Cas Anvar

Cas Anvar
Anvar in 2019
Born (1966-03-15) 15 March 1966
Alma materNational Theatre School
OccupationsActor, writer
Years active1988–present
Known for
Websitewww.casanvar.com

Cas Anvar (Persian: کاس انور; born 15 March 1966)[1][2][3] is a Canadian actor known best for his role in the SyFy/Amazon Prime Video science fiction television series The Expanse.

Early life and education

Anvar was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, to Iranian parents.[4] They moved to Montreal, Quebec, where he was raised. He graduated from Beaconsfield High School in 1983.[5]

He became interested in acting after playing Hamlet in a high school production of Shakespeare’s play.[6] Anvar has said that after early studies of psychology and sciences at McGill University,[7][8] he changed fields and graduated from the National Theatre School in 1989.[4][9]

Career

He was founding Artistic Director of Repercussion Theatre. Anvar told CBC Radio’s Saskatoon Morning that he founded the company in order to avoid being typecast, so that he could cast himself in the roles he wanted to play.[10] Since 1988 the company toured parks of Montreal, and then throughout North America, with the annual Shakespeare in the Park Festival.[11][2] Meanwhile, he continued performing in theatre.[12]

In 1992, he debuted in Urban Angel, and has continued to perform roles in television and film.[3]

Anvar starred as journalist Kambiz Foroohar in the 2003 film Shattered Glass.[13][14]

Anvar guest-starred in an episode of NCIS that premiered in 2007.[15]

In 2011, he voiced Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad in Assassin's Creed: Revelations.[16] In the same year, he co-starred with Jake Gyllenhaal in the science fiction film Source Code.[17][18]

Anvar also appeared alongside John Cusack and Jennifer Carpenter in the horror film The Factory.[19]

Anvar was part of the cast of Argo, which won the SAG Award for Best Cast Performance in 2013.[6][20] Anvar appeared as Dodi Fayed with Naomi Watts in the film Diana in 2013.[21]

Anvar starred in the science fiction television series The Expanse as Alex Kamal. It was first broadcast in December 2015.[22] Anvar co-starred in the 2015 Oscar-nominated film Room.[10][23] Anvar also starred in the 2015 mythological drama series Olympus, which aired on Syfy.[15]

In 2016, he joined season 3 of The Strain as Sanjay Desai.

Anvar starred in the independent drama The Lie, an English-language adaptation of the German film Wir Monster, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2018.[24] In the same year, Anvar starred alongside Diane Kruger in the thriller The Operative.[25]

In 2019, he had a recurring role on How To Get Away With Murder as Robert Hseih.

In November 2020, Alcon announced that Anvar would not be returning for the sixth and final season of The Expanse.[26]

In 2021, Anvar appeared in the television series FBI: International.[27]

In 2024, Anvar co-starred with Lilly Singh in the comedy film Doin’ It.[28]

Anvar appeared in director Marc Furmie’s 2025 action drama Viper as Rafiq “Razor” Alizai.[29]

Personal life

Anvar is fluent in English, French, and Persian, and also speaks some Arabic, Hindi, and Spanish.[6]

In June 2020, Alcon Entertainment hired an independent firm to investigate over 30 allegations of sexual harassment and assault made against Anvar.[30][31] Anvar released a statement in response indicating his intent to cooperate with the investigation, saying that the accusers should be heard, but that he intended to clear his name.[30]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Witchboard III: The Possession Paramedic #1
1997 Afterglow Frederico
1998 Twist of Fate Goldwin
1998 The Incredible Adventures of Marco Polo Youssef
1998 Sublet Nightclub Man
2000 Seducing Maarya Zakir
2001 Cause of Death Leonard Sheck
2001 Hidden Agenda Agent McCoomb
2002 Wrong Number Thomas Pitrillo
2003 Comment ma mère accoucha de moi durant sa ménopause Médecin, examen gynéco
2003 Shattered Glass Kambiz Foroohar
2003 Timeline E.R. Doctor
2004 The Terminal CBP Officer #3
2008 Punisher: War Zone Plastic Surgeon
2009 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Egyptian Interpol Officer #1
2011 Source Code Hazmi
2012 Argo Revolutionary Guard
2012 The Factory Phil Uncredited
2012 The Son of an Afghan Farmer Michael
2013 Diana Dodi Fayed
2013 The Factory Phil
2014 Fall Reza
2015 Miss India America Deep Panday
2015 The Vatican Tapes Dr. Fahti
2015 Room Dr Mittal
2017 Nobility Captain Eric Cern
2018 The Lie Sam Ismali
2019 The Operative Farhad
2019 Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ra's al Ghul Voice
2019 Draupadi Unleashed Manu
2025 Viper Rafiq “Razor” Alizai

