Raised in Northern California, Ali Afshar grew up in the green Sonoma Mountains of Petaluma, California. Racing motorcycles and horses at the age of 5 on his family’s 200—acre ranch, his passion for speed and entertaining was already evident. The son of Eskandar AFshar and Leila Kasra Afshar, he is the youngest of 3 brothers. His father is an international agricultural business man and his mother was a world renowned legendary Persian poet and lyricist before her passing in 1989. In addition to his parents influence Ali experienced a vast variety of life experiences learning from his two older brothers Pasha and Jonny. He grew up competing in Break-Dancing & Bicycle Freestyle events all over Northern California. Once he tasted freedom with his drivers license at age 16, Ali won his first High School Challenge for drag racing at Sears Point International Raceway, representing Casa Grande High School. Thru high school, Ali could be found almost every week at the Sears Point Raceway competing in the Wednesday Night Drags, racing his classic 1967 Chevrolet Camaro. If he wasn’t racing he was in wrestling practice honing his skills. Ali was an outstanding wrestler and set numerous school records and was a California State Finalist in 1991.
After high school, Ali turned his attention to his dream of acting and relocated to Los Angeles. While fulfilling his parents wishes of studying medicine at California State University Northridge, he was also pursuing a career in acting for movies and television. Ali immediately started learning from some of the most talented teachers available in Los Angeles and started auditioning. Ali paired his acting and racing income to pay for his tuition for college which ultimately led to his graduation from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology. However, his true desires led him away from medicine and towards Hollywood. He landed his first job as a skateboarder in a Pepsi/Mirinda soft drink commercial that primarily aired in Europe. Ali then was the principle actor in a commercial for the Southern California family water park "Raging Waters". While pursuing his acting career, Ali also founded Easy Street Motorsports (also known as ESX). An automotive performance and race facility that eventually lead him to race for Subaru of America for over 7 years and achieve a certain celebrity racing status. ESX became a 2 Time NHRA National & World Champion, 18 Time NHRA event champion, 2005 Rally America Champion (with Rocket Rally) and a world record holder! Ali also created the exclusive and highly anticipated "Ali Afshar Signature Series" line of Subaru and Aston Martin vehicles that are sold directly thru Subaru and Aston Martin dealers across the nation.
Ali also built the one of a kind, carbon fiber, full tube chassis, 1400HP, all wheel drive Subaru! This Subaru placed 3rd in the NHRA in its first year of competition. Won its first NOPI race in 2006 and has the record for the Worlds Quickest and Fastest Subaru! This Subaru thunders down the 1/4 mile in 7 seconds at over 175 MPH! (visit ESXmotorsports.com for additional info).
Ali landed his first television acting role, as a very fitting mechanic-racer named "Grease" on the NBC show "Saved By The Bell". He then started working on a string of feature films such as “Three Kings”, “Godzilla”, HBO's "Guardian" and “The Siege”. Ali got his first taste of working with great talent on these projects that included award winning directors and actors!
While most of his feature film projects were dramatic roles Ali started showing his comedic funny bone on the small screen and landed the reoccurring role of "Sanjib" on the CBS hit show “The King of Queens”. He kept the smiles going as he worked on another CBS show "City Guys", the singing foreign exchange student "Bjorgy" on the FOX children show "The Masked Rider" and the very funny "Jamie Kennedy Experiment".
While he was doing all the "On Camera" work, Ali also enjoyed a voice over gig that spanned over 2 years as the voice of the "Phantom Ranger" on the hit FOX/Saban children TV show "Power Rangers".
The laughter suddenly became silent when Ali returned to his dramatic strengths and landed a 4 episode arc on the CBS show "JAG". He continued in his serious ways and worked on the two more CBS shows, “Navy NCIS" and "The Agency". He also booked guest spots on the PAX Network show "It's A Miracle" as well the FOX show "Americas Most Wanted" which led him right back to CBS where he landed his first leading role opposite Chuck Norris in the CBS Movie of the Week "The Presidents Man: A Line in the Sand". He quickly followed his leading role and booked another dramatic supporting role on an NBC Movie of the Week titled "Homeland Security".
Ali took a hiatus from his acting career from 2004 thru 2008 while his race car driving talents had him traveling across the nation for Subaru of America and ESX Motorsports. After a few years of full time racing, records and national championships had been scribed into the history books, Ali turned his full attention back to his acting career in 2008.
In 2008 signed with theatrical agency "AKA" and commercial agency "Reign" and started studying with acting coach, author and award winner "Scott Sedita" of "Scott Sedita Acting Studios".
Ali produced and starred in his first pilot presentation titled "Rebel Yell/The California's". A story that can be best described as "The Transporter" meets "Mad Max" with a touch of "Fast and the Furious"!
Landing his first role back from his racing "Hiatus", Ali landed a supporting role in the feature film "He's Just Not That Into You", based on the bestselling book. Ali plays the character of "Skip" alongside a star studded cast including Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Connolly, Ben Affleck, Justin Long, Kevin Connolly & more! This movie is directed by Emmy Nominated Director Ken Kwapis.
Also in 2008, Ali was cast as the judgmental "Tribunal Head" in the hilarious political series "Fun with War Crimes" directed by Tim Bartell. Ali was also cast in a new web pilot/series titled "Marisa Rules/Girls Gone College" directed by "Ellen Sandler" (Writer/Producer of Everybody Loves Raymond). Ali also shot a national Mercedes-Benz commercial for the new 2008 "C-Class" titled "Projections" directed by Adam Berg and a "Blue Shield of California" insurance commercial.
In early 2009, Ali was cast as "Jonathan" in the funny web series "Peas in a Pod".
In May 2009, Ali singed with manager "Vincent Cirrincione" of "VCA Vincent Cirrincione Associates"
In June 2009, Ali played the character of "Cyress" alongside Oscar award winner Holly Hunter and other talented actors on the hit "TNT" television show "Saving Grace".
Stay tuned for most updated information for Ali by regularly visiting the following websites!
|
