Haithem Badrani
Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for deprecated parameters".Template:Wikidata image Haithem Badrani (born July 1, 1969) is an Iraqi-American actor, producer, and screenwriter.[1] He has appeared in numerous movies and television series, such as ‘The Bridge,’ ‘From Scratch,’ ‘Breaking Tradition,’ ‘Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story,’ ‘SEAL Team’ (T.V. Series.), ‘Boomers’ (T.V. Series.), and ‘Diary of a Spy.’ He co-starred in the Academy Award-winning movie ‘Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk.’[2]
Badrani has written three screenplays addressing societal issues, including ‘Barbed Fences,’ ‘S-Class,’ and ‘Canada.’[3]
Early life and education
Badrani was born and raised in Basra, Iraq. At age 5, he turned to American Westerns and T.V. series, finding inspiration in actors like John Wayne and Lee Majors from "The Six Million Dollar Man."
Badrani was running away from the Iraqi secret police because he was an activist in an uprising that the Iraqi Armed Forces eventually crushed, and the Iraqi authorities wanted him, so he had to run away or die by hanging. He headed to the border, knowing U.S. Armed forces were stationed there even after the ceasefire between Iraq and the U.S.
Badrani volunteered to hand himself to the U.S. Armed Forces as a refugee. Then, he was sent to a refugee camp in the Saudi Arabian desert and stayed there until he finally immigrated to the United States of America in August 1994.
Following Badrani's immigration to the United States, he obtained U.S. citizenship. He pursued his acting career and attended various studios in Nashville, Tennessee. 2010, he relocated to Los Angeles, enrolling in the Stella Adler Acting School in Hollywood. As a fluent Arabic speaker, he underwent accent reduction and dialect training at Los Angeles City College.
Career
Badrani started his acting career in Nashville, debuting in 2002 as a waiter in "High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story." His breakthrough came in 2004 when he portrayed Prince Traiq in Dreamworks Pictures' "Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story."[4]
Subsequently, Badrani continued establishing his presence in the industry, actively participating in various local independent films and accumulating a portfolio of over 30 productions.[5]
Among his noteworthy contributions are roles in productions such as ‘The Bridge,’ ‘From Scratch,’ ‘Breaking Tradition,’ ‘SEAL Team’ (T.V. Series.), ‘Boomers’ (T.V. Series.), and ‘Diary of a Spy.’ Notably, Badrani caught the attention of acclaimed director Ang Lee, leading to his appearance in the Academy Award-winning film "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk" in 2015.[6]
As a screenwriter, Badrani has written three screenplays that address societal issues across the frameworks of war, societal stereotypes, and mistaken identity. In "Barbed Fences," a war drama based on a true story, he pays homage to the 32 thousand Iraqi victims who faced human rights violations during their refuge in Saudi Arabia. "S-Class" is an action, crime drama, and thriller that explores societal stereotypes against Muslims in America through the journey of an Iraqi actor aiming to showcase his heritage. Meanwhile, "Canada" is an action drama that unfolds a narrative where an Iraqi-American man is mistakenly identified as a foreign terrorist upon his arrival at Vancouver airport.[7]
Badrani is a licensed realtor in California, United States.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story | Waiter |
| 2005 | Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story | Prince Traiq |
| 2006 | Wag On | Habib |
| 2006 | Samaritan | Taxi Driver |
| 2007 | The Captive | Interrogator |
| 2009 | Prologue | Amadeo |
| 2011 | Biladi | Father |
| 2012 | No Bullet Soldier | Mazen |
| 2013 | Painkiller | Prisoner |
| 2013 | Alien Rising | Yemen Leader |
| 2014 | Hog’s Tooth | Abdullah |
| 2014 | The Initiation | Akbar |
| 2014 | Daily Bread | Mousa |
| 2014 | The Winter Room | Wheeler |
| 2015 | Desert Bloom | Nadeem |
| 2015 | Jane’s Baby | Store Owner |
| 2015 | Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk | Iraqi Father |
| 2016 | Madre | Rokmud |
| 2017 | Life of Homer | Cameraman |
| 2018 | Stones | Mr. Wafik |
| 2018 | The Day That | Mosque-Goer |
| 2019 | Shako Mako | Butcher |
| 2020 | False Colors | General Savas Demir |
| 2020 | SEAL Team | ANP Captain |
| 2022 | Diary of a Spy | Mousa |
| 2022 | From Scratch | Amir |
| 2023 | The Bridge | Ahmed Ahmadi |
| Breaking Tradition | Mr. Abdul Khan | |
| Target Jeremy | Bedouin, Sniper |
Screenwriter
- Barbed Fences
- S-Class
- Canada
In the media
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References
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