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1991-2005 Watatatow Atys Main role
1998 La Femme Nikita Halir Episode: "Old Habits"
2005 The Tournament Dr. Singh Main role, 17 episodes
2007 NCIS Masoud Tariq Television TV series, Season 4 Episode 12
2009 The Phantom Rhatib Singh Television miniseries
2009 24 Dr. Wyndham Television TV series
2010 Lost Omer Jarrah Episode: "Sundown"
2011 Leverage Oscar San Guillermo Episode 4.15: "The Lonely Hearts Job"
2011 Neverland Gentleman Starkey Television miniseries
2011–2012 Xeno-Date Sirus Webseries, 8 episodes
2014 Castle Dr. Rampanel Episode: "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
2014 Intelligence Ibrahim Al-Munin Episode: "Red X"
2015 Olympus Xerxes Recurring role, 7 episodes
2015–2021 The Expanse Alex Kamal Main role, 56 episodes
2016–2017 The Strain Sanjay Desai Recurring role, 10 episodes
2019–2020 How To Get Away with Murder Robert Hsieh Recurring role, 4 episodes
2020 Cardinal Taj Roy Episode 4.02: "Adele"
2021 FBI: International Ali Majidi Episode 1.06: "The Secrets She Knows"
2023 Gwen Shamblin: Starving for Salvation Seller Television film

Internet video

Year Title Role Notes
2017 Star Trek Continues Sentek Episodes: "To Boldly Go" Part 1; "To Boldly Go" Part 2

Video games

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2011 Assassin's Creed: Revelations Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad Voice role [32]
2012 Call of Duty: Black Ops II Mullah Rahmaan Voice role [33]
2012 Halo 4 Dalton Voice role

References

  1. ^ The Expanse Writers [@TheExpanseWR] (15 March 2017). "Wishing our favorite Martian pilot an expansively excellent birthday!🎉Happy Birthday @Casanvar🚀" (Tweet). Retweeted by Cas Anvar. Retrieved 14 July 2020 – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ^ a b Noxon, Christopher (6 September 1990). "Out, out, damned... mosquito!?" (PDF). Thursday Report. Vol. 15, no. 1. Concordia University. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b Greenaway, Kathryn (7 July 1995). "Repercussion turns parks into bard yards". The Gazette. p. 40. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b Anvar, Cas (5 December 2003). "Simply human nature". The Iranian. Archived from the original on 3 April 2005. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  5. ^ Greenaway, Kathryn (14 May 2013). "Beaconsfield High School set to celebrate 55-year reunion". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "Syfy's 'The Expanse' – life in space 200 years in future". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  7. ^ Volpe, Diane (26 February 2013). "Interview with Cas Anvar". NCISLA Magazine. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Cas Anvar relishes his 'Vulculan' role". Star Trek Continues News. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  9. ^ "To geek or not to geek: Early role as Hamlet leads Anvar to sci-fi stardom". thestarphoenix.com. 15 September 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Homegrown sci-fi star Cas Anvar to attend Saskatoon comic expo". CBC. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  11. ^ "Our Story - Repercussion Theatre". Repercussiontheatre.com. sec. History Highlights. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Performances 1988-1994". Repercussiontheatre.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  13. ^ Peter Bowen (Fall 2003). "Confirm or Deny: Ethics and Truth in Documentary Filmmaking". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  14. ^ "From online to on screen exposure". 22 June 2004. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  15. ^ a b Zumberge, Marianne (3 March 2015). "Syfy Sets Premiere Dates for 'Olympus,' 'Bitten' Season 2". Variety. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  16. ^ Walker, Richard (27 October 2012). "MCM 2012: Assassin's Creed: Revelations' Voice of Altair, Cas Anvar Joins X360A On Stage @ MCM". Xbox Achievements. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Source Code". The Austin Chronicle. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  18. ^ Powell, W. Andrew (27 July 2011). "DVD Tuesday: 'Source Code' and 'Trust'". The GATE. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  19. ^ "Watch An Exclusive 5-Minute Clip From 'The Factory'!". Bloody Disgusting!. 15 February 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  20. ^ "Argo wins top Screen Actors Guild award". BBC News. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  21. ^ Gary Baum (27 September 2012). "Irony Alert: Princess Di Movie Strikes Deal With Paparazzi Agency". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  22. ^ Etan Vlessing (29 October 2014). "Dominique Tipper, Cas Anvar join Syfy's The Expanse". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  23. ^ "'Room' movie review: Brie Larsen and Jacob Tremblay in devastating drama". The Prague Reporter. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  24. ^ "'The Lie': Film Review | TIFF 2018". The Hollywood Reporter. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  25. ^ "Cas Anvar Joins Diane Kruger in Spy Thriller 'The Operative' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  26. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (24 November 2020). "'The Expanse' Renewed For Sixth & Final Season By Amazon Ahead Of Season 5 Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  27. ^ "'FBI: International' Season 1 Episode 6 Promo, Photos, and Plot Details". ShowbizJunkies. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  28. ^ "Lilly Singh's 'Doin' It' is an outlandish sex ed comedy teens actually need". JoySauce. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  29. ^ "Neal McDonough joins the cast of Marc Furmie's 'Viper'". Nilsen Report. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  30. ^ a b Nellie Andreeva (26 June 2020). "'The Expanse' Star Cas Anvar Under Investigation Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations". Deadline Hollywood.
  31. ^ Hale-Stern, Kaila (29 June 2020). "The Expanse's Cas Anvar Accused by Multiple Women of Sexual Assault and Harassment". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  32. ^ Jessey, Ben (12 October 2020). "The Voice Actor Behind Every Main Protagonist In The Series". The Gamer. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  33. ^ Moore, Camille (5 February 2021). "10 Things You Didn't Know about Cas Anvar". TV Overmind. Retrieved 13 October 2023.