Bashir Salahuddin facts for kids

Bashir Salahuddin (born June 30, 1976) is an American actor, writer, and comedian. He is known for creating and starring in the comedy shows South Side and Sherman's Showcase with his writing partner, Diallo Riddle. He has also appeared in popular films like Top Gun: Maverick.

Early Life and School

Bashir Salahuddin grew up in the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. His father came from Panama and moved to Chicago as a child. His mother grew up on the city's West Side. They met at Southern Illinois University and became Muslim in the 1970s.

Bashir has three brothers and two sisters. He also has two younger half-siblings from his father's second marriage. His father worked as an airplane mechanic for Midway Airlines. Because his father worked for the airline, the family could fly on many trips across the U.S. Bashir says his father taught him a strong "immigrant work ethic."

Salahuddin went to Harvard University and studied to become a doctor. He graduated in 1998. While at Harvard, he acted in several plays. He also met Diallo Riddle, who later became his writing partner. In his third year, Bashir decided he wanted to be an actor. He then joined a theater training program.

Career Highlights

After college, Bashir went back to Chicago. He worked as a paralegal to save money to move to Los Angeles. In the early 2000s, he moved to Los Angeles. There, he worked as a personal assistant at Warner Brothers and as a waiter.

Since they weren't getting the acting jobs they wanted, Bashir and Diallo started making their own videos online. Famous comedian David Alan Grier saw their videos. He hired them as writers for his show Chocolate News in 2008. Then, Jimmy Fallon asked them to join the writing team for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. They moved to New York and worked on the show for four years.

In 2016, a comedy show called Brothers in Atlanta, which Bashir and Diallo created for HBO, was canceled. Later that year, Bashir was chosen to play the main male role in a comedy pilot called Crushed. This show also starred Regina Hall. The production of Crushed later moved from North Carolina to Canada. This was due to changes in state laws and for tax benefits available in Vancouver.

As an actor, Bashir has appeared in many TV shows. These include Superstore, Arrested Development, and The Mindy Project. He also had a regular role on the Netflix show GLOW, which started in 2017.

Bashir and Diallo Riddle also created the comedy show South Side. It first aired on Comedy Central in July 2019. The show is about two friends who just finished community college. They try to start businesses in Chicago's South Side. Bashir's brother Sultan and Kareme Young play the main characters. Bashir, his wife Chandra Russell, and Diallo Riddle also act in the show.

Another show they created is Sherman's Showcase. It premiered on IFC in July 2019. This show is a funny tribute to classic music shows like Soul Train. Many famous guest stars have appeared, including John Legend and Tiffany Haddish.

In 2018, it was announced that Bashir would be in Tom Cruise's movie Top Gun: Maverick. This action drama came out in 2022. In 2019, he was cast in a main role in The 24th. This film is about the all-black Twenty-Fourth United States Infantry Regiment and the Houston Riot of 1917. Bashir and Diallo Riddle recently signed a deal with Warner Bros. Television.

Personal Life

Bashir Salahuddin married actress Chandra Russell in 2017. They have one son together.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

Bashir Salahuddin has been recognized for his work in television.

See also

In Spanish: Bashir Salahuddin para niños