Hanks. The movie makers searched all over the world to find the right actors for the pirate roles. Abdi and three other actors were chosen from more than 700 people at an audition in Minneapolis in 2011.

His acting in Captain Phillips was very impressive. He won the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was also nominated for other major awards, including the Academy Award. This was his very first experience in the film industry.

Other Movies and TV Shows

After Captain Phillips, Abdi continued his acting career. In 2015, he appeared in an episode of the TV show Hawaii Five-0. He also acted in the thriller movie Eye in the Sky as a Kenyan undercover agent.

In 2017, Abdi was in The Pirates of Somalia. He played a local agent who helped a journalist understand Somali piracy. That same year, he had a small role in the science fiction movie Blade Runner 2049. Abdi also tried directing and made a Somali film called Ciyaalka Xaafada. In 2019, he reunited with an actor from Captain Phillips in the TV series Castle Rock, where he appeared in 10 episodes. More recently, he acted in the films Tyson's Run and Agent Game in 2022. In 2023, he was in the TV series The Curse.

Helping Others

In 2013, Barkhad Abdi became an Ambassador for Adeso. This is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that helps people and the environment. It was started by a Somali environmentalist named Fatima Jibrell.

Personal Life

Barkhad Abdi has lived in Los Angeles, California, and Cedar-Riverside, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has a bump on his forehead from a car crash that happened before he auditioned for Captain Phillips.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Barkhad Abdi para niños