Barkhad Abdi
Biography
Barkhad Abdi is a Somali-American actor born on April 10, 1985, in Mogadishu, Somalia. He made his acting debut playing the pirate Abduwali Muse in the biographical drama film Captain Phillips in 2013. This role earned him a British Academy Film Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, as well as Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. Following his breakthrough, Abdi appeared in the films Eye in the Sky in 2015, Good Time in 2017, The Pirates of Somalia in 2017, and Blade Runner 2049 in 2017. Outside of film, he was featured as a series regular on the second season of the Hulu horror anthology Castle Rock in 2019 and had a recurring role.
Career overview
Barkhad Abdi is a Somali-American actor born in Mogadishu, Somalia, on April 10, 1985. He made his acting debut portraying the pirate Abduwali Muse in the 2013 biographical drama film Captain Phillips. For this breakout role, he earned a British Academy Film Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, as well as Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.
Following his feature film debut, Abdi appeared in several additional films released between 2015 and 2017. His later film credits include Eye in the Sky in 2015, followed by Good Time, The Pirates of Somalia, and Blade Runner 2049, all released in 2017.
In addition to his work in feature films, Abdi has also worked in television. He was featured as a series regular during the second season of the Hulu horror anthology series Castle Rock in 2019, and also held a recurring television role.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
29 titles- Run (2025) as Ismael
- Magan's Fare (2025) as Magan
- Carol & the End of the World (2023) as (voice)
- The Curse (2023) as Abshir
- Blight (2023) Executive Producer
- Agent Game (2022) as Omar
- Tyson's Run (2022) as Aklilu
- Blade Runner: Black Lotus (2021) as Doc Badger (voice)
- Little America (2020)
- Beneath a Sea of Lights (2020) as Caweys
- A Girl from Mogadishu (2019) as Hassan
- Castle Rock (2018) as Abdi Howlwadaag
- The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir (2018) as Wiraj
- Blade Runner 2049 (2017) as Doc Badger
- Good Time (2017) as Dash the Park Security Guard
- Extortion (2017) as Miguel Kaba
- The Pirates of Somalia (2017) as Abdi
- America; I Too (2017) as Ahmed
- Grimsby (2016) as Tabansi Nyagura
- Eye in the Sky (2015) as Jama Farah
- Wolf Who Cried Boy (2015) as Reggie
- Capturing Captain Phillips (2014) as Self
- The Making Of 'CAPTAIN PHILLIPS' Behind The Scenes (2014) as Self
- Captain Phillips (2013) as Muse
- Hawaii Five-0 (2010) as Roko Makoni
- Live from E! (2002) as Self
- Family Guy (1999) as Abduwali Muse (voice)
- Synthetic
- Alfalfa
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Barkhad Abdi best known for?
Barkhad Abdi is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Blade Runner: Black Lotus (2021), Castle Rock (2018), The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir (2018), Blade Runner 2049 (2017).
When and where was Barkhad Abdi born?
Barkhad Abdi was born on April 10, 1985 in Mogadishu, Somalia.
How many credits does Barkhad Abdi have?
Barkhad Abdi has accumulated over 29 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1999 to 2025.
What is Barkhad Abdi's background in cinema and television?
Barkhad Abdi is a Somali-American actor born on April 10, 1985, in Mogadishu, Somalia. He made his acting debut playing the pirate Abduwali Muse in the biographical drama film Captain Phillips in 2013. This role earned him a British Academy Film Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, as well as Academy Award, Golde...