Barkhad Abdi

Barkhad Abdi Biography

Barkhad Abdi (, ; born April 10, 1985) is a Somali-American actor. He made his cinematic debut in the 2013 film Captain Phillips, for which he received various film award nominations, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Academy Awards and BAFTA, the latter of which he went on to win.

Early life and education

Abdi was born in 1985 in Mogadishu, located in the southern Banaadir region of Somalia. He was raised in Yemen.

In 1999, at the age of 14, Abdi moved with his family to Minneapolis, United States. He subsequently attended an engineering course at Minnesota State University Moorhead, located four hours northwest of Minneapolis. Before entering the film industry, he worked as a limousine driver at a relative's chauffeur company, a store-clerk at a self-employed telecommunications business with his brother Guled Abdi, and a disc jockey in Minnesota.

Career

Abdi made his film debut in the 2013 movie Captain Phillips, where he stars as Abduwali Muse, a ship hijacker and pirate leader. He received a nomination for the role from the Screen Actors Guild for the Best Supporting Actor Award. He has also been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Additionally, Abdi received a Golden Globe Award nomination and a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor. His experience in 'Captain Phillips' was his first in the film industry. After the nominations, he made a number of media appearances. In early 2014, Abdi said he planned to relocate to Los Angeles.

Abdi is presently directing a movie, Ciyaalka Xaafada. He has also directed several music videos. As of January 2014, he is reading scripts for a TV show.

Philanthropy

In 2013, Abdi served as an Ambassador for the NGO Adeso run by the Somali environmentalist Fatima Jibrell.

Filmography

Film
Year	Title	Role	Notes
2013	Captain Phillips	Abduwali Muse	BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Black Reel Award for Best Breakthrough Performance - Male Capri Breakout Actor Award Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor (2nd place) Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor (3rd place) Indiana Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor London Film Critics' Circle Award for Supporting Actor of the Year National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor (3rd place) Pending"?Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated"?Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated"?Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated"?Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated"?Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated"?Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Performer Nominated"?Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated"?Denver Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated"?Detroit Film Critics Society for Best Supporting Actor Nominated"?Georgia Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated"?Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture Nominated"?Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated"?Iowa Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated"?National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated"?Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated"?North Carolina Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated"?San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated"?Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated"?St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor