An American actor of Turkish-Iraqi descent, he was born in Istanbul and raised in various countries due to his diplomat father. He studied at the University of California, Berkeley, and began his acting career in the 1980s. Known for his versatile roles, he has appeared in numerous films and TV shows, often portraying characters of Middle Eastern descent. His notable works include roles in "The Living Daylights" and "Sleeper Cell." He is also involved in voice acting for video games and animation